M

Lead - Search Engine Marketing

MarketStar
Full-time
On-site
India
๐Ÿ’ธ Paid Advertising (PPC, SEM)

๐Ÿ“Œ Core Information

๐Ÿ”น Job Title: Lead - Search Engine Marketing

๐Ÿ”น Company: MarketStar

๐Ÿ”น Location: Bangalore, India

๐Ÿ”น Job Type: Full-time

๐Ÿ”น Category: ๐Ÿ’ธ Paid Advertising (PPC, SEM)


๐Ÿ“Œ Essential Job Details

๐Ÿš€ Job Overview

MarketStar is seeking an energetic, outcome-oriented Search Engine Marketing Lead to join their digital marketing team in Bangalore. In this role, you will manage pay-per-click (PPC) media strategies for top brands, working alongside social media experts, marketers, and creative professionals. You'll be responsible for maximizing ROI on paid search budgets while driving traffic and customer acquisition through various digital advertising platforms.

ASSUMPTION: This role appears to be primarily client-facing, working on campaigns for MarketStar's clients rather than solely on the company's own marketing efforts, based on references to "client campaigns" and "variety of clients" throughout the description.


๐Ÿ“‹ Key Responsibilities

  • โœ… Manage daily operations of pay-per-click accounts on Google Ads, LinkedIn, Facebook, and other paid platforms for various clients
  • โœ… Monitor and optimize keyword bids, budget caps, impression share, quality score, and other account metrics
  • โœ… Manage and maintain large keyword lists
  • โœ… Provide creative copy suggestions and graphical ad templates
  • โœ… Manage display network placement lists on Google Ads and other contextual advertising platforms
  • โœ… Execute and report on programmatic media buying campaigns
  • โœ… Run content syndication campaigns as needed
  • โœ… Develop strategies for keywords, campaign structure, targeting, and other paid search elements
  • โœ… Generate and set up new paid search campaigns, ad groups, and accounts
  • โœ… Create weekly and monthly client reports on metrics, goals tracking, and revenue tracking
  • โœ… Stay current with search engine and PPC industry trends and updates
  • โœ… Monitor web analytics dashboards and identify key areas of importance
  • โœ… Evaluate search results and performance across major search channels
  • โœ… Assist in creating new pitches and proposals for prospective clients
  • โœ… Communicate with team and management about project development and results
  • โœ… Review landing pages and suggest UX and Quality Score improvements
  • โœ… Collaborate with team members to achieve client goals

๐ŸŽฏ Required Qualifications

Education: BS/BA degree preferred (but not mandatory)

Experience: 4-7 years in Search Engine Marketing (SEM) and PPC

Skills:

  • Proficiency in MS Excel/PowerPoint/Word & Google Sheets/Docs/Slides
  • Experience with website analysis using Google Analytics and other analytics tools
  • Experience working with popular PPC ad platforms (Google Ads, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc.)
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • High levels of integrity, autonomy, and self-motivation
  • Strong analytical, organizational, project management, and time management skills
  • Google Ads certification is a plus

๐Ÿ’ฐ Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Not specified

Benefits:

  • Comprehensive Health Insurance
  • Generous Leave Policy
  • COVID support
  • Vaccination drives
  • Well-being sessions
  • Real-time grievance redressal
  • Work flexibility
  • Fast-track growth opportunities for high-potential employees

Industry Comparison: Not specified

ASSUMPTION: Based on the experience level (4-7 years) and leadership position for a multinational company in Bangalore, this role likely offers compensation in the upper-middle range for digital marketing professionals in India, but exact figures would require verification from the employer.


๐Ÿ“Œ Applicant Insights

๐Ÿ” Company Context

Industry Position: MarketStar is a global B2B demand generation and sales company with 35+ years of experience, working with innovative tech companies worldwide to provide outsourced B2B demand, sales, customer success, and revenue operations solutions.

