What a Digital Marketing Strategist Really Does (And Why You Need One)

It is not enough to have an online presence; what truly matters is having a strategy that works.

Then, having a working strategy demands a need for a digital marketing strategist because new platforms are always emerging, changing algorithms, and increasing competition. As a result of this, your business needs someone who can cut through the noise, make sense of the data, and build a roadmap that leads to realistic growth.

This leads us to another question: what does a digital marketing strategist do? This article will uncover the core responsibilities, skills, and value digital marketing strategists bring to the table so as to consider hiring one or building a career on it.

Everything you need to know and why it could be the smartest move for your brand or career will be addressed in this comprehensive guide.

What Is a Digital Marketing Strategist?

We have to firstly answer the common question: what does a digital marketing strategist do? An expert responsible for planning, executing, and overseeing comprehensive digital campaigns that align with a brand’s goals is called a digital marketing strategist.

They take a big-picture view by identifying target audiences, to the point of choosing the right channels, authenticating performance metrics, and continuously optimizing results based on data.

The ultimate goal of every digital marketing strategist is to develop a clear strategy that produces visibility, engagement, and conversion across businesses’ focused digital platforms.

Ideally, they are considered as a bridge between creativity and analytics by using tools like Google Analytics, social media insights, and SEO platforms to make predictable and informed decisions.

A digital marketing strategist plays a prominent role in determining a brand’s online success, whether working independently or leading a team.

Key Responsibilities of a Digital Marketing Strategist

The primary focus of a digital marketing strategist is to design and manage campaigns that deliver measurable results. Although they have very complex and diverse responsibilities.

Let’s take a moment to explore their responsibilities one after the other:

• Market & Audience Research: A digital marketing strategist is skilled in diving into consumer behavior, market trends, and competitor analysis to identify where and how to reach the right audience effectively.
• Strategic Planning: This is considered to be one of their core responsibilities; they draft detailed funnel digital strategies, such as brand awareness and conversion. Digital marketing strategists primarily focused on data and performance goals as their foundation.
• Channel Selection: Digital marketing strategists decide which platforms work best for your business (e.g., SEO, social media, email, PPC) based on your target audience and objectives to prioritize for maximum impact.
• Content Direction: They work with content creators and designers. This is to make sure that content and messaging align with the brand’s strategy and resonate with the intended audience.
• Campaign Management: Apart from all the above-mentioned responsibilities, digital marketing strategists also oversee digital campaigns; they are also trained to track KPIs and adjust tactics based on performance data.
• Analytics & Reporting: They measure success and provide insights to guide future strategies by using different tools like Google Analytics, SEMrush, and Meta Business Suite.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Digital marketing strategists often work with developers, sales teams, and creative departments to make sure campaigns meet overall business goals.

In essence, every skilled and competent digital marketing strategist will be ready to turn data into action, ideas into execution, and strategies into revenue-driving results.

Essential Skills of a Digital Marketing Strategist

Whether you are considering launching a career in this path or you want to hire a digital marketing strategist for the progress of your business, the following are the right skills to look out for in every competent digital marketing strategist.

A digital marketing strategist must blend creativity with analytical thinking to deliver impactful strategies. Below are the core skills that define a successful strategist:

• Analytical Thinking: No digital marketing strategist dares joke with interpretation of data; this is crucial. A strategist must demonstrate a high level of competency when it comes to analyzing performance metrics and consumer behavior to make informed decisions.
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Search Engine Marketing (SEM) Knowledge: A competent digital marketing strategist should have both basic and advanced understanding of how search engines work. The knowledge of keyword research and paid advertising strategies is also essential to driving organic and paid traffic.
• Content Strategy: Businesses don’t just come up with content anyhow; they know what content to create, when to publish, and how to structure it for different platforms. This goes a long way to engaging audiences and supporting overall goals.
• Marketing Automation & Funnels: Strategists are often in the right position to design marketing funnels and use automation tools like HubSpot or Mailchimp to guide users, making sure that their journey is seamless from awareness to conversion.
• Tech-Savviness: This should not be overlooked. A digital marketing strategist must be familiar with tools such as Google Analytics, SEMrush, Ahrefs, social media schedulers, and CRM platforms. This will help to enhance efficiency and campaign precision.
• Communication & Leadership: Communication matters for the success of every organization. Whether you are operating as team leads or consultants, a digital marketing strategist must clearly communicate their strategies and collaborate effectively with executives, designers, writers, and developers.

The digital world is constantly envolving but all the above-mentioned skills enable a digital marketing strategist to build winning strategies and also execute and adapt to real-time changes.

