E-commerce Specialist Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of an e-commerce specialist. 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 an e-commerce specialist.
Who is an E-commerce Specialist?
An e-commerce specialist is a professional who specializes in developing online sales strategies. They promote the services and products of the organization they work for. They also provide their services to several clients on an independent basis. E-commerce specialists usually work alongside other members of a company’s online sales and marketing team. In addition to developing online sales strategies, e-commerce specialists can help their clients improve their websites so that their customers can receive better service. This can help them increase sales, build brand loyalty and attract more repeat customers.
E-commerce Specialist Job Description
Below are the e-commerce specialist 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.
The duties and responsibilities of an e-commerce specialist include the following:
- Creating product listings on online marketplaces such as Amazon or eBay, using product photos, descriptions, and pricing information provided by the company.
- Conducting market research to identify new trends in the industry or among competitors.
- Analyzing website data to determine the most popular products or factors that may influence customers’ buying behavior.
- Maintaining relationships with suppliers to ensure products are delivered on time and meet quality standards.
- Managing stock by arranging returns, refunds, and exchanges where appropriate.
- Communicating with customers regarding order status, delivery dates, and delivery tracking numbers.
- Tracking analytics and optimizing marketing campaigns
- Generating reports on campaigns
- Implementing and refining SEO strategies
- Managing social media platforms
- Researching new marketing trends
- Updating e-commerce shop websites
- Developing, monitoring, writing, and updating content for e-commerce websites/portals
- Taking responsibility for the day-to-day management of the business in defined accounts.
- Developing standards, systems, and best practices for the creation, distribution, support, and placement of new products.
- Working with product management, sales, graphics, and other relevant departments to ensure content updates for accounts assigned for distribution on e-commerce platforms.
- Possessing a full understanding of best practices in SEO, pricing, media assets, inventory, and/or pre-orders.
- Multitasking, prioritizing, and successfully managing multiple deadlines simultaneously, while maintaining attention to detail.
- Using spreadsheets or Excel (pivot tables, vlookups, etc.)
- Making use of web analytics to stay organized and track changes in product sales and identify opportunities for improvement.
- Reviewing landing pages, product information, payment options, and any other relevant systems associated with the website to ensure they are visually appealing, accurate, and easy to use.
- Assisting in making decisions on promotions such as discounted offers and bundles available.
- Ensuring that payment options and promotional tabs are set up correctly.
- Working with relevant stakeholders to ensure the roll-out of changes to the site.
- Checking and uploading customer feedback on products.
- Monitoring site traffic and customer feedback to assess response to site updates.
Qualifications
There are several qualifications required for an e-commerce specialist position. These include:
Education
Most employers require e-commerce professionals to have a bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as business, computer science, or information technology. Subjects studied in these programs include e-commerce, business, statistics, programming, and marketing.
Training and Experience
Most e-commerce specialists receive on-the-job training when they take up a new position. Training can last several weeks and includes instruction on the company’s website, e-commerce platform, and any other technology or software that the specialist will use regularly.
Certification and Licensing
Although certification is not often required for e-commerce specialists, it can be useful for increasing employment opportunities and earning a higher salary.
Here are three categories of certifications you can obtain:
- General E-Commerce Certifications
Courses in this certification category cover basic topics such as setting up an online shop, developing an online brand, refining your marketing strategy, and other fundamental e-commerce best practices.
- E-Commerce Marketing Certification
These certifications focus on marketing and advertising in the digital sphere. This can include topics such as lead generation, SEO best practices, social media marketing, email marketing, and digital analytics.
- E-commerce Dropshipping Certification
These programs specialize in the best practices of dropshipping, where retailers sell goods by shipping them directly from third-party manufacturers to the consumer without having the product in stock. In addition to the basics of e-commerce, these courses can cover product selection, partner selection, and supplier selection.
Essential Skills
- Email Marketing
Email marketing is a form of digital marketing that involves sending emails to subscribers. E-commerce specialists often use email marketing to promote products, encourage customers to make purchases, and drive traffic to their websites. To develop these skills, you can create an email campaign with the help of your employer or with free email marketing software.
- Creativity
Creativity is the ability to come up with new ideas and solutions. E-commerce specialists often use their creativity when developing marketing campaigns, product descriptions, and other content for an online shop. They also use creativity when thinking of ways to increase website conversion or sales.
- Organization
Being organized means being able to keep track of multiple tasks and responsibilities. As an e-commerce professional, you may be responsible for managing several campaigns at once, so it is important to have organizational skills. You also need to be able to prioritize your work according to deadlines and customer needs. Strong organizational skills will help you to stay focused on your objectives and complete projects on time.
- Time management
Time management is the ability to plan and execute tasks to meet deadlines. E-commerce specialists often work under tight production schedules, so time management skills are essential for success. You can practice your time management skills by scheduling projects at work or school. Then keep track of how long it takes you to complete each task. This will help you understand which types of tasks take longer than others and allow you to make adjustments accordingly.
