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.
Search marketing manager responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real search marketing manager resumes:
- 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.
- Define and measure key performance indicators (KPIs).
- Create and A/B test compelling target ads with differing value propositions.
- Used an ROI focuse strategy to drive the most conversions at the lowest cost per acquisition.
- Deliver $5:1 ROAS on daily deal campaigns, each in excess of $300k revenue.
- Develop strategic B2B and B2C partnerships via social media, and industry relate networking and event attendance and sponsorships.
- Harness the power of affiliate marketing while currently expanding new e-commerce and product development.
- Develop B2C marketing revenue generating drivers through strategic affiliate partner cost per action channel.
- Define and optimize lead nurturing strategy, create regular cadence of outbound marketing, leverage marketing automation and CRM technology.
- Create LinkedIn marketing plan for senior staff.
Search marketing manager skills and personality traits
We calculated that 13% of Search Marketing Managers are proficient in Paid Search, Digital Marketing, and Google Analytics. They’re also known for soft skills such as Creativity, Organizational skills, and Analytical skills.
We break down the percentage of Search Marketing Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Paid Search, 13%
Hired, trained, and managed the Google SEM team for TicketsNow; and sub site natural and paid search initiatives.
- Digital Marketing, 11%
Hired as a core member of special digital marketing team reporting to the CIO.
- Google Analytics, 7%
Identify growth opportunities via website and advertising analysis from Google Analytics.
- Google Adwords, 6%
Received Google Adwords and Analytic Certification.
- SEM, 6%
Launched different SEM programs that resulted in higher ranking/revenues
- Search Campaigns, 4%
Optimized website copy for both organic and paid search campaigns.
Most search marketing managers use their skills in "paid search," "digital marketing," and "google analytics" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential search marketing manager responsibilities here:
Creativity. One of the key soft skills for a search marketing manager to have is creativity. You can see how this relates to what search marketing managers do because "advertising, promotions, and marketing managers must be able to generate new and imaginative ideas." Additionally, a search marketing manager resume shows how search marketing managers use creativity: "project manager for paid search projects with paid search agency, internal marketing, creative and management team. "
Organizational skills. Another essential skill to perform search marketing manager duties is organizational skills. Search marketing managers responsibilities require that "advertising, promotions, and marketing managers must manage their time and budget efficiently while directing and motivating staff members." Search marketing managers also use organizational skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "plan and execute digital marketing strategies to achieve organizational goals. "
Analytical skills. This is an important skill for search marketing managers to perform their duties. For an example of how search marketing manager responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "advertising, promotions, and marketing managers must be able to analyze industry trends to determine the most promising strategies for their organization." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a search marketing manager: "optimized accounts for more qualified learns through a/b testing, data scrubs and exploring new avenues for revenue. ".
Communication skills. search marketing manager responsibilities often require "communication skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "managers must be able to communicate effectively with a broad-based team made up of other managers or staff members during the advertising, promotions, and marketing process." This resume example shows what search marketing managers do with communication skills on a typical day: "managed sem ppc campaigns, seo, social media sites & communications, landing page development, and drip email campaigns. "
The three companies that hire the most search marketing managers are:
- Uline26 search marketing managers jobs
- Wpp Us Holdings Inc25 search marketing managers jobs
- GroupM21 search marketing managers jobs
Choose from 10+ customizable search marketing manager resume templates
Build a professional search marketing manager resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your search marketing manager resume.
Compare different search marketing managers
Search marketing manager vs. Manager, field marketing
A field marketing manager oversees a company's field marketing operations, aiming to improve brand awareness and reach sales goals. Their responsibilities primarily revolve around devising marketing strategies, participating in organizing campaigns and trade shows, setting objectives for the team, and monitoring the progress of marketing programs, ensuring they are functioning effectively and efficiently. There are also instances when the manager must address issues and concerns, performing corrective measures when necessary. Furthermore, as a manager, it is essential to lead and encourage the team to reach company goals while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, search marketing manager responsibilities require skills like "paid search," "google analytics," "google adwords," and "sem." Meanwhile a typical manager, field marketing has skills in areas such as "integrated marketing," "project management," "salesforce," and "b2b marketing." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Managers, field marketing earn the highest salaries when working in the technology industry, with an average yearly salary of $100,565. On the other hand, search marketing managers are paid more in the internet industry with an average salary of $108,391.managers, field marketing tend to reach similar levels of education than search marketing managers. In fact, managers, field marketing are 0.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.3% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Search marketing manager vs. Marketing strategist
The marketing strategist is an executive who works with the members of the marketing team to ensure the implementation of high-quality marketing strategies within a given time frame. Marketing strategists examine data to find out the best way to administer resources to increase revenue and profits. Their responsibilities include performing in-depth research to determine new market prospects and customers' preferences as well as forecasting market trends. Also, they set certain marketing goals that reflect the overall business goal together with developing and managing digital campaigns.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that search marketing manager responsibilities requires skills like "paid search," "search campaigns," "keyword research," and "campaign performance." But a marketing strategist might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "integrated marketing," "project management," "healthcare," and "web content."
On average, marketing strategists earn a lower salary than search marketing managers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, marketing strategists earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $100,214. Whereas search marketing managers have higher pay in the internet industry, with an average salary of $108,391.marketing strategists earn similar levels of education than search marketing managers in general. They're 4.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for search marketing managers in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Esther Swilley
Marketing Department Head, Associate Professor, L.L. McAninch Chair of Business Administration, Kansas State University
Search marketing manager vs. Marketing supervisor
Marketing Supervisors oversee the performance of employees in the marketing department. They ensure that the employees in the department adhere to company standards, policies, and guidelines. They create marketing campaigns, cascade these campaigns' mechanics to employees, and manage the follow-through. They also delegate tasks to their team members to ensure the achievement of the marketing goals. Marketing Supervisors should be creative, personable, and strategic. They should understand the company's context, market positioning, and branding to create campaigns that are in line with the company's identity.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from search marketing manager resumes include skills like "paid search," "google analytics," "google adwords," and "search campaigns," whereas a marketing supervisor is more likely to list skills in "customer satisfaction," "direct reports," "customer service," and "excellent interpersonal. "
Marketing supervisors earn the highest salary when working in the retail industry, where they receive an average salary of $77,363. Comparatively, search marketing managers have the highest earning potential in the internet industry, with an average salary of $108,391.marketing supervisors typically earn similar educational levels compared to search marketing managers. Specifically, they're 0.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Search marketing manager vs. Senior manager of marketing
A senior manager of marketing is responsible for monitoring the organization's marketing staff, reviewing and approving marketing campaigns, and identifying strategies to improve services that would generate more revenues and increase its profitability. The senior manager of marketing evaluates the current market trends to meet consumers' demands and organizes techniques to sell products and services to the target audience. They lead the development of promotional offers and brand awareness, interpret sales data, and monitor the marketing processes' progress.
Types of search marketing manager
Updated January 8, 2025
