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Today, we are going to dive into one of the many career paths in the field of product development, which is none other than an Ecommerce Manager.
Now, when I bring up the job title ecommerce management, you might raise an eyebrow and think, ‘Wow, I didn’t even know that such a position existed!’ Honestly, I don’t blame you. Project management is a field that’s changing quickly, and new career opportunities are popping up regularly. With so much happening, it’s hard to keep up.
However, the truth is that ecommerce managers are genuine professionals in the product management field. Today, I’m going to break down their responsibilities and the role they play in their companies, highlighting ecommerce best practices along the way.
What Is An Ecommerce Manager?
An ecommerce manager is someone who oversees and manages how a business sells things online. They work on strategies to increase online sales, enhance the customer experience, and achieve business goals. They are crucial for ensuring the success of an online business by staying informed about industry trends, improving the online platform, and maximizing revenue from various online channels.
As implied by the title, a person in charge of handling the online presence of the company is responsible for managing e-commerce. As you know, ecommerce sites are the business platforms of the future. The last decade has shown us that the vast potential of online stores or product marketplaces has been expanding exponentially.
However, because an e-commerce business can grow much bigger than a physical establishment, it requires assurance that the products meet quality standards and that customers have the optimal experience. This is where the ecommerce manager comes in.
They ensure that e-commerce sites run smoothly by applying agile practices. They also ensure that the demands and feedback of the customers are heard and that the quality of the new products aligns with the requirements stipulated by the company. Being directly in charge of the platform itself as a product, they are the point person when it comes to developing the optimal customer experience.
Ecommerce managers help connect different teams like tech folks, business developers, big bosses, and other important people. They act like online go-betweens to make things run smoothly.
Top Ecommerce Manager Responsibilities
Ecommerce managers handle tasks such as developing strategies for the online website, conducting online marketing research, engaging with customers, and collaborating with the team to track sales.
Now, let’s take a closer look at what a person in charge of e-commerce in a company has to do. What are the things they need to do and be good at? It really comes down to what they can do well and the main things they have to take care of.
#1 Market Research
It involves collecting details about the buyer personas, target audience, and customers of a product to assess its viability and success among these groups. Market research enables you to connect with your buyers in a world that is increasingly demanding our attention, both digitally and in the analog space. This becomes even more valuable, especially when considering e-commerce customer experience.
#2 Customer Management
The e-commerce manager guides how your company engages, attracts, convinces customers to purchase, and encourages their return. This involves establishing trust and crafting a reputable brand known for consistent product and service delivery.
#3 Team Collaboration
Since they are easy to find, understand, and revise, user stories can become the standard way to communicate and summarize the functionality of the product for both technical and non-technical members.
Since this is a multi-team process, ecommerce managers have to collaborate with the rest of the team, including non-technical members. They do this to ensure that everyone is on the same page.
#4 Strategy Development
Along with doing this, ecommerce managers have to develop a strategy for the e-commerce product. The product strategy enables a company to focus on a specific target market and feature set instead of trying to be everything to everyone. A good strategy is an interplay between design, business, and technology.
Also Read: Connective Ecommerce: Best Guide + How To Use It In Your Business?
Essential Skills for Ecommerce Managers
Now let’s talk about the job description. It’s important to state that there are no hard and fast rules about hiring based on educational qualifications. However, it is preferred that an ecommerce manager resume resembles that of a marketing agent capable of handling online sales. Here are the most anticipated skills needed:
#1 Bachelor’s Degree
Ecommerce managers should have completed at least a bachelor’s degree in business administration or operations management, with some even completing a master’s degree in a field such as business administration or product management.
#2 Growth Marketing
It’s always a plus to have a growth marketing mindset. What this means is that you must know how to market a product you’ve made. Marketing is the ’make it or break it’ for e-commerce; after all, you can’t get away with building a product and then figuring out how to market it in the end.
#3 Analytical Skills
Competitive analysis is a crucial aspect for ecommerce managers, as analytics not only enable the study of competitors’ potentials but also unveil growth opportunities through behavior analysis. Questions such as ‘What are your competitors doing? How are they doing it?’ are essential. However, it’s important to approach this information cautiously, considering that you might be replicating strategies still in the testing phase for your competitors.
It’s important to know how your competitors are marketing their products, and you can learn from what they’re doing to improve your strategies. Knowing what the competition is up to gives ecommerce product managers an indication of how they need to respond with their product roadmaps.
How to Become an Ecommerce Manager?
If you’re on the path to becoming one, you don’t necessarily need to be a tech geek. You can start in a simple startup company that sells Software as a Service (SaaS) as its product and then build your career, expanding into different sectors, especially in digital marketing.
On the management side, you need to be good with business – understanding what’s trending in the market, making smart decisions, and managing resources wisely. Persuasion skills come in handy, especially when dealing with customers or working with your team.
Lastly, keeping a close eye on how well your online store is performing is crucial. You should use tools to track sales, understand what customers are doing, and make changes as needed.
Ecommerce Manager Salary in 2024
Now, let’s talk about the ecommerce manager salary. The average salary is $90,000 per year. An entry-level e commerce manager with less than a year of experience can expect to earn an average total compensation of close to $60,000.
Mid-level jobs with five to nine years of experience, earn an average total compensation of $100,000. Nevertheless, there’s always a chance to grow, and it depends on the company that you work for and the location.
Hiring an Ecommerce Manager
To hire an ecommerce project manager efficiently, start by crafting a detailed job description outlining the role’s responsibilities and qualifications. Utilize skills tests to assess applicants’ proficiency in e-commerce platforms and project management tools. You could use LinkedIn to find one by putting the information in a post or simply using the job filters.
Narrow down the pool through interviews, focusing on experience, problem-solving, and collaboration. For a practical evaluation, implement a job simulation or trial project to observe candidates’ real-life performance.
Finally, extend a job offer to the candidate who best aligns with your company’s needs and culture, including details on compensation and benefits. This streamlined approach ensures a thorough assessment of candidates and a smooth hiring process.
FAQs: Discussed Topics on Ecommerce Manager
In the following, we have covered some of the main questions businesses had about the ecommerce product manager and their responsibilities.
Q1. What is The Role of an Ecommerce Manager?
Ecommerce managers oversee their company’s online activities. They handle various online tasks, including research, following up with user stories, collaborating with their team, and developing strategies.
Q2. What Skills Are Needed For an Ecommerce Manager?
To excel in this role, you need to effectively sell products first, meeting basic requirements such as a bachelor’s degree, knowledge of growth marketing, and analytical skills. Additionally, you should be ready to take on responsibilities for improving e-commerce management within the company.
Q3. What Are The Goals of an Ecommerce Manager?
An E-commerce manager takes care of the website user interface and experience (UI & UX). They collaborate with web design platforms or seek assistance from their teammates to create the best interface and structure for customers. This is their main goal.
Q4. What is Ecommerce Marketing Manager?
The Ecommerce Marketing Manager is in charge of making and improving marketing plans. Their main aim is to make the e-commerce vision and strategy happen, making sure it fits with the company’s sales goals and targets. This includes coming up with ways to effectively promote and sell stuff online. By taking care of these things, the E-commerce Marketing Manager helps the company do well in the online market.
Conclusion – Ecommerce Manager
An e-commerce manager is a versatile job title that can be confused with other employee responsibilities. It is crucial to understand and comprehend their main responsibilities and skills. Therefore, we can establish a baseline for identifying who we need and ensuring they cover the company’s needs, including the checkout flow.
