How to Hire a Digital Marketing Manager That Delivers ROI
Hiring the right digital marketing manager can make or break your growth strategy.
Businesses often waste thousands on campaigns that fail to convert because they lack ROI-focused leadership.
At Solis Recruitment, we help you hire marketing managers who don’t just execute, they deliver measurable results.
From paid media optimisation to attribution modelling, we know what skills drive performance and profitability. Ready to hire smarter? Let’s make ROI your benchmark.
The Challenge Businesses Face When Hiring Digital Marketing Managers
Hiring a digital marketing manager in the UK is harder than ever.
​
The market is competitive, and the skills gap is widening:
-
62% of UK businesses report skills shortages, with marketing and digital roles among the hardest to fill.
-
Digital skills gap could cost the UK economy £27.6 billion by 2030, with professional roles most affected.
-
Over half of UK adults cannot perform all 20 essential digital tasks for work, shrinking the talent pool for advanced roles.
-
Only 22% of senior marketers say they have the measurement insights needed to justify value to CFOs, highlighting a major ROI accountability gap.
This presents a structural challenge when comes to hiring. Businesses need marketers who can combine creativity, technical fluency, and commercial acumen. But competition for top performers is fierce. SMEs face an additional hurdle: they often need a single hire to cover multiple disciplines, from paid media to CRM, without sacrificing strategic oversight.
​
What Should a Digital Market Manager's Role Cover?
A digital marketing manager’s remit can be broad.
Do you need someone to run CRM and email campaigns, manage content and social media, oversee performance marketing, or lead brand strategy?
For SMEs and start-ups, the answer is often ‘all of the above.’
A Digital Marketing Manager's primary function is to serve as the strategic lead for all online customer acquisition and retention efforts, translating core business goals (like lead generation or e-commerce sales) into actionable, data-driven digital strategies. They will use have multi-channel experience and need to set the strategy and get hands on for implementation and execution on certain campaigns.
They may lead teams, or use agency partners to implements certain elements.
Digital Marketing Manager's will often have different responsibilities, as their roles will be aligned to their employers strategic goals and audiences.
As the roles are often broad, the concept of a T-shaped marketer comes in, someone with deep expertise in one area (e.g., paid media) and working knowledge across others. Larger corporates may hire specialists for each channel, but SMEs need adaptability.
A strong digital marketing manager should be able to:
​
-
Develop and execute multi-channel campaigns.
-
Analyse data and optimise performance.
-
Manage budgets and forecast ROI.
-
Collaborate with sales to align marketing activity with revenue goals.
-
Stay ahead of trends in SEO, paid media, and marketing automation.
​
Our blog post about Generalists VS Specialists provides more depth on the subject and different types of marketers you can hire.
The Economic Case for Digital Investment in your Team
The Skills Gap
Despite the clear financial upside, the UK faces a critical challenge:
-
A staggering 62% of UK businesses currently report facing shortages in core digital marketing skills (Open University).
-
The national digital skills gap poses a major economic risk, which is valued to reach £27.6 billion in the next few years (University of Birmingham)
harder to
This highlights harder to find talent, will mean longer time-to-hire. Luckily Solis has the network to help you make the right hire quicker.
Digital marketing channels consistently outperform traditional methods, offering compelling returns:
-
Content marketing is significantly more cost-effective, costing 62% less than traditional marketing while generating three times (3x) the number of leads (SEO.com)
-
Email marketing stands out as a profit driver, delivering a massive Return on Investment (ROI) of £42 for every £1 spent (SQ Magazine).
-
Campaigns run through Paid Search (PPC) deliver a strong returns, with some reportedly as high as 200% ROI (LocalIQ).​
​
Recruiting the right Digital Marketing Manager will lead to higher revenue and return on investing in marketing channels.
​
The Impact of the Right Hire
Hiring a professional who can effectively manage these channels and deliver measurable ROI translates directly into business growth:
Companies that secure the right digital marketing expertise experience 19% faster growth and achieve 15% higher profitability compared to those who do not (Forrester​).
In summary, the choice is clear: hiring a skilled digital marketer is the most reliable way to navigate the skills gap, secure high ROI from core channels, and ensure both faster growth and higher profitability.
Skills to Look for on a Digital Marketing Manager’s CV
When reviewing CVs, look for evidence of these core capabilities:
Multi-channel and Integrated Marketing expertise
SEO, PPC, social media, and email marketing should work together, not in silos. A great digital marketing manager knows how to build integrated strategies and align activities across platforms. This approach reduces wasted spend and drives stronger ROI.
Data analysis and performance optimisation
It’s not just about reporting numbers, it’s about understanding what they mean. Look for someone who can interpret metrics and consumer behaviour to refine campaigns and make smarter, data-driven decisions. The result? Better resource allocation and measurable improvements.
Content strategy and campaign planning
Content isn’t filler, it’s the voice of your brand. A strong manager crafts content that resonates with audiences and builds loyalty. Done well, this leads to a more visible brand and higher engagement rates, and can involve campaigns across Social, Email, Web and more.
Project and Stakeholder
management
Managing multiple campaigns and deadlines while keeping stakeholders aligned is no small feat. The right candidate ensures smooth delivery and avoids operational bottlenecks, so projects stay on track and campaigns are launched in line with business objectives.
Leadership qualities and team development
Leadership isn’t just about titles, it’s about influence. Seek someone who can mentor junior marketers, foster collaboration, and drive accountability.
This creates a productive team aligned with business goals.
Vendor collaboration and external partnerships
External partners can be a game-changer if managed well. A skilled manager knows how to work with agencies or freelancers for tasks like UX or creative production, giving you access to expertise without inflating headcount.
Adaptability and continuous learning mindset
Digital marketing moves fast. From algorithm changes to AI-driven tools, adaptability is key. A candidate who embraces change helps your business stay ahead and gain a competitive edge.
Soft skills and business communication
Soft skills are critical in any organisation. Strong communication, commercial awareness, and resilience help build trust, influence decisions, and maintain momentum in fast-paced environments.
Get in Touch
Ready to make your next Digital Marketing hire? You can submit a query on the form or email us directly.