Company Size: 3,000+ employees globally

Company Stage: Established enterprise with global presence in India, Ireland, Bulgaria, Mexico, the Philippines, and Australia, with headquarters in Utah, USA.


๐Ÿ“Š Role Analysis

Career Level: Mid to Senior level (based on 4-7 years experience requirement)

Reporting Structure: Not explicitly mentioned

Team Size/Composition: Not specified, but references to "team of social media mavens, marketers, and creative thinkers"

Growth Opportunities: The company mentions "fast-track growth for high-potential folks" and states they have "more than 60% of homegrown Leaders," suggesting good internal promotion opportunities.

ASSUMPTION: As a Lead position, this role likely involves some team leadership responsibilities, though direct reports are not explicitly mentioned. The title suggests this is a stepping stone toward management positions within the organization.


๐ŸŒ Location & Work Environment

Office Type: Not explicitly specified, though "work flexibility" is mentioned as a benefit

Geographic Context: Bangalore is India's technology hub with a significant presence of multinational tech companies and digital marketing agencies

Work Schedule: Not specified

Regional Considerations: Bangalore offers a cosmopolitan work environment with professionals from across India and globally. The tech sector in Bangalore typically offers competitive benefits compared to other Indian cities.

ASSUMPTION: Given the mention of "work flexibility" as a benefit, this role may offer some hybrid work arrangements, though this should be confirmed during the interview process.


๐Ÿ’ผ Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process: For senior marketing roles at global companies in India, the interview process typically includes:

  • Initial screening call with HR or recruitment
  • Technical interview focused on SEM/PPC knowledge
  • Practical assessment or case study related to campaign management
  • Management/team fit interview
  • Final discussions regarding offer and compensation

Key Assessment Areas:

  • Technical knowledge of PPC platforms, especially Google Ads
  • Experience managing client campaigns and budgets
  • Analytical skills and data-driven decision making
  • Communication skills for client reporting and presentations
  • Strategic thinking for campaign optimization

Application Tips:

  • Highlight specific PPC campaign results with metrics (ROAS, CPA, conversion rates)
  • Showcase experience with multiple ad platforms mentioned in the job description
  • Emphasize client management experience if applicable
  • Include any Google Ads or other relevant certifications

ATS Keywords: SEM, PPC, Google Ads, paid search, digital marketing, campaign management, ROI optimization, keyword management, client reporting, analytics, LinkedIn Ads, Facebook Ads, programmatic media buying, content syndication

ASSUMPTION: These insights are based on industry standards for similar roles and companies, not specifically confirmed for MarketStar's hiring process.


๐Ÿ› ๏ธ Tools & Technologies

Tools explicitly mentioned in the job description:

  • Google Ads
  • LinkedIn Ads
  • Facebook Ads
  • Google Analytics
  • Microsoft Excel/PowerPoint/Word
  • Google Sheets/Docs/Slides

Other tools commonly used in SEM roles:

  • Bing Ads / Microsoft Advertising
  • Display & Video 360 (for programmatic)
  • SEMrush or similar competitor analysis tools
  • Tableau or Data Studio for reporting
  • Marketing automation platforms

ASSUMPTION: The additional tools listed are industry-standard for SEM roles but not explicitly mentioned in the job description. Familiarity with them may be beneficial but not required.


๐Ÿ‘” Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values: MarketStar mentions six core values (though they aren't specifically listed in the job description). The company emphasizes growth, employee development, community support through their foundation, and an award-winning workplace culture.

Work Style: The description suggests a collaborative environment with cross-functional teamwork ("work closely with other team members"). Terms like "energetic" and "outcome-oriented" indicate a results-driven culture.

Self-Assessment: Prospective applicants should consider:

  • Do you thrive in a client-facing role with regular reporting and communication requirements?
  • Are you comfortable balancing multiple client campaigns simultaneously?
  • Do you enjoy staying current with rapidly changing digital advertising platforms?
  • Are you able to work autonomously while still collaborating effectively with a team?
  • Do you find satisfaction in optimizing campaigns for measurable performance improvements?

