Social Media Manager vs Digital Marketing Manager, what’s the difference and which one do you need for your business?

The problem is that there are a lot of people who claim that they are social media managers or digital marketing managers, but it turns out that they really don’t know what they are talking about. This is why you need to know what to look for when hiring a social media manager or a digital marketing manager for your business.

We're going to dive into the realm of digital marketing and examine how the Social Media Manager and the Digital Marketing Manager differ from one another. Businesses rely largely on online platforms to interact with their audience and stimulate growth in the current digital era. Comprehending the distinct duties and competencies of these experts is vital for efficacious digital marketing tactics. Now let's examine the differences between these positions, their primary responsibilities, and how they support a business's overall marketing initiatives.

1. A Social Media Manager's Role

What is a social media manager?

Social media is an internet marketing channel that allows you to interact with your customers and potential customers on social networks like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram. A social media manager is responsible for making sure that you are using social media to your advantage. He or she is responsible for posting on your social media profiles, responding to your customer’s questions, and, on some occasions, creating new content for your social media profiles.

If you are running a business, chances are that you are already using social media to some extent. You are posting on your Facebook page or on your Twitter account, but at this point, you are doing everything all by yourself. You are posting, you are responding to customers’ questions, and you are creating new content. With a social media manager, you will be able to delegate some of these tasks to someone else, and you will free up some time for yourself.

Social media now plays a crucial role in contemporary marketing strategy since it gives companies a direct channel of connection with their target market. Creating and implementing social media strategies on a variety of platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and others, is the responsibility of a social media manager. Their main priorities include taking care of social media accounts, producing interesting material, and developing deep relationships with followers.

Key responsibilities of a Social Media Manager include:

Content Creation: Crafting compelling and relevant content, including posts, images, videos, and graphics that align with the brand's tone and voice.

Community Management: Building and nurturing a community of followers by responding to comments, messages, and reviews, and engaging in conversations.

Analytics and Reporting: Monitoring social media metrics, tracking campaign performance, and generating reports to assess the effectiveness of strategies and identify areas for improvement.

Social listening: monitoring conversations and trends on social media to gain insights into consumer preferences, sentiment, and industry trends.

2. A Digital Marketing Manager's Role

What is a digital marketing manager?

For the most part, digital marketing is marketing that doesn’t take place in a physical store. Of course, there is still a lot of offline marketing, but the majority of marketing today is digital marketing. What does that mean? It means that you can either create digital ads or you can promote your business online. You can create a website or a blog, and you can promote it online. You can create a YouTube channel, and you can promote it online. In other words, digital marketing can take place everywhere on the internet.

So, what does a digital marketing manager do? Well, a digital marketing manager is responsible for creating and promoting your online marketing. Depending on the size of your budget and your needs, your digital marketing manager can be responsible for creating and promoting your website and your blog, and he or she can be responsible for creating and promoting your social media profiles and your YouTube channel.

Even though social media is an essential part of digital marketing, it is only one element of the larger picture. To accomplish company objectives, a digital marketing manager approaches online marketing holistically, utilizing a range of platforms and tactics. In addition to social media, email marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, content marketing, and more, they supervise the creation and execution of all-encompassing digital marketing strategies.
 

Key responsibilities of a Digital Marketing Manager include:

Strategy Development: Creating a cohesive digital marketing strategy aligned with the company's overall objectives, target audience, and budget.

Channel Management: Optimizing and managing various digital channels to maximize reach and engagement. This includes social media platforms, email marketing software, content management systems, and other relevant tools.

Data Analysis: Monitoring and analyzing data from different digital marketing campaigns to measure performance, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions for optimization.

Budget Management: Allocating resources effectively across different digital marketing channels to maximize ROI and achieve marketing objectives.

3. Collaboration and Synergy

Although the responsibilities of a digital marketing manager and a social media manager are different, they can coexist. For a digital marketing plan to be comprehensive and well-coordinated, cooperation between these positions is crucial. A proficient team in digital marketing recognizes the mutual benefits of social media and other digital platforms, capitalizing on their advantages to optimize outcomes. Both positions are vital to a business's marketing plan, but they differ in terms of their areas of responsibility and areas of concentration. Building an active social media community, producing interesting content, and administering social media platforms are the main responsibilities of a social media manager. A digital marketing manager, on the other hand, approaches digital marketing holistically, utilizing a range of platforms and tactics to promote overall marketing success.
 

In conclusion, both Social Media Managers and Digital Marketing Managers are essential components of a company's marketing team. While a Social Media Manager specializes in managing social media platforms and engaging with the target audience, a Digital Marketing Manager oversees a broader range of digital marketing channels and strategies. By leveraging the unique strengths and expertise of both roles, businesses can effectively navigate the digital landscape and drive their marketing efforts toward success. While a Social Media Manager excels in creating captivating content and fostering engagement on social media platforms, a Digital Marketing Manager takes a holistic approach, integrating multiple digital channels and strategies to achieve overarching marketing goals. By recognizing the distinct contributions of each role and leveraging their expertise, businesses can maximize their online presence, build brand awareness, and drive meaningful customer interactions. Ultimately, the collaboration between a Social Media Manager and a Digital Marketing Manager forms a powerful partnership that propels businesses forward in the digital realm and helps them stay ahead in today's competitive market.