Marketing Strategist vs. Marketing Manager: What Are the Differences?

Marketing is a critical function in any business. It helps to promote products and services, build customer relationships and generate leads. There are many different marketing roles, each with its own set of responsibilities. Two common positions are that of marketing strategist and marketing manager. In this article, we discuss the similarities and differences between these two job titles, and we provide additional information on other marketing roles you may be interested in pursuing.

What is a Marketing Strategist?

Marketing Strategists develop marketing plans and campaigns to promote a company’s products or services. They conduct market research to understand customer needs and preferences, then they create messaging and promotional materials that will appeal to these customers. Marketing Strategists also track the results of marketing campaigns and adjust their strategies as needed to improve results. They often work closely with other members of the marketing team, such as graphic designers, copywriters, web developers and sales staff, to ensure that all marketing efforts are coordinated and align with the company’s overall business goals.

What is a Marketing Manager?

Marketing Managers develop and oversee marketing campaigns to promote products or services. They work with sales, public relations and product development staff. Marketing Managers create pricing strategies with the goal of maximizing profits and market share. They identify new markets and target audiences. They also develop sales plans and advertising campaigns. Marketing Managers typically have a bachelor’s degree in marketing or a related field. They also have experience in sales, marketing research or product development.

Marketing Strategist vs. Marketing Manager

Here are the main differences between a marketing strategist and a marketing manager.

Job Duties

Marketing strategists perform a variety of duties, depending on the needs of their company and the scope of their job responsibilities. They might work with other members of a marketing team to develop a company’s overall marketing strategy, then oversee its implementation. This could include overseeing the creation of advertisements, conducting market research and ensuring that the campaign reaches its intended audience.

Marketing managers typically have more responsibility within a company for creating and executing marketing campaigns. They often work closely with teams like advertising and sales to ensure that a particular campaign is successful. Because of this, marketing managers usually focus more on the day-to-day operations of a campaign rather than its overarching strategy.

Job Requirements

Marketing strategists typically need at least a bachelor’s degree in marketing, business administration or another related field. Some employers prefer candidates to have a master’s degree as well, but it is not required for entry-level positions. Additionally, many marketing strategists pursue certifications through the American Marketing Association (AMA) or the Institute for Advertising Ethics (IAE). These organizations offer training programs that teach professionals how to use marketing software and other tools they might need on the job.

Marketing managers usually need at least a bachelor’s degree in marketing, business administration or another related field. Some employers prefer candidates to have a master’s degree as well, but it is not required for entry-level positions. Additionally, many marketing managers pursue certifications through the American Marketing Association (AMA) or the Institute for Advertising Ethics (IAE). These organizations offer training programs that teach professionals how to use marketing software and other tools they might need on the job.

Work Environment

Marketing strategists and marketing managers typically work in different environments. Marketing strategists often work from home or an office, depending on the company they’re working for. They may also travel to meet with clients and attend conferences.

Marketing managers usually work in offices during regular business hours. They may have more interaction with customers than a strategist does because of their managerial role.

Skills

There are several similarities in the skills used by marketing strategists and marketing managers. Both roles require excellent communication skills, as they need to be able to explain their ideas clearly to colleagues, clients and other stakeholders. They also both need strong analytical skills to be able to understand data and make informed decisions about marketing campaigns.

However, there are some key differences in the skills used by these two professionals. Marketing strategists tend to focus more on the big picture and developing long-term plans for marketing initiatives, while marketing managers are more focused on the day-to-day execution of marketing campaigns. As a result, marketing strategists benefit from having strong strategic planning skills, while marketing managers need to have strong project management skills. Additionally, marketing managers often need to have budgeting and financial skills to track campaign spending and ensure that campaigns stay within budget.

Salary

Marketing strategists earn an average salary of $67,488 per year, while marketing managers earn an average salary of $79,797 per year. Both of these salaries may vary depending on the size of the company, the location of the job and the level of experience the employee has prior to taking the job.