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Why Your Business Needs a Digital Marketing Strategist

The online marketplace is competitive, but amidst the competition there are higher tendencies of success if the right strategy is set in motion.

This implies that having a website or running ads isn’t enough; every business needs a proven strategy that delivers results, and this is exactly what a digital marketing strategist brings to the table.

They assist in pulling up your business and ensure that your marketing efforts align with your long-term goals so as to make every campaign support growth, visibility, and revenue.

A lot of startups or established brands have already wasted time and resources on guesswork because they don’t have an active digital marketing strategist for their business.

A strategist critically analyzes what’s working, eliminates what’s not, and guides your team toward smarter decisions.

A digital marketing strategist can convert scattered efforts into a cohesive, high-impact marketing machine with their ability to keep up with digital trends, optimize cross-channel efforts, and interpret complex data.

When to Hire a Digital Marketing Strategist

If your marketing feels disjointed, inconsistent, or ineffective. This is the right time to consider hiring one because this single action could make all the difference between average results and real business growth. You should consider hiring a digital marketing strategist when:

• You’re launching a new product or brand from scratch and need a comprehensive online strategy.
• Your current digital efforts seem not to be yielding returns on investment (ROI), traffic, or conversions.
• You’re set to scale and expand your business and make sure that your sales and marketing are in sync for sustainable growth.
• You don’t know how to interpret analytics or set KPIs, and yet you need a data-driven strategy.
• You’re managing multiple channels (social media, email, paid ads, SEO) and need expert coordination.
• You’re spending money on ads but not seeing measurable results and outcomes.

It is okay to note that hiring a digital marketing strategist isn’t a luxury, but it’s a smart move that ensures every action you take online is intentional, purposeful, and effective.

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Digital Marketing Strategist Salary

Currently, a digital marketing strategist’s salary on average varies by location, experience, and industry. Check out the general overview below:

The United States pays $65,000–$95,000 annually. Sometimes, those with senior roles or those in major cities like New York or San Francisco can earn $100,000+ above

The United Kingdom’s annual payment ranges from £35,000 to £55,000.

Canada pays CA$60,000 – CA$85,000 annually.

Depending on experience and company size, India pays ₹6 LPA–₹15 LPA.

Competent remote freelancers have the potential to be earning $30–$100 per hour; this depends on the scope of the project and expertise.

One important thing to note is that your years of experience, certifications, and technical skills in SEO, PPC, and analytics can significantly influence your salary levels or scales.

Digital Marketing Strategist Jobs

The digital marketing strategists are in high demand across various companies like tech companies, e-commerce businesses, marketing agencies, SaaS platforms, startups, and corporations.

You will find them on popular platforms like LinkedIn Jobs, Indeed, Glassdoor, Remote.co, We Work Remotely, and Upwork (for freelance gigs).

You can use some keywords like “marketing strategist,” “marketing strategy lead,” and “digital campaign manager” to filter out the key role on any of the platforms listed above.

Digital Marketing Strategist Job Description

The main responsibility of a digital marketing strategist is to create, implement, and optimize digital strategies that align with business goals. A typical job description includes:

• Perform market research and analyze competitors.
• Create and implement integrated digital marketing strategies across multiple channels.
• Evaluate website traffic, conversion rates, and the effectiveness of campaigns.
• Work together with content, design, and sales teams.
• Enhance SEO, SEM, and paid advertising initiatives.
• Present performance insights and suggest enhancements.

Digital Marketing Strategist Course

There is a list of top-rated courses you can take online to become a digital marketing strategist. Check them out in the list below:

• Google Digital Garage Fundamentals of Digital Marketing (Free).
• Digital Marketing Specialization by the University of Illinois on Coursera. It covers SEO, analytics, social media, and strategy.
• Digital Marketing Certification by HubSpot Academy. This course is free. It focuses on inbound marketing, content strategy, and campaign building.
• Become a Digital Marketing Specialist Path, a rich course powered by LinkedIn Learning. It includes 10+ courses with certificates upon completion.
• The Complete Digital Marketing Course on the Udemy platform. The course is divided into 12 modules, which include Google Ads, Facebook Ads, SEO, and email marketing.

Frequently Asked Questions on Digital Marketing Strategist

Conclusion

A digital marketing strategist plays a crucial role in guiding and monitoring the online success of your businesses by analyzing market trends, identifying your target audiences, and crafting tailored strategies that drive brand awareness, engagement, and conversions.

They help businesses maximize their marketing efforts efficiently and effectively by leveraging data-driven insights and the latest digital tools.

Hiring and partnering with a skilled digital marketing strategist is essential to stay competitive, reach your ideal customers, and achieve measurable business growth.

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