Digital Strategists
A digital strategist’s job description can vary depending on which department their job role sits within. They commonly work within Digital Transformation, developing and implementing digital transformation strategies, conducting gap analysis, defining the target state, identifying and prioritising initiatives, and collaborating with cross-functional teams. They also develop business cases for each initiative, monitor progress, and report to stakeholders with regular updates. They play a crucial role in driving digital transformation within the organisation, ensuring that it remains competitive and agile in an increasingly digital world.
This individual’s role may also sit within Digital Marketing, IT, or any other department where their role may differ. Their responsibilities may also vary from company to company as their needs require.
Technical Skills to Look For on a Digital Strategist’s CV
The most important technical skills for hiring managers to look for on CVs for this role will depend on the specific requirements of the role and the organisation. However, the most essential technical skills hiring managers should look for include the following:
Digital strategists must be proficient in digital marketing tools because it enables them to work more efficiently and effectively, analyse data accurately and derive actionable insights, gain a competitive edge, and develop and execute innovative, data-driven, and effective campaigns. The digital marketing tools they might have experience in are Google Analytics, Google AdWords, Hootsuite, Sprout Social, Mailchimp, and HubSpot.
Effective communication and collaboration are critical to the success of digital initiatives, but this element of the job can be immensely time-consuming. Therefore, someone in this role must be fluent in technology that enables them to communicate and collaborate efficiently. These tools facilitate working with cross-functional teams, managing workflows, tracking progress, and ensuring objectives align with the organisation’s digital goals. Collaboration tools also help streamline processes and ensure digital initiatives are executed efficiently and effectively. Technologies to look for on an applicant’s CV include Asana, Trello, Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom.
Professionals applying for this role need a solid understanding of web development technologies, including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and popular content management systems like WordPress, Drupal, and Magento. While not necessarily responsible for web development, digital strategists must understand these tools’ technical capabilities and limitations to develop effective digital strategies.
Professionals in this job must understand how search engines work, how algorithms rank websites and the importance of keywords and backlinks. Such knowledge is necessary to develop and execute SEO and SEM strategies that increase website traffic and improve the visibility of the organisation’s digital assets. The tools and technologies to look for include Google Analytics, Google AdWords, Moz, SEMRush, and Ahrefs.
While it is not strictly necessary for applicants to have in-depth knowledge of UX design, understanding UX principles is highly beneficial. User experience is a critical component of a successful digital strategy. Having a basic understanding of UX, such as usability, accessibility, and user-centred design, can help digital strategists communicate more effectively with UX designers and ensure that their strategies are informed by user research and testing. Popular UX tools and technologies include Sketch or Adobe XD.
Data is essential for developing effective digital strategies. Therefore digital strategists must be able to manage, analyse and interpret data to gain insights and plan strategies. They should be proficient in using data analysis tools and techniques, such as statistical analysis, data mining, and data cleaning, and be able to turn complex data sets into actionable insights. They might use tools like Tableau, Google Data Studio, or Excel. A basic understanding of data privacy, security and compliance with data protection regulations such as GDPR or CCPA is also essential.
Knowledge of emerging technologies is vital for digital strategists because the digital landscape constantly evolves, with new technologies and tools continually being developed. Therefore, keeping up-to-date with emerging technologies and understanding how they can help the business achieve its goals is critical for developing effective digital strategies. They might prove this knowledge by researching and testing new platforms, reading industry publications or attending conferences. While these are not necessarily things they might include on their CV, you may wish to discuss emerging trends and their potential impact on your business during job interviews.
Soft Skills To Look For When Hiring Digital Strategists
Soft skills are crucial in candidates for this position, as they work in a highly collaborative and dynamic environment where effective communication, teamwork, and leadership are vital for success. While technical skills are essential, some might argue that their soft skills differentiate a good digital strategist from an exceptional one. Some of the most critical soft skills to look for in CVs for this vacancy include:
The ability to articulate complex ideas and strategies effectively is crucial in the digital space. Someone in this role will also regularly converse with colleagues and shareholders at all levels and often people with little technical expertise. Therefore they must be able to choose the appropriate language for their audience.
Digital strategists must be able to think critically and strategically to align their work with business objectives and goals.
Analysing data and insights to inform decision-making is critical in the digital space.
Digital strategists must be able to think creatively to develop innovative solutions and campaigns that resonate with their target audience.
The digital space is constantly evolving, and digital strategists must be able to adapt to new challenges and opportunities.
Digital strategists must be able to lead teams, manage projects, and provide guidance and direction to colleagues.
Developers should be able to think creatively and develop innovative solutions to problems.
Collaboration and teamwork are essential to the success of digital strategies, and digital strategists must be able to work effectively with colleagues, stakeholders, and clients.
Are Qualifications Necessary for Digital Strategists?
There is no one specific qualification required for a digital strategist, and many routes into the job, so individuals may arrive in this position with various qualifications. Degrees in marketing or business or certifications in digital marketing, UX/UI design, data analytics, or project management are all relevant. However, real-world experience, a strong portfolio, and a passion for digital marketing and technology can also make potential talent a valuable addition to a team.
Challenges Employers Face When Hiring Digital Strategists
Employers who snap up the best available talent for these roles are those with a strong employer brand, invest in employee training and development, offer competitive salaries and benefits and where people have fun in their jobs. Even then, they may face the following challenges in the search for suitable talent:
The digital space is constantly evolving, and job requirements for digital strategists may change rapidly, making it challenging for employers to keep up.
With the increasing importance of digital marketing, the demand for digital strategists is high, making it a competitive field for employers to hire in.
The digital marketing field requires a diverse skill set, and finding candidates with the right combination of technical and soft skills can be challenging for employers.
With the high demand for digital strategists, there is a shortage of skilled candidates, making it difficult for employers to find the right talent.
Skilled digital strategists command high salaries, and meeting their salary expectations can be challenging for some employers.
Digital strategists work in a highly collaborative and dynamic environment, and finding candidates who fit the company’s culture and values can be challenging.
How We Can Help
With two decades of experience in hiring digital professionals, we help employers overcome these challenges by providing the following benefits:
Tap into our extensive network and can reach a wider pool of candidates. Our expert resourcing team can also help you tap into the passive market that may not be actively looking for job opportunities.
We have in-depth knowledge of the digital marketing industry and can provide valuable insights into industry trends, salary benchmarks, and skill requirements.
Our rigorous screening and assessment processes identifies only suitable candidates with the right skills and experience. Weeding out irrelevant applicants saves time and effort throughout the hiring process.
We get to know you and understand your business to match candidates for cultural fit. Selecting individuals who match your company’s values and working environment results in harmony within your team and greater longevity.
Our service covers permanent and contract staffing solutions, allowing you to manage your workforce according to business needs.
We provide ongoing support and guidance to our clients, ensuring a smooth and successful hiring process.
The information on this page is correct at the time of publication. However, as technology evolves so rapidly, the requirements of this role may change. For tailored hiring advice unique to your circumstances, please speak to our expert team of IT, Digital and Marketing recruiters.