- Conversation Rate Optimization
Conversion rate optimization is the process of increasing the number of visitors to a website who complete the desired action, such as a purchase. An e-commerce specialist can use conversion rate optimization to increase sales by improving the layout and content of product pages or by changing the positioning of certain elements on the page.
- Web analytics
Web analytics is the process of collecting data about your website traffic and user activity. This information helps you understand how people interact with your site, which can allow you to make changes to improve its performance. For example, if a large portion of your audience tends to visit the About page first, you can reorganize your content so that visitors see your product offerings first.
- A/B testing
A/B testing is a method of comparing two versions of the same web page to see which one works best. For example, if you have an e-commerce site and you want to increase sales of a certain product, you can create two different versions of the product description with different wording or images, and then compare the impact of each version on sales. A/B testing can help you improve conversion rates and increase revenue for your employer.
- Analytical skills
This is the ability to examine data and draw logical conclusions. E-commerce specialists use analytical skills to analyze sales trends, study customer feedback and evaluate marketing campaigns. This skill set allows you to understand which aspects of your business are working well and which need to be improved.
- Attention to detail
Attention to detail is a skill that can help e-commerce specialists do their job well. The information must be accurate when entering product specifications, creating descriptions, and performing other tasks related to the products they sell. This allows customers to get accurate information about the products they are about to buy. E-commerce professionals must also pay close attention to detail when dealing with customer service issues or answering questions from potential customers.
- Pay Per Click (PPC)
PPC, or pay-per-click, is a form of online advertising. E-commerce specialists use PPC to promote their company’s products and drive traffic to their websites. This involves researching keywords that potential customers may search for and creating ads with those keywords. The e-commerce specialist can also analyze the data on which ads are most effective in driving sales and make changes accordingly.
- Google AdWords
AdWords is a service from Google that allows businesses to create and manage online ads. E-commerce specialists often use AdWords to promote their products on search engines such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo. E-commerce specialists must know how to set up an AdWords account and optimize it for success.
- SEO
SEO or search engine optimization is the process of optimizing a website to increase its visibility in search results. It involves using keywords and creating informative content that users are likely to find when searching for specific topics. E-commerce professionals often use SEO to help their clients’ websites rank higher in search engines so that potential customers can find them more easily.
- Website design
Web design is the process of creating a website. It involves using software to create and edit web pages, which are files containing text, images, and other content displayed on a computer screen. E-commerce specialists often use web design skills to create an online shop. They may also be responsible for maintaining companies’ existing websites.
- User experience
User experience is the sum total of all user interactions with your brand. This includes how easy it is to navigate your site, how quickly you respond to customer service requests, and how relevant your product descriptions are. Your ability to improve the user experience can help increase sales by making it easier for customers to find what they are looking for and encouraging them to repeat purchases.
- Flexibility
Flexibility is the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. As an e-commerce specialist, you may need to be flexible in your schedule and work environment, as e-commerce can be a 24/7 business. You may also have to change your marketing campaign strategy or launch products based on customer feedback. Flexibility will allow you to adjust quickly and take advantage of new opportunities.
- Social Media Advertising
Social media advertising is a skill that e-commerce specialists use to promote products and brands on social media platforms. This includes creating posts, developing ads, and analyzing the success of campaigns. E-commerce specialists often have multiple social media accounts that they can manage for their employer, therefore this skill is important to their work.
How to Become an E-commerce Specialist
To become an e-commerce specialist, you can follow the steps below:
- Get a university degree
While you can become an e-commerce specialist with a high school diploma or college degree, most employers prefer to hire candidates who have completed a bachelor’s degree program. Some of the most common bachelor’s degrees that aspiring e-commerce specialists earn include marketing, business, digital business, and related fields. There are several courses you can take throughout the undergraduate program that will help prepare you for this role. They include the following:
- E-law and risk management
- E-marketing theory and application
- Pricing analysis
- Digital Marketing
- Brand management
- Marketing analysis
- Direct marketing
- Lead generation
- Sales forecasting
- Get Certified
Obtaining additional certifications outside your undergraduate program can impress potential employers. It will also help you hone your skills as an e-commerce specialist.
- Gain work experience
Many aspiring e-commerce specialists take up marketing internships to gain work experience. This will help you learn how to apply your knowledge in the workplace. It will also allow you to work with inventory and digital shops. You can also apply for entry-level positions as a social media manager to gain experience with digital analytics and optimization tools.
- Advance your career
There are many ways to advance your career as an e-commerce specialist. The first step is to move into a managerial position within your company. This could be managing a team of e-commerce professionals or overseeing e-commerce operations for the entire company.
Where to work as an E-commerce Specialist
E-commerce specialists work in a variety of locations, including retail shops, corporate offices, and warehouses. They may work in teams or individually, and their work schedules vary depending on the needs of their employers. Many e-commerce specialists work full-time, but some may work part-time, evenings or weekends. Some of them prefer to travel to trade shows or to meet with clients.
E-commerce Specialist Salary Scale
The average annual salary of an E-commerce Specialist in different countries includes the following:
United States: $50,628
Canada: $51,101
United Kingdom: £34,080