Digital Consultant Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a digital consultant. You can use our job description template in this article to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a digital consultant.
Who is a Digital Consultant?
A digital consultant is a business strategist and adviser who are knowledgeable about digital channels, platforms, tools, and techniques. They assist businesses in developing and implementing marketing, public relations, web development, branding, and other digital strategies. Companies hire digital consultants to reach a larger audience, engage potential and current customers, improve marketing strategies, and increase sales.
Digital Consultant Job Description
Below are the digital consultant job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
Digital consultants typically have a wide range of responsibilities, which can include the following:
- Check in with clients to see if they are happy with their website or social media presence.
- Investigate new technologies and software to determine which solutions will best meet the needs of your clients.
- Create an effective marketing strategy for each client based on their business objectives and goals.
- Create marketing materials such as brochures, flyers, catalogs, and other printed materials to attract potential customers to the client’s business.
- Create a website design that meets the needs of the client and is search engine friendly.
- Examine an existing client’s website to see if it can be improved to increase conversion rates or add new features.
- Conduct market research on current competitors to identify opportunities for new products or services that competitors are not providing.
- Communicate with clients about website updates and revisions when needed.
- Provide technical assistance to clients who are experiencing issues with their website or other digital media.
Qualifications
A digital consultant should typically have the following qualifications:
- Education: Although no specific educational path is required for digital consulting, the majority of digital consultants hold a bachelor’s degree. Aspiring digital consultants typically pursue degrees in marketing, business administration, or a closely related field. To expand their industry knowledge and earn additional credentials, some digital consultants may pursue graduate degrees such as a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or a Master’s degree in marketing.
- Certifications: Because there are numerous digital strategies, digital consultants frequently have certificates recognizing their expertise in specific areas. Certifications can be for an entire digital field, such as marketing, or a specific set of skills within a larger category, such as email marketing. Some individuals may also obtain certifications for specific digital channels, such as social media platforms.
- Experience: Some digital consultants begin their careers as consultants with no prior work experience in the field. Most digital consultants, on the other hand, begin their consulting businesses after gaining relevant work experience.
Many digital consultants start their careers at a marketing agency or in a company’s marketing department. They may specialize in one type or aspect of marketing, such as content marketing, or they may work with a variety of marketing techniques. Digital consultants may have previously worked in public relations, business administration, project management, or another related field.
Essential Skills
To be successful as a digital consultant, you must have the following skills.
- Technical abilities: Technical skills refer to your knowledge and expertise in a specific field. You may be required to have a variety of technical skills as a digital consultant, such as coding, software development, and graphic design. A diverse set of technical skills can enable you to provide more comprehensive services to your clients.
- Possession of Business Intelligence: A digital consultant must be well-versed in business practices and strategies. This includes knowing how to write a business plan, market a company, and create a website to help a company grow. You can use your business expertise to assist clients in making sound decisions about their digital marketing strategies.
- Excellent communication skills: The ability to convey information to others clearly and concisely is referred to as communication skills. You may be communicating with clients, other consultants, and team members as a digital consultant. Strong communication skills can help you convey information in a way that others can understand.
- Excellent problem-solving abilities: As a digital consultant, you may be in charge of identifying and resolving issues that arise during the creation of a digital strategy. Your problem-solving abilities can assist you in identifying the source of the problem and developing a solution that meets the needs of the client.
- Project Management Capabilities: Project management skills are essential for digital consultants because they allow them to manage the various tasks and projects that their clients assign to them. For example, if a client requests that a digital consultant build an e-commerce website, the digital consultant will need project management skills to ensure that all of the necessary steps are completed. They also require these skills to track their time and bill their clients appropriately.
- Web Development abilities: The process of creating websites and web applications is known as web development. Web development skills are frequently used by digital consultants to create digital products for their clients. Web developers must know how to code, which entails using programming languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. They must also understand how to design for various devices such as desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
- Innovative abilities: To solve client problems, digital consultants frequently employ novel approaches. They may devise novel applications of technology or software to assist clients in achieving their objectives. A digital consultant, for example, might recommend an automation tool that allows the client’s customers to complete tasks on their own. This solution has the potential to save the client time and money while increasing customer satisfaction.
