Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for E-Zine Manager
💰 $55,000 - $85,000
🎯 Role Definition
Are you a natural storyteller with a passion for digital media and a knack for building communities? This role requires a dynamic and creative E-Zine Manager to take the helm of our digital magazine and newsletter programs. This pivotal role is central to our content marketing efforts, responsible for shaping our brand's narrative, connecting with our audience on a deeper level, and driving measurable results through compelling, high-quality digital content.
As the E-Zine Manager, you will be the editor-in-chief, lead strategist, and production manager for our most direct line of communication with our audience. You will own the entire lifecycle of our e-zine, from ideation and content creation to distribution, analysis, and optimization. If you thrive in a role that blends creativity with data-driven strategy and love the challenge of capturing and holding an audience's attention, this is the perfect opportunity for you.
📈 Career Progression
Typical Career Path
Entry Point From:
- Email Marketing Specialist
- Content Creator / Content Strategist
- Junior Editor or Copywriter
- Communications Coordinator
Advancement To:
- Content Marketing Manager
- Head of Content / Director of Content
- Senior Digital Editor
- Director of Audience Development
Lateral Moves:
- Social Media Manager
- SEO Strategist
- Marketing Automation Manager
Core Responsibilities
Primary Functions
- Develop and execute a comprehensive content strategy and multi-month editorial calendar for the e-zine, ensuring alignment with overall marketing goals, product launches, and brand voice.
- Oversee the end-to-end production cycle of the e-zine, from topic ideation and content sourcing to layout, editing, quality assurance, and final distribution.
- Write, commission, and edit a variety of long-form and short-form content, including feature articles, interviews, case studies, expert roundups, and curated content.
- Manage a network of freelance writers, designers, and contributors, including onboarding, brief creation, assignment management, feedback, and budget tracking.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams (design, marketing, product, sales) to source internal content, promote key initiatives, and ensure a cohesive brand message.
- Implement email marketing best practices for list growth, segmentation, personalization, and deliverability to maximize reach, engagement, and retention.
- Design, build, and maintain visually appealing and mobile-responsive email templates using marketing automation platforms (e.g., HubSpot, Mailchimp).
- Analyze e-zine performance metrics (open rates, click-through rates, conversion rates, unsubscribe rates, time on page) and deliver regular reports with actionable insights to stakeholders.
- Plan and execute rigorous A/B testing on subject lines, headlines, from names, content formats, and calls-to-action to continuously optimize campaign performance.
- Stay abreast of industry trends, competitor newsletters, and emerging digital publishing technologies to drive innovation and maintain a competitive edge.
- Manage the e-zine's subscriber database, ensuring data hygiene and implementing advanced strategies for list segmentation and targeted communication journeys.
- Develop and manage content promotion strategies across other channels (social media, blog, paid ads) to drive new subscriptions and amplify readership.
- Ensure all published content is optimized for search engines (SEO) where applicable, including keyword integration, internal linking, and compelling meta descriptions.
- Uphold strict editorial standards for quality, accuracy, style, and tone of voice across all published content, acting as the final gatekeeper before publication.
- Curate and repurpose existing high-value content from various sources (blog posts, webinars, whitepapers, podcasts) for inclusion in the e-zine to maximize content ROI.
- Plan and execute special edition e-zines and themed content series to align with key company campaigns, holidays, or seasonal events.
- Manage the legal and permissions process for all third-party content, images, and contributions to ensure compliance.
- Foster a sense of community among readers by incorporating interactive elements, polls, surveys, user-generated content, and feedback loops.
- Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for the e-zine, directly linking content efforts to broader business objectives like lead generation, MQLs, and customer retention.
- Act as the primary owner and subject matter expert for the e-zine channel, championing its value and potential within the organization.
- Troubleshoot technical issues related to email template rendering across different clients, link tracking, deliverability, and analytics accuracy.
- Partner with the analytics team to develop sophisticated audience personas and content journey maps to inform and refine the editorial strategy.
Secondary Functions
- Support ad-hoc content performance requests and exploratory audience analysis.
- Contribute to the organization's overarching content marketing strategy and roadmap.
- Collaborate with the design and web development teams to translate content needs into visual and technical requirements.
- Participate in sprint planning and agile marketing ceremonies to ensure content alignment with broader campaigns.
- Assist in managing the content marketing budget, specifically for freelance contributors and content creation tools.
Required Skills & Competencies
Hard Skills (Technical)
- Deep proficiency with Email Marketing/Marketing Automation Platforms (e.g., Mailchimp, HubSpot, Marketo, ActiveCampaign).
- Strong command of email marketing analytics and KPIs (Open Rate, CTR, Conversion Rate, List Growth Rate, Deliverability).
- Experience with Content Management Systems (CMS) like WordPress.
- Working knowledge of basic HTML/CSS for email template customization and troubleshooting.
- Proficiency with web analytics tools such as Google Analytics to track post-click behavior.
- Familiarity with SEO principles and keyword research tools (e.g., Ahrefs, SEMrush).
- Proven experience with A/B testing methodologies and statistical significance.
- Competency in project management software (e.g., Asana, Trello, Monday.com).
- Skill with Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign) for basic image editing and layout adjustments.
- Superb copywriting and editorial skills, with a deep understanding of grammar, style, and tone (AP Style or Chicago Manual of Style familiarity is a plus).
- Experience with audience segmentation, database management, and personalization tactics.
Soft Skills
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
- Superior project management, time management, and organizational abilities.
- A high degree of creativity and a strong visual eye for design and layout.
- Meticulous attention to detail and flawless proofreading capabilities.
- A strategic and analytical mindset, with the ability to turn data into stories and actions.
- A collaborative spirit and strong interpersonal skills to work effectively across teams.
- Audience empathy and a user-centric approach to content creation.
- Adaptability and the ability to gracefully manage multiple competing priorities and deadlines.
- Leadership qualities and the ability to manage and motivate external contributors.
- Innate curiosity and a proactive problem-solving attitude.
Education & Experience
Educational Background
Minimum Education:
- Bachelor's Degree
Preferred Education:
- Master's Degree or Professional Certificate in Digital Marketing or a related field.
Relevant Fields of Study:
- Journalism
- Communications
- Marketing
- English
- Digital Media
Experience Requirements
Typical Experience Range: 3-5 years
Preferred: 3-5 years of demonstrated experience in digital content creation, email marketing, journalism, or editorial management, with a proven portfolio and track record of growing and engaging an online audience through a newsletter, blog, or digital publication.