So you’ve decided to make your living online. Congrats! There are plenty of ways to make money online, and one of the most viable options is to become a digital marketer or content marketer. What is the difference between these two jobs, you ask? Let’s dive into it.
What is a Digital Marketer?
To put it simply, a digital marketer is someone who creates marketing material for digital platforms like websites or apps. For example, a web designer might specialize in creating sleek, modern websites; a marketer might specialize in crafting amazing content that will attract, engage, and retain customers on social media channels; and an app developer might specialize in creating engaging mobile applications that solve customer problems.
The truth is that there is quite a bit of overlap between these roles, but they do have some key differences. For one, digital marketers and content marketers need to know how to drive traffic to a website or app. This involves using various digital marketing tactics, many of which are online (i.e., digital) while others are offline (i.e., traditional). For example, an SEO (search engine optimization) specialist might use content marketing to gain traction with prospective customers, leveraging SEO best practices to optimize content for certain keywords and phrases so that it can be easily found when someone searches for these terms.
What is a Content Marketer?
A content marketer is someone who creates marketing material that can be sourced and used by companies in any industry. This might include everything from videos to e-books to blog posts, depending on the type of content this person creates. For example, a video content marketer might create marketing videos for businesses to use on their websites and social media platforms.
The advantage of having a content marketer is that you can literally think of thousands of use cases for the type of content they create. This means that no matter what industry you are in, there is content marketing material that can be leveraged for your benefit. Additionally, content marketers usually hold an MBA or a bachelor’s degree along with a concentration in marketing or communications. This makes them particularly valuable within an organization, where they can play a vital role in the growth and success of a business.
The Differences Between These Two Careers
There are several key differences between digital marketers and content marketers, which makes one job easier or more suitable than the other. First, let’s discuss the overlap between these roles. These are the duties that a digital marketer and content marketer have in common:
- Creating and curating content
- Setting up email marketing campaigns
- Optimizing websites and apps for search engines
- Writing blog posts for publications and/or platforms like Medium and LinkedIn
- Using various tools to track, analyze, and report on marketing activity
- Building websites and apps
Now, let’s discuss some of the differences between a digital marketer and a content marketer. First, it is essential to understand the purpose of each role. A digital marketer’s purpose is to design and implement marketing strategies for digital platforms. This involves using various tools and methodologies to research the strengths and weaknesses of a business, understanding how existing customers behave, and devising a game plan to attract new customers. A content marketer’s purpose is to create marketing material for various platforms (i.e., websites, blogs, social media, and so on) that can be used to attract and retain customers.
The fact is that a business’ marketing needs can vary from one industry to the next, and one job to the next. That is why it is important to understand the differences between these two roles. A digital marketer should not be expected to do the same job as a content marketer. Even though they might have some of the same responsibilities (e.g., creating and curating content), they will carry out these responsibilities in very different ways. For example, a digital marketer might use SEO best practices to create content for a business blog while a content marketer might use storytelling to engage with customers on social media channels.
The Rise Of Online Freelancer Marketing
With more and more companies moving into the digital sphere, those hired to manage these online marketing efforts can be found anywhere in the world. In fact, some of the top freelancer marketing agencies can be found on freelancing websites like Upwork and Fiverr, allowing digital marketers to work remotely from anywhere.
This trend of freelance marketing has led to the rise of independent marketing contractors who can take on a myriad of marketing projects, from managing and optimizing a company’s social media accounts to designing print ads and web banners, and writing SEO material.
The trend of working remotely hasn’t just affected marketing. Product management, information architecture, technical writing, and even human resource management have all seen a big shift towards remote work. This trend seems to be unstoppable, and for good reason. People want to be able to work remotely, and employers want to hire remote workers to save costs and increase productivity.
Becoming A ‘One-Man-Team’
While there is certainly a place for remote teams, there is also a place for solo marketing. Just because a business is digital doesn’t mean that they have to operate solely online. In fact, many businesses operate entirely offline, using digital marketing tactics to attract customers and gain traction (i.e., Facebook Ads, Google Adwords, and so on).
The truth is that marketing is a vast and complicated subject, and one that doesn’t always fit into a neatly formed box. That is why it is important to understand the differences between a digital marketer and a content marketer. Knowing the purpose of each role will help you choose the right person for the job, and enable you to form a much more effective marketing team. Perhaps the most important difference between these roles is the way in which they approach their work. A digital marketer can be thought of as a ‘jack of all trades’, while a content marketer can be viewed as a’master of a few.’ This means that even though he or she might not be an expert in SEO or content creation, the content marketer will have a much deeper knowledge of his or her niche than the digital marketer, enabling them to choose the right tools for the job and carry out the project with excellence.