- Web analytics expertise: Web analytics is the process of gathering information about the traffic and user activity on your website. Web analytics are used by digital consultants to determine how users interact with a website, what content they find most engaging, and where there may be room for improvement. Strong web analytics skills can assist digital consultants in evaluating their clients’ websites and making informed decisions on how to improve them.
- Understanding of digital marketing: Digital marketing skills are required for digital consultants because they are frequently used when developing and implementing a company’s online strategy. Digital marketing entails promoting products or services through the use of various types of technology, such as social media platforms, email campaigns, and search engine optimization.
- Excellent Analytical Skills: Analytical skills are used by digital consultants to evaluate and interpret data. They look at the outcomes of a digital marketing campaign, for example, to see what worked and what didn’t. This necessitates them reviewing large amounts of data and making sense of it. Analytical skills are also used by digital consultants when creating reports on their work or presenting their findings to clients.
- Creativity: The ability to generate new ideas and solutions is referred to as creativity. When brainstorming ways to improve a company’s digital presence or developing new marketing campaigns, digital consultants frequently use creativity. Creativity can also be useful in coming up with novel ways to meet client objectives, such as using less expensive methods of reaching their target audience.
- Understanding of Search Engine Optimization (SEO): SEO is the process of improving a website’s visibility in search engine results. SEO is frequently used by digital consultants to assist clients in improving their online presence and driving more traffic to their websites. This skill set is also useful for digital marketers, who may work with clients to optimize existing sites or build new ones from the ground up.
- Ability to Analyze Conversion Rate Optimization: A digital consultant must be able to analyze data and make changes to a website or app to increase conversions. This means they must be familiar with analytics software, which can assist them in determining which aspects of a website are most effective at converting visitors into customers. They also need to understand how to change elements on a page to improve conversion rates.
- Business Consulting Skills: The ability to analyze a company’s needs and provide solutions is referred to as business consulting. Digital consultants frequently assist businesses in improving their digital presence, which necessitates business consulting skills. For example, if a company wants to increase its online sales, a digital consultant may recommend website changes that will help them achieve this goal.
- Understanding of Social Media Marketing: The process of creating and distributing content on social media platforms is known as social media marketing. This skill is frequently used by digital consultants to promote their client’s products or services, build brand awareness, and drive traffic to websites. To be successful in social media marketing, digital marketers must understand how to create engaging posts that encourage people to share and interact with a company’s social media accounts.
- Strategic Thinking Capabilities: Strategic thinking is the ability to see how your actions affect the goals of a company. Because digital consultants frequently collaborate with marketing teams, they must understand how their projects contribute to larger goals. Strategic thinking also entails planning ahead of time and anticipating potential roadblocks that may arise during a project.
- Understanding of User Experience Design: The process of creating a digital product that provides an enjoyable and seamless user experience is known as user experience design. Digital consultants with strong user experience design skills can create user-friendly websites, applications, and other products for their target audience. This skill set also includes understanding how users interact with various types of technology, allowing you to make informed decisions about your designs.
- Understanding of Content Strategy: Content strategy is the process of creating and organizing content for a website or app. It entails deciding what information to include, how to format it, and where it should appear on a page. This skill can assist digital consultants in creating more effective websites that are easier to navigate. They may also use this skill when developing marketing campaigns, as they frequently need to determine which type of content will most effectively resonate with their target audience.
- Excellent Communication Skills: The ability to convey information clearly and understandably is referred to as communication. Because digital consultants frequently work with clients from various backgrounds, they must have excellent communication skills to ensure that everyone understands their ideas and suggestions. Strong communication also ensures that clients understand the next steps that the digital consultant recommends.
How to Become a Digital Consultant
Here are some steps you can take to become a digital consultant.
- Obtain a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, or a related field: Most digital consultant positions require a bachelor’s degree as the minimum educational requirement. A degree in computer science, information technology, or a related field will give you a solid understanding of how websites and other online platforms work. Data structures, algorithms, software development, network security, operating systems, and database management are examples of course topics.