ASSUMPTION: The work culture inferences are based on language used throughout the job description and company overview, particularly phrases like "people-first organization" and emphasis on growth mindset.


โš ๏ธ Potential Challenges

  • Managing multiple client accounts simultaneously may require excellent time management and prioritization skills
  • Keeping pace with constant changes in search engine algorithms and PPC platform features
  • Balancing client expectations with realistic campaign performance
  • Working across different advertising platforms requires versatility and continuous learning
  • The role appears to have broad responsibilities across campaign strategy, execution, reporting, and client communications

ASSUMPTION: These challenges are common to SEM lead roles across agencies and are inferred from the comprehensive list of responsibilities rather than explicitly stated difficulties.


๐Ÿ“ˆ Similar Roles Comparison

This SEM Lead role at MarketStar appears similar to:

  • Digital Marketing Manager: But with more specific focus on paid search rather than all digital channels
  • PPC Manager: Similar core responsibilities but with likely more strategic oversight and possibly team leadership
  • Client Services Manager (Digital): Shares the client management aspect but more technically focused on SEM specifically
  • Digital Media Buyer: Overlaps in paid media management but with broader platform responsibility beyond just programmatic

ASSUMPTION: This comparison is based on standard industry role structures and the specific responsibilities outlined in the job description.


๐Ÿ“ Sample Projects

Based on the listed responsibilities, someone in this role might work on:

  • Restructuring an underperforming Google Ads account to improve quality scores and reduce cost-per-acquisition
  • Developing a cross-platform paid media strategy for a client's new product launch across Google, LinkedIn, and Facebook
  • Creating a comprehensive monthly performance dashboard that highlights key metrics and insights for client review
  • Conducting A/B testing of ad copy and landing pages to improve conversion rates
  • Implementing an audience targeting strategy for a B2B client looking to reach specific decision-makers
  • Developing a bid strategy to maximize limited budget allocation across multiple campaigns

ASSUMPTION: These projects are illustrative examples based on the listed responsibilities and typical SEM lead activities, not confirmed assignments at MarketStar.


โ“ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

  • Can you share examples of the types of clients I would be working with in this role?
  • How is success measured for the SEM Lead position, both for client campaigns and individual performance?
  • What is the typical team structure I would be working within, and what does collaboration look like day-to-day?
  • How does MarketStar approach the balance between client acquisition and client retention?
  • What professional development opportunities exist for someone in this role who wants to continue growing their career at MarketStar?
  • Could you describe the onboarding process and what the first 90 days might look like for this position?

ASSUMPTION: These questions are suggested based on the role type and information provided, and should be adapted based on the specific interview context and your personal priorities.


๐Ÿ“Œ Disclaimer

โš ๏ธ This enhanced job description was AI-generated based on the original job listing. Information has been organized and supplemented with industry-standard insights where details were not provided. All assumptions are explicitly labeled. Applicants should verify all details directly with the employer before making decisions based on this content.


๐Ÿ“Œ Next Steps for Applicants

  1. Optimize your resume: Include the ATS keywords identified above, particularly focusing on specific PPC platforms mentioned in the job description (Google Ads, LinkedIn, Facebook).
  2. Prepare your portfolio: Gather metrics and examples from previous SEM campaigns you've managed, with particular emphasis on ROI improvements and strategic optimizations.
  3. Update your LinkedIn profile: Ensure it reflects your current SEM expertise and includes any relevant certifications (especially Google Ads certification).
  4. Research MarketStar: Review their website, LinkedIn page, and recent news to understand their client base and company culture better.
  5. Apply through the official channel: The listing indicates you should use the "Apply Now" button on their website.
  6. Follow up: If you don't hear back within 1-2 weeks, consider a professional follow-up inquiry.