Online Marketing Manager

Online Marketing Manager
Hostelworld.com is the flagship brand of Web Reservations International and SEM is one of the key drivers of its performance. To this end, we are currently seeking an Online Marketing Manager to directly own and strategically manage high volume paid search campaigns critical to our success. In this role, you will work with the search engine account team and vendors, grow/adapt campaigns to generate incremental revenue, manage large budgets to specific ROI goals, and innovate to produce revolutionary successes.

We are looking for someone who has experience and demonstrated success in directly managing paid search campaigns and deep experience and demonstrated success in direct response online marketing. You will be a self-starter with the ability to create, monitor and grow multiple PPC campaigns across multiple PPC properties while also possessing the ability to pursue other related online marketing opportunities. You must be analytical, experienced, possess a creative marketing personality with the ability to create incremental sales. An expansive PPC program currently exists and a talented individual is needed to co-manage the campaigns and continue their growth while increasing ROI.
Responsibilities
• Implement successful bidding strategies and effective keyword management and development on pay-per-click search engines.
• Manage PPC campaigns across all PPC platforms (Google, Yahoo!, MSN, etc.)
• Achieve a targeted ROI for all ad spends on a daily basis
• Ensure optimal campaign performance 24/7/365
• Develop new and eliminate underperforming PPC ad copy/keywords
• Perpetual testing and optimizing of new keywords, ad text, position and landing pages
• Reconciliation of billing and program costs across all PPC properties
• Monitoring and reporting of competitor campaigns
• Utilization of proprietary and third-party analytics tools
• Analyze click and conversion data, ad expenses and ROI
• Pursue other PPC related online marketing opportunities
• Monitor overall SEO program success with regard to keyword ranking, indexed pages, backlinks, etc

Essential Functions:

Operational:

• Lead the implementation of SEM projects to ensure uniformity and best practices are adopted and facilitate the scalability of SEM products and services.

Strategic:

• Actively contribute to sustainability of WRI’s position on paid search and advise cross functional team of Product managers, Marketing & Sales professionals, and Developers on strategies to enhance managed services, products, and tools.
• Define appropriate Key Performance Indicators to ensure SEM strategy is meeting its goal and lead team on successful execution of departmental performance objectives with continuous focus on maximizing ROI.
• Stay abreast of new developments and changes in paid search and actively research, test and propose new approaches to improving paid search rankings and results for our sites incorporating exploration of complementary social media and organic search strategies.

Qualifications:

• Technical Aptitude: Advanced knowledge of internet applications and protocols (web browsers, email, http, ftp). Knowledge of web display languages (html, CSS) and Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Communication: excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate articulately both verbally and in writing, and translate complex subjects for a diverse audience and all levels of management; exude passion for SEM
• Organization: Strong time management and project management skills, above average ability to multi-task proactively and prioritize in response to issues as they arise; proven methods to manage self and others, including delegation; adept at problem-solving

Education and Work Experience:

• A bachelor’s degree in Marketing, English, Business, IT or a related field is required, but 5 or more years of relevant work experience are acceptable substitutes.
• Minimum of 3 years of direct work experience in SEM and proven track record of successful paid search campaign management using ethical techniques.
• Search marketing and social media experience (e.g., organic search, blogging, etc.) strongly desired.