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How to Become A Digital Marketing Strategist

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What is a Digital Marketing Strategist

A Digital Marketing Strategist shapes how brands connect with their audiences online. They plan and run digital campaigns across social media, search engines, email, and websites. If you love data, creativity, and seeing campaigns come to life, this could be the career for you.

Day to day, you study consumer trends, manage campaign results, and work with creative teams. Digital Marketing Strategists use tools like Google Analytics, Meta Ads Manager, and email marketing platforms to measure results. Every decision is backed by data, so you can see the real impact of your work.

There are roles in almost every industry, from tech startups to retail, healthcare, and government. You might specialise in search engine optimisation (SEO), paid ads, social media, or content strategy. The more skills you build, the more career options open up.

Advertising and Marketing Professionals in Australia number over 103,000. Around 3,000 new jobs are added each year (Jobs and Skills Australia, 2025). Find digital marketing courses to get started at Career FAQs.

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Career Outlook for Digital Marketing Strategist

A career as a Digital Marketing Strategist offers great prospects right now. Advertising and Marketing Professionals in Australia number around 103,100. Around 3,000 new positions are added each year (Jobs and Skills Australia, 2025). The median age in the field is 36, and 63% of workers are women. Most roles are full-time, with an average of 42 hours per week. Future demand is rated as strong.

Pay is solid for skilled Digital Marketing Strategists. Median weekly earnings for Advertising and Marketing Professionals are $1,957 (ABS, May 2025). This works out to around $102,000 per year. Entry-level roles often start at around $70,000 a year. With skills in paid search or marketing tools, pay can reach $140,000 or more.

Digital marketing is one of the fastest-growing job areas in Australia. Every industry needs skilled digital marketers, from retail and finance to health and government. AI tools and new social media platforms are changing how brands talk to customers. This drives demand for strategists who get both data and creative work. Those who keep learning will find plenty of room to grow.

On this Article

Introduction

Average Salaries

Resources

Steps to become a Digital Marketing Strategist

Step 1: Build your base in digital marketing

Start with the Certificate IV in Social Media and Digital Marketing (11302NAT) at a TAFE or registered training organisation (RTO). This takes 12 months full-time and covers digital marketing concepts, content creation, social media strategy, and campaign planning. It gives you a strong base before moving into advanced study or paid work.

Step 2: Complete a bachelor’s degree or diploma

Most roles require a bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, or communications. A standard bachelor’s takes 3 years full-time at university. Or, the Diploma of Digital Marketing (11266NAT) at TAFE or an RTO takes 1 to 2 years full-time. It covers strategy, data analytics, content marketing, and campaign management.

Step 3: Earn digital platform certifications

Add Google Analytics 4 (GA4), Google Ads, and Meta Blueprint certifications to your resume. These are free or low-cost and take 2 to 4 weeks each to do online. HubSpot also offers free marketing certifications. Most employers want at least one or two of these before they hire a strategist.

Step 4: Gain hands-on experience

Apply for an internship or entry-level role such as Marketing Coordinator or Digital Marketing Assistant. Aim for at least 12 months of real work. Use this time to run campaigns and work with analytics tools. Build a portfolio of results you can show future employers. Helping a non-profit or small business is also a good way to start.

Step 5: Join a professional body and keep growing

Join the Australian Marketing Institute (AMI) or ADMA for learning and industry events. Both offer training, networks, and certifications for marketing professionals. Experienced members can work towards AMI’s Certified Practising Marketer (CPM) designation. This is a known standard of senior marketing skill in Australia.

What does a Digital Marketing Strategist do?

A Digital Marketing Strategist stays busy with a wide range of tasks every day. They plan campaigns, manage ads, study data, and work with creative teams to bring ideas to life. Core tasks include building digital strategies, running paid and organic campaigns, analysing results, and reporting to stakeholders. They also keep on top of platform changes and industry trends to keep their strategies sharp and effective.

Tasks

Day to day, a Digital Marketing Strategist handles a mix of planning, analysis, and creative work. The role covers everything from building campaign strategies to tracking results and refining what works.

  • Planning and building digital advertising campaigns to meet sales and awareness goals
  • Advising on strategies to reach target markets across digital channels
  • Overseeing campaign production including ad copy, creative assets, and media placement
  • Analysing consumer data to understand behaviour and guide decisions
  • Tracking and predicting consumer trends to stay ahead in the market
  • Running market research to assess demand for new and existing products
  • Setting marketing objectives and programs to support business growth
  • Managing paid digital channels including search and social media advertising
  • Advising on product mix, pricing, promotions, and distribution to drive results

Skills for Success

To thrive as a Digital Marketing Strategist, you need both creative and technical skills. Strong communication helps you pitch ideas, work with your team, and share results with clients. You also need to be comfortable with data. Use analytics tools to track campaign results and spot where to improve.

Adaptability is key in this field. Digital platforms change fast, and the best strategists keep up with new tools, trends, and algorithm updates. Project management skills come in handy too, as you will often juggle several campaigns at once. The more platforms and tools you master, the more valuable you become to employers. Find digital marketing courses at Career FAQs.

Skills & Attributes

  • Data analysis and campaign performance tracking
  • Search engine optimisation (SEO) and search engine marketing (SEM)
  • Paid digital advertising (Google Ads, Meta Ads)
  • Social media strategy and management
  • Email marketing and marketing automation
  • Content strategy and content marketing
  • Google Analytics 4 and web analytics tools
  • Consumer research and market analysis
  • Project management and campaign planning
  • Strong written and verbal communication
  • Creative thinking and problem solving
  • Adaptability to new platforms and technology
  • Budget management and ROI reporting
  • Team collaboration and cross-functional working

Average Salaries

The average yearly salary for a Digital Marketing Strategist in Australia is around $95,000. Advertising and Marketing Professionals earn median weekly earnings of $1,957 (ABS, May 2025). This equals around $102,000 per year. Entry-level roles often pay around $70,000 per year. Senior strategists can earn $140,000 or more. Pay varies with experience, skill type, and employer size.

min $70 K

max $140 K

av $95 K

About the author

Laura Atkinson
Laura Atkinson

Explore career guides by Laura Atkinson. Practical how-to-become advice on qualifications, skills, salary and job outlook across Australia.