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What does a paid search specialist do?

Updated January 8, 2025
6 min read

Paid search specialists or PPC specialists mainly manage internet pay-per-click advertising campaigns. The specialists conduct research, decide on purchases, analyze results, and alter the course for optimization. They oversee the strategy, implementation, SEO, design, and analysis of advertising campaigns' performance. Their responsibilities include the determination of trends of insights and trends for maximum return of investment in the paid search campaigns. Knowledge in internet marketing, marketing strategy, and SEO is necessary for this job.

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Paid search specialist responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real paid search specialist resumes:

  • Plan, implement, manage and report on Facebook advertising campaigns.
  • Work with the SEO and Dev teams to optimize the website to accomplish ROI objectives.
  • Generate all new leads, develop strategies for lead nurturing and improve ROI from all sources.
  • Utilize Godaddy software and systems and any require portal tools to achieve campaign goals, objectives and KPI's.
  • Experience working on Wordpress HTML, CSS.
  • Upload all reports, landing pages and articles into HTML format.
  • Search engine optimization using content management platforms such as Wordpress.
  • Review optimization KPIs, including unit yields, compressor and pump reliability, corrosion management and energy optimization.
  • Interface with clients explaining SEO/SEM strategies as well as client SEO education through blogging tips and tutorials.

Paid search specialist skills and personality traits

We calculated that 16% of Paid Search Specialists are proficient in Paid Search, Digital Marketing, and Google Adwords. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Detail oriented.

We break down the percentage of Paid Search Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Paid Search, 16%

    Worked in Google AdWords, AdWords Editor and Marin platforms to optimize Paid Search accounts.

  • Digital Marketing, 15%

    Managed external business relationships with two digital marketing agencies, covering a combined annual budget of approx.

  • Google Adwords, 12%

    Google AdWords Certified Google Analytics Certified Have currently trained and built AdWords Campaigns for 7 months.

  • SEM, 7%

    Specialize in content management systems (CMS), search engine marketing (SEM), content delivery and customer experience.

  • Search Campaigns, 6%

    Planned and executed paid and natural search campaigns for Fortune 500 clients.

  • PPC, 6%

    Provided ongoing support of all PPC initiatives including reporting, analysis and optimization recommendations.

"paid search," "digital marketing," and "google adwords" are among the most common skills that paid search specialists use at work. You can find even more paid search specialist responsibilities below, including:

Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a paid search specialist to have is analytical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "market research analysts must evaluate large amounts of data and information related to market conditions." Paid search specialists often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "analyzed web site visits, impressions, clicks, ctr, cpc & other marketing metrics to prioritize user experience. "

Communication skills. Another essential skill to perform paid search specialist duties is communication skills. Paid search specialists responsibilities require that "market research analysts must be able to clearly convey information when gathering material, interpreting data, and presenting results to clients." Paid search specialists also use communication skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "assist in the day to day management of client relationships and ongoing communications translate campaign/client goals into actionable sem strategic tactics. "

Detail oriented. paid search specialists are also known for detail oriented, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to paid search specialist responsibilities, because "market research analysts must pay attention to minutiae to evaluate data." A paid search specialist resume example shows how detail oriented is used in the workplace: "increased profits were achieved by strategic planning, keyword analysis, and detailed reporting. "

See the full list of paid search specialist skills

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Compare different paid search specialists

Paid search specialist vs. Director of online marketing strategy & performance

We looked at the average paid search specialist salary and compared it with the wages of a director of online marketing strategy & performance. Generally speaking, directors of online marketing strategy & performance are paid $7,992 higher than paid search specialists per year.Even though paid search specialists and directors of online marketing strategy & performance are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require google adwords, sem, and ppc in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a paid search specialist are more likely to require skills like "paid search," "digital marketing," "search campaigns," and "keyword research." On the other hand, a job as a director of online marketing strategy & performance requires skills like "seo," "crm," "facebook," and "ltv." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

On average, directors of online marketing strategy & performance reach similar levels of education than paid search specialists. Directors of online marketing strategy & performance are 3.8% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Paid search specialist vs. Online user experience strategist

A career as a online user experience strategist brings a higher average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a paid search specialist. In fact, online user experience strategists salary is $44,636 higher than the salary of paid search specialists per year.

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that paid search specialist responsibilities requires skills like "paid search," "digital marketing," "google adwords," and "sem." But an online user experience strategist might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "user experience," "a/b," "user research," and "design solutions."

In general, online user experience strategists achieve higher levels of education than paid search specialists. They're 6.6% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Paid search specialist vs. Internet marketer

On average scale, internet marketers bring in lower salaries than paid search specialists. In fact, they earn a $9,775 lower salary per year.paid search specialists and internet marketers both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "google adwords," "sem," and "ppc," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from paid search specialist resumes include skills like "paid search," "digital marketing," "search campaigns," and "campaign performance," whereas an internet marketer is more likely to list skills in "website traffic," "email promotions," "facebook," and "link building. "

When it comes to education, internet marketers tend to earn lower degree levels compared to paid search specialists. In fact, they're 5.4% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Paid search specialist vs. Web user experience strategist

Web user experience strategists typically earn higher pay than paid search specialists. On average, web user experience strategists earn a $37,542 higher salary per year.While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "paid search," "digital marketing," "google adwords," and "sem" are skills that commonly show up on paid search specialist resumes. On the other hand, web user experience strategists use skills like user experience, a/b, ui, and prototyping on their resumes.web user experience strategists reach higher levels of education compared to paid search specialists, in general. The difference is that they're 5.1% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 2.4% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of paid search specialist

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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