What is digital media?

Digital media refers to any content, information, or communication distributed through digital platforms such as websites, social media, mobile apps, email, and search engines. It encompasses a wide range of formats, including text, images, videos, audio, and interactive elements. Digital media has revolutionized the way businesses connect with their potential clients, enabling personalized, targeted, and measurable marketing campaigns.

What does a digital media freelancer do?

A digital media freelancer leverages various online channels to help businesses achieve their marketing goals. They undertake several key tasks, including:

Developing and implementing digital marketing strategies

Digital media freelancers work closely with marketing managers and business owners to create comprehensive strategies tailored to the business's objectives. They identify target audiences, define key performance indicators (KPIs), and outline effective tactics to reach and engage potential customers.

Managing social media presence

Digital media freelancers excel in creating engaging content, scheduling posts, and managing social media accounts across platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and more. They use their expertise to build a strong social media presence, foster meaningful interactions with the target audience, and drive brand awareness.

Conducting market research and audience analysis

Digital media freelancers conduct thorough market research and audience analysis to ensure successful digital marketing campaigns. They gather insights about consumer preferences, behavior, and trends to inform content creation, ad targeting, and overall campaign strategies.

Creating and optimizing digital content

Content is king in the digital realm, and digital media freelancers are skilled in crafting compelling and relevant content for websites, blog posts, social media posts, and other digital platforms. They understand how to create content marketing strategies for their target audiences, optimize content for search engines, increase organic visibility, and engage users through valuable information and storytelling.

Managing digital advertising campaigns

Digital marketers possess expertise in managing and optimizing digital advertising campaigns, such as Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and display advertising. They set campaign objectives, target specific demographics, monitor performance metrics, and make data-driven adjustments to maximize ROI.

Analyzing and reporting on campaign performance

Digital media freelancers use analytics tools to monitor campaign performance, track key metrics, and generate comprehensive reports. They provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of your marketing strategies, identify improvement areas, and make data-backed recommendations to drive better results.

Why hire a digital media specialist?

When it comes to navigating the digital landscape, hiring a digital media specialist can offer numerous benefits for marketing managers and business owners. Here are five compelling reasons to consider:

Expertise and industry knowledge

Digital media specialists possess a deep understanding of the digital marketing ecosystem. They stay up to date with the latest trends, algorithms, and best practices, allowing them to implement strategies that align with industry standards and deliver optimal results.

Time and resource optimization

Outsourcing digital media responsibilities to a freelancer saves time and resources for marketing managers and business owners. Instead of juggling multiple tasks, they can focus on core business activities while entrusting digital marketing efforts to an experienced professional.

Access to a diverse skill set

Digital media specialists bring a diverse skill set, including proficiency in content creation, social media management, advertising, analytics, and more. Their versatile expertise enables them to handle various aspects of digital marketing, providing comprehensive solutions for businesses.

Fresh perspective and creativity

Working with a digital marketer injects fresh perspectives and innovative ideas into marketing strategies. They can bring creative solutions to the table, helping businesses stand out in a crowded digital landscape and captivate their target audience.

Cost-effectiveness

Hiring a digital media freelancer can be a cost-effective solution compared to hiring a full-time employee. Freelancers often offer flexible pricing models, allowing businesses to scale their digital marketing efforts based on their specific needs and budgets.

How much does a digital media specialist cost?

The cost of hiring a digital media specialist can vary depending on several factors, including their experience, skill set, geographic location, and project scope. Digital marketers may charge an hourly rate or a fixed fee for specific services or projects. The average cost can range from $50 to $150 per hour. At Mayple, for example, digital marketing services start at $1,800/ month (with the cost depending on your requirements and the digital marketer's experience). 

Top 10 skills a digital media specialist should have

To excel in the field of digital media, a specialist should possess a range of essential skills. Here are ten key skills that make a digital media specialist stand out:

Proficiency in digital advertising platforms

A good digital media specialist has excellent digital marketing skills. This means they should have expertise in various digital advertising platforms, such as Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and LinkedIn Ads. They should understand the intricacies of each platform and know how to optimize campaigns for maximum reach and conversions.

Content marketing and copywriting

Strong writing skills are crucial for a digital media specialist. They should be able to create engaging and persuasive content across different channels while maintaining brand consistency and tone of voice. Even if your digital marketer isn't the one creating your content and copy, they still need to know how to collaborate and communicate with writers to ensure quality and accuracy.

