What is a digital manager and how to become one ?

Digital managers are responsible for managing a company's digital strategy. Their role is to maximise the benefits of digital technology, implementing web strategies and tools to improve online visibility, SEO, customer engagement and conversion. The role of digital manager covers the fields of project management, customer relations, marketing and digital communications.

What are a digital manager’s missions?

The digital manager's responsibilities are manifold. Generally under the supervision of the marketing and communications director, the digital manager is responsible for defining action plans across a range of media to promote a service or product on the web and generate more traffic.

To successfully implement digital marketing strategies, this expert oversees website management, including content creation and search engine optimisation (SEO). They also manage the company's presence on social networks and other digital channels, implementing various levers such as online advertising campaigns, e-mailing and inbound marketing. This highly varied position involves the daily analysis of quantitative indicators in order to measure both the audience and effectiveness of digital marketing strategies. Based on the results, the digital manager suggests areas for improvement in terms of positioning and digital identity to management.

To ensure consistency between digital projects and achieve corporate objectives, digital managers work in collaboration with community managers, content managers, web editors and sales teams.

What are the skills and qualities of a digital manager?

To work as a digital manager, you need a certain number of management, marketing and project management skills. The digital manager has a sound knowledge of digital technologies such as social media, web applications, SEO, online advertising and influencer marketing. Generally working as digital project managers before reaching this position, digital managers are able to manage a variety of projects efficiently, setting priorities, managing budgets and monitoring progress. In an international working environment, or when using certain software programs, fluency in English is appreciated and valued.

In addition to these professional skills, digital managers need to have an analytical mind, as well as creative and organisational skills. The ability to communicate clearly, to adapt and to lead a team are also essential qualities for the position of digital manager.

How much does a digital manager earn?

Remuneration for this position can vary considerably depending on a number of factors, such as level of experience, level of responsibility, company size and sector, and location.

Upon graduation, a junior digital manager can earn an average salary of between €30,000 and €40,000 a year. For more experienced staff, annual remuneration can reach between €45,000 and €65,000.

What are the career prospects of a digital manager?

As the years go by, the digital manager's responsibilities will increase. These professionals then have the opportunity to develop their career in a larger company, in a sector of activity that is close to their heart, internationally, or even as a digital marketing manager. They can also consider working on their own, providing consulting services to companies.

How do I become a digital manager?

To become a digital manager, you'll preferably want a 5-year degree in marketing, business or communications. Today, students have access to a wide range of digital-oriented professional training courses offered by business schools and universities.

To train for this profession, the IPAG Business School offers various training programmes. Students have the possibility to take the master’s degree in digital marketing. With its various specialisation modules, this training programme equips future graduates with the technical skills essential for the successful management of digital marketing strategies. After a bachelor's degree, you can go on to a specialised MBA from IPAG. This international curriculum enables students to acquire managerial skills and specialise in a particular branch of the digital industry. The IPAG Online school, dedicated to digital learning, also offers the MSc in digital marketing, a distance-learning course leading to a certificate.

Faced with the current challenges of digital transformation of companies, new digital professions (e-commerce manager, brand manager, web project manager, etc.) are recruiting on the job market. Discover IPAG's range of training courses to prepare tomorrow's digital managers.