While it is not always required, many employers prefer candidates with a marketing or business administration concentration in addition to their IT or computer science major. This gives you a better understanding of the requirements of both sides of the job.
- Learn about digital marketing and advertising: Consider internships or entry-level positions in digital marketing and advertising while pursuing your bachelor’s degree. Entry-level jobs may require you to update websites, manage social media accounts, or create advertisements. It’s critical to stay current on industry trends and developments as you advance in your career. This can be accomplished by reading blogs and articles about digital marketing regularly.
- Consider pursuing a master’s degree or digital marketing certification: While a master’s degree is not always required for Digital Consultant positions, it can help you stand out from the crowd and provide your clients with additional services. Some employers prefer advanced-degree consultants because they are more likely to stay current on industry developments. If you want to advance into management roles in the field, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Digital Marketing or another business-related field may be beneficial. Analytics, online marketing, social media, e-commerce, and public relations are all common courses in an MBA program.
- Improve your communication and interpersonal skills: Because you interact with clients, vendors, and other stakeholders throughout the consulting process, communication, and interpersonal skills are essential for digital consultants. Strong communication skills allow you to convey information to all project participants and ensure that everyone understands your expectations. Interpersonal skills enable you to collaborate effectively with others to achieve common goals.
- Keep up with changes in the digital landscape: The digital landscape is constantly changing, and digital consultants must stay current on the latest trends. This can be accomplished by reading industry publications, following industry influencers, and monitoring changes made by competitors.
For example, if you notice a competitor has increased their website’s conversion rate by 10%, you should investigate how they did so and apply similar strategies to your client websites.
- Join professional organizations like the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB): The IAB is the industry’s leading trade organization for digital advertising. It provides educational resources as well as networking opportunities to keep you up to date on industry developments. You can become a member of the IAB as an individual or through your employer. Membership fees are based on your level of participation.
- Maintain a portfolio of your work to showcase your skills: A portfolio is a must-have tool for digital consultants looking to showcase their work and gain new clients. You can keep a personal website or blog where you post your projects, or you can display your portfolio on professional platforms like LinkedIn or Behance. A strong portfolio will allow you to demonstrate the quality of your work to potential clients and give them confidence in your ability to deliver results. It also enables you to highlight specific skills you possess in areas relevant to a client’s project.
Where to Work as a Digital Consultant
Corporate offices, government agencies, and private consulting firms are all places where digital consultants work. They are usually full-time employees, and some may work more than 40 hours per week to meet deadlines or complete projects. Many digital consultants travel for client meetings or to attend conferences. Some jobs may necessitate travel to different countries. Working can be stressful, and digital consultants may be required to work long hours to meet deadlines.
Digital Consultant Salary Scale
In the United States, the average Digital Consultant salary is $87,583 per year or $44.91 per hour. Entry-level salaries begin at $60,000 per year, with most experienced workers earning up to $116,100 per year.
As of September 26, 2022, the average Digital Consultant salary is $71,847, with a salary range of $57,299 to $94,755.
In Canada, the average digital consultant salary is $72,000 per year or $36.92 per hour. Entry-level salaries begin at $61,800 per year, with the most experienced workers earning up to $95,569 per year.
In Ireland, the average digital consultant salary is €57,500 per year or €29.49 per hour. Starting salaries for entry-level positions start at €48,125 per year, with most experienced workers earning up to €75,000 per year.
In Australia, the average digital consultant salary is $87,000 per year or $44.62 per hour. Entry-level salaries begin at $71,875 per year, with the most experienced workers earning up to $128,879 per year.
A digital consultant in Germany can expect to earn around 4,900 EUR per month. Salaries range from 2,260 EUR (the lowest) to 7,800 EUR (the highest) (highest).
In Nigeria, a digital consultant can expect to earn around 435,000 NGN per month. Salaries range from 209,000 NGN (the lowest) to 684,000 NGN (the highest) (highest).