Social media management

A digital media specialist should be proficient in managing social media marketing effectively. This includes creating compelling content, engaging with the audience, monitoring performance metrics, and staying updated with the latest social media trends. Same as in the case of content marketing, your digital media specialist may not act as a full-time social media manager -- but they need to know how to collaborate with your social media marketing specialist to devise campaigns that attract, entice, and convert. 

Data analysis and interpretation

Analytical skills are essential for a digital marketing consultant to evaluate campaign performance, interpret data, and make data-driven decisions. They should be able to derive insights from analytics tools and translate them into actionable strategies that will increase your business' online presence and position it in front of your target market. 

Search engine optimization (SEO)

A solid understanding of SEO principles is vital for a freelance digital media specialist. They should know how to optimize content, conduct keyword research, and improve website visibility in search engine rankings.

Design and multimedia skills

Proficiency in graphic design tools and multimedia content creation is advantageous for a digital media specialist. They should be able to create visually appealing graphics, videos, and other multimedia assets to enhance digital marketing campaigns.

Project management

Strong project management skills enable a digital media specialist to plan, execute, and monitor campaigns effectively. They should be able to manage timelines, resources, and stakeholders to ensure successful project delivery.

Collaboration and communication

A digital marketing manager should possess excellent communication skills to collaborate with internal teams, clients, and external partners. Effective communication ensures smooth project coordination within your digital marketing team and helps you align your digital marketing projects with your business goals.

Adaptability and continuous learning

Given the dynamic nature of digital media, a specialist should be adaptable and open to learning new tools, platforms, and strategies. They should stay updated with industry trends and proactively seek opportunities for professional growth.

Problem-solving and creativity

A digital media specialist should be a creative problem solver. They should be able to think critically, identify challenges, and devise innovative solutions to drive target and attract potential clients and move your business objectives forward.

Questions to hire a freelance digital media expert when hiring them 

If you have a shortlist of candidates, but aren't sure what to ask freelance marketers to gauge their fit for the role, here's a list of questions you may wan to consider: 

• Why did you choose to become a digital marketing freelancer? What attracted you in a digital marketing career? 
• Do you have experience working with or in digital marketing agencies? (Ask this if you already collaborate with an agency and want to have an in-house liaison)
• What are the types of clients you usually work with? Have you ever provided digital marketing services or social media marketing services to clients in our industry? 
• What is the largest marketing budget you've ever worked with? 
• What kind of tools do you use on a daily basis? For example, what are your favorite PPC tools or SEO tools? 
• Can you give us an example of a successful social media campaign you built? 
• What, in your opinion, is the most suitable social media channel for our business? 
• Have you ever built a social media strategy to include paid ads as well?
• Which area of online marketing do you excel at? 
• Have you ever run affiliate marketing campaigns? 
• Can you give us examples of happy clients you've worked with in the past? 
• What are, in your opinion, the most effective client acquisition strategies for our industry? 
• Have you ever run social media marketing campaigns for community building? 
• What is the difference between marketing leads and sales-qualified leads? And how do you transpose this into your reports? 
• What are your favorite digital marketing channels and why? 
• Can you tell us about one of your favorite client projects and why you liked it so much?
• How do you make sure you fill the pipeline with prospective clients? And how do you suggest we nurture these prospective clients so they buy from us?
• How do you leverage current clients to adjust your digital marketing campaigns? 
• What are your favorite methods for encouraging client feedback from current clients?
• How do you handle negative client feedback -- especially when it happens on social media or other public spaces? 
• Are you open for a more full-time position, or do you prefer being a freelance marketer? 

How to hire a digital media specialist

When it comes to hiring a digital media specialist, there are several methods you can consider. Here are five practical approaches:

Freelance platforms

Freelance platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr provide a vast pool of digital media specialists. You can browse through profiles, review ratings and reviews, and communicate with potential candidates to find the right fit for your project.

Referrals

Seeking referrals from industry peers, colleagues, or trusted sources can be an effective way to find reliable digital media specialists. Recommendations from people you trust can provide insights into the freelancer's work ethic, expertise, and professionalism.

Job boards

Posting job listings on specialized job boards or online communities for digital marketing professionals can help you attract qualified candidates. These platforms often have a targeted audience of skilled individuals actively seeking freelance opportunities.

Social media

You can use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook groups, or Twitter to connect with digital media specialists. Engage in relevant industry discussions, join professional groups, and leverage your network to identify potential freelancers.

Mayple

We connect businesses with vetted digital marketing freelancers, in a matter of days. All you have to do is contact us, and we'll find a digital marketing expert that fits your requirements and has a proven track record of success in your industry.