A startup is a complex machine that needs a well-oiled marketing system to thrive. Yet only 40% of startups are profitable, while 33% will break even or continue losing money. This is where marketing automation together 13 marketing roles with comes in—to optimize your marketing efforts for success without disrupting your startup’s cash flow. 

Marketing automation helps generate more leads, close sales, and grow your business. But before you implement automation, you must build a solid foundation. It starts with building a team that can handle all aspects of your marketing, from brand awareness to lead generation to customer retention.

But what roles should this team have, and how can you ensure that your marketing team is ready for success? Read more to discover the 13 essential marketing roles every startup needs to grow and scale.

13 Marketing Roles You Must Have to Grow and Scale Your Startup

1. Chief Marketing Officer

The Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) manages the company’s overall marketing strategy. They work with the CEO to develop a long-term vision for the company and create a roadmap to achieve this vision. The CMO oversees all online and offline marketing initiatives, including developing campaigns, managing budgets, and measuring results.

This marketing role of a startup might be responsible for creating a go-to-market strategy, launch plans, and budget. They would also work with the Head of Sales to develop sales enablement materials and train the sales team on the product.

2. Social Media Content Expert/Copywriter Expert

The Social Media Content Expert marketing role creates content for the company’s social media channels. First, they develop a strategy for what kind of content to post and when to post it. Then, they create, curate, and edit all content before it is published.

The Social Media Copywriter Expert creates compelling copy that tells a story and drives conversions. They know how to write for different social media platforms and understand the nuances of each one. They also understand how to use hashtags, emojis, and other elements to make their content more engaging.

3. Social Media Strategist – Marketing Roles

The Social Media Strategist develops the social media strategy for the company. They research which platforms and content types will most effectively reach the company’s target audience. They also create social media calendars and manage all social media activity.

This role might also entail creating social media calendars and managing all social media activity.

4. Social Media Engagement Specialist

The Social Media Engagement Specialist responds to comments and questions on the company’s social media channels. They build relationships with customers and followers, provide customer service, and resolve issues.

They also monitor social media analytics to see what people say about the company. If they see a negative mention, they will work to resolve the issue, and if it’s a positive mention, they will thank the customer and perhaps offer a discount or coupon.

5. Blog/Article/Thought Leader Expert

The Blog/Article/Thought Leader Expert writes articles, blog posts, or other thought-leadership content for the company website. They develop topics, conduct research, and write well-crafted articles that provide value to the reader.

They are experts in this field and can write engaging and informative articles that will help the company become a thought leader in its industry. Google Trends can help them develop ideas for trending topics, while BuzzSumo can help them see what articles are shared the most.

6. Sales Collateral Creator

The Sales Collateral Creator develops sales enablement materials, such as product sheets, case studies, and decks. They work with the Head of Sales to ensure that the materials are aligned with the sales process and meet the sales team’s needs.

They can create a product sheet highlighting a new product’s features and benefits or develop a case study that showcases how a customer was able to use the product to achieve their goals.

7. Video Production Expert

The Video Production Expert creates engaging videos that tell a story and drive conversions. They understand the different types of videos that work well on social media and know how to edit and produce videos that are high quality.

They also understand the challenges of creating videos for a startup, such as working with a limited budget and tight deadlines.

8. Audio Production Expert

The Audio Production Expert creates high-quality audio content for the company, such as podcasts, webinars, and video voiceovers. They know the different types of audio equipment and how to use it to create professional-sounding recordings.

They also have experience editing audio files and adding sound effects. For example, they can create a podcast episode for the company website or record a webinar that will serve as a lead generation tool.

9. SEO Specialist – Marketing Roles

The SEO Specialist is responsible for optimizing the company website for search engines. They conduct keyword research, optimize web pages, and build links to improve the website’s ranking in search results.

Improving the website’s SEO can help the company attract more organic traffic and generate more leads. To do this, the SEO Specialist monitors Google Analytics to track the website’s traffic and performance. Some standard tools they use are Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and Moz.

10. Paid Social Media Expert

The Paid Social Media Expert is responsible for the company’s paid social media campaigns. They create ad copy, select targeting options, and set budgets. They also monitor the campaign’s performance and make necessary changes to improve results.

Paid social media is a great way to generate leads and build brand awareness. The Paid Social Media Expert should be well-versed in the different paid social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

11. Graphics Specialist – Marketing Roles

The Graphics Specialist creates visually appealing graphics for the company’s website, social media platforms, and marketing materials. They have experience with design software, such as Photoshop and Illustrator, and understand how to create on-brand and engaging graphics.

Some common examples of what they create are infographics, social media images, and email headers. For instance, they can make an infographic that breaks down the company’s product features or design a social media image that promotes a contest the company is running.

12. UI/UX Designer

The UI/UX Designer creates user-friendly and visually appealing designs for the company’s website and mobile apps. They understand how to use different design elements, such as color, typography, and whitespace, to create a pleasing user experience. In addition, they are familiar with wireframing and prototyping tools, such as Sketch and InVision.

Some common examples of the types of designs they might create are website layouts, app screens, and landing pages. 

13. Digital Marketing Manager

The Digital Marketing Manager oversees all of the company’s digital marketing initiatives. They develop and implement marketing plans, set budgets, and track results. As a manager, they manage a team of digital marketers and work with other departments, such as sales and product, to ensure that the company’s marketing efforts align with its goals.

They should deeply understand all aspects of digital marketing, from SEO to social media to email marketing, knowledgeable in marketing software and tools like Google Analytics and Hootsuite.

The roles above are essential for any startup that wants to grow and scale its business. With a team of experts in each aspect of digital marketing, the company can create a comprehensive and effective marketing strategy to help it achieve its business goals.

13 Marketing Roles Conclusion

As your startup grows, the need for specialized marketing roles will become more apparent. And for your business to be successful in your rapidly growing and evolving business, you have the opportunity to access all of them at any time: agile, flexible, and scalable with Instantly Relevant.

At Instantly Relevant, we are passionate about helping startups succeed. We offer personalized services depending on what you need for your business. You can hire all these professionals on one plan. Meet us and chat at https://calendly.com/instantlyrelevant to learn more about how we can help you grow and scale your startup.