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Search marketing manager vs digital marketing specialist

The differences between search marketing managers and digital marketing specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 8-10 years to become a search marketing manager, becoming a digital marketing specialist takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a search marketing manager has an average salary of $80,550, which is higher than the $60,359 average annual salary of a digital marketing specialist.

The top three skills for a search marketing manager include paid search, digital marketing and google analytics. The most important skills for a digital marketing specialist are digital marketing, marketing campaigns, and email marketing.

Search marketing manager vs digital marketing specialist overview

Search Marketing ManagerDigital Marketing Specialist
Yearly salary$80,550$60,359
Hourly rate$38.73$29.02
Growth rate10%19%
Number of jobs123,36994,029
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 83%Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Average age3937
Years of experience106

What does a search marketing manager do?

A search marketing manager is typically in charge of utilizing web search engines for marketing operations, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities include developing strategies to identify the best practices to optimize search marketing procedures, managing the budgets and schedules, assessing the performance of the workforce, and monitoring the progress of all operations. They may also address issues and concerns, resolving them promptly and efficiently. Furthermore, as a search marketing manager, it is essential to lead and encourage the workforce to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.

What does a digital marketing specialist do?

A digital marketing specialist is an individual who is responsible for promoting products or services of a company using appropriate technology platforms effectively. Digital marketing specialists collaborate with marketing teams to plan and execute digital programs such as online advertising, social media, and mobile. They are proficient in digital technology tools that can include web advertising, social media, and web development. Digital marketing specialists must also develop multimedia packages and present recommendations to the company's director of marketing and communications.

Search marketing manager vs digital marketing specialist salary

Search marketing managers and digital marketing specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Search Marketing ManagerDigital Marketing Specialist
Average salary$80,550$60,359
Salary rangeBetween $56,000 And $113,000Between $44,000 And $81,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyInstacartMeta
Best paying industryInternetFinance

Differences between search marketing manager and digital marketing specialist education

There are a few differences between a search marketing manager and a digital marketing specialist in terms of educational background:

Search Marketing ManagerDigital Marketing Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 83%Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of GeorgiaUniversity of Georgia

Search marketing manager vs digital marketing specialist demographics

Here are the differences between search marketing managers' and digital marketing specialists' demographics:

Search Marketing ManagerDigital Marketing Specialist
Average age3937
Gender ratioMale, 66.7% Female, 33.3%Male, 51.1% Female, 48.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.2% White, 74.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 5.0% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 12.3% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between search marketing manager and digital marketing specialist duties and responsibilities

Search marketing manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage display campaigns on CPM across ad networks.
  • Manage more than 2,000 ad campaigns in Google, MSN adCenter and Facebook.
  • Manage developers and designers on company and e-commerce websites.
  • Conceptualize and manage introduction of Eloqua progressive profiling form and DemandBase analytics API to website.
  • Use Marin bid management system to optimize spend for maximum ROI.
  • Increase traffic to website and YouTube page.
  • Show more

Digital marketing specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage and distribution integrate product promotion campaigns (B2B and B2C).
  • Set up and manage campaigns on Facebook and LinkedIn including tracking and conversions.
  • Manage photography department in office and on location in numerous national ad campaign shoots.
  • Manage Facebook ads, AdWords and LinkedIn ads while ensuring marketing message consistent with the company goals and objectives.
  • Maintain all social media platforms, create and curate blog content, and manage the website using ExpressionEngine CMS.
  • Utilize Godaddy software and systems and any require portal tools to achieve campaign goals, objectives and KPI's.
  • Show more

Search marketing manager vs digital marketing specialist skills

Common search marketing manager skills
  • Paid Search, 13%
  • Digital Marketing, 11%
  • Google Analytics, 7%
  • Google Adwords, 6%
  • SEM, 6%
  • Search Campaigns, 4%
Common digital marketing specialist skills
  • Digital Marketing, 23%
  • Marketing Campaigns, 6%
  • Email Marketing, 5%
  • Google Analytics, 4%
  • B Testing, 4%
  • Lead Generation, 3%

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