Top 10 Creative Strategists to Create Memorable Campaigns in 2024
Get your target audience to sit up and pay attention with help from these top creatives.
Updated March 11, 2024.
Forget following trends—2024 demands innovation. Being just another sheep in the herd delivers forgettable campaigns because, for your customer, you're just blending into the masses.
But standing out requires a strategic edge. That's why creative strategists' roles have never been more crucial. They see your campaigns through from conception to execution, making sure you reach the right customer with the right message.
We've spotlighted the top 10 creative masterminds who'll help you craft campaigns that resonate with your audience and leave a lasting impact.
Our top picks for the best creative strategists to hire
1. Nicolas G. - Best overall
2. Sherisse W. - Best for creative social media strategies
3. Yuri P. - Best for creative partnership strategies
4. Brad J. - Best creative strategist for brand-building
5. Michael K. - Best for data-driven marketing campaigns
6. David D. - Best creative strategist for web design and branding
7. Howard S. - Best for paid ads creative strategies
8. Mick B. - Best creative strategist for B2C companies
9. Katia G. - Best creative strategist for B2B companies
10. Michael K. - Best for driving ROI
What is a creative strategist?
A creative strategist is responsible for developing and executing creative campaigns and strategies. They're typically involved in brainstorming ideas, researching trends, analyzing data, and ensuring the final product meets their client's or employer's goals.
Creative strategists also assist with developing brand identities. This means they work to create a consistent, unique look and feel that's reflective of the brand's core values and messaging. They usually achieve this by creating content strategies and overseeing digital marketing efforts.
Finally, creative strategists often liaise between clients or employers and other departments such as IT, HR, accounting, and legal. They need to make sure all parties understand the project requirements, deadlines, and other pertinent information so everything runs smoothly.
1
Nicolas G.
Freelance marketing and creative expert
Experience
9+ years
Country
JP
Industry focus
Professional services | Technology | Digital products
Brief overview
Nicolas has a strong background in customer success management, web development, front-end engineering, and digital marketing. He's also fluent in Japanese, English, and Spanish, allowing him to deliver exceptional results for a diverse range of companies consistently.
Specialties
- Marketing strategy
- Branding
- Copywriting
- Content
- Design
- Social media management
- Email marketing
Why hire Nicolas?
Nicolas stands out for his well-rounded expertise in marketing, branding, content creation, and social media. This diverse skillset allows him to develop cohesive brand narratives that are meaningful to audiences and achieve desired outcomes. Beyond just possessing knowledge in each area, Nicolas excels at combining them strategically to create effective campaigns. His ability to elevate brands while fostering genuine connections with consumers makes him a valuable asset for any business.
2
Sherisse W.
Social media creative expert
Experience
9+ years
Country
US
Industry focus
Art & entertainment | Technology | Professional services | Food & drink | Health & welness
Brief overview
Sherisse is a brand and digital marketer with over nine years of experience in social media, editorial, digital marketing, SEO, content creation, and content management.
Specialties
- Marketing strategy
- Branding
- Content
- Social media management
- Email marketing
Why hire Sherisse?
Sherisse's experience crafting engaging content across various platforms, combined with her mastery of social media tools, allows her to orchestrate impactful campaigns that drive engagement and brand loyalty. From content creation to leveraging platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and others, Sherisse helps amplify brand visibility, nurture leads, and grow website traffic.
3
Yuri P.
Influencer and affiliate marketing specialist
Experience
7+ years
Country
BR
Industry focus
Health & wellness | Professional services | Finance | Food & drink | Education
Brief overview
Yuri has over 7 years of experience in digital marketing and eCommerce. He's also a certified Product Expert of Google's Advertising and Google My Business Community in Brazil. He also has experience working with startups and taking ideas from creative concept to execution.
Specialties
- Affiliate marketing
- Influencer marketing
- Branding
- Marketing strategy
Why hire Yuri?
Yuri's almost decade-long experience in performance media and digital advertising across industries equips him to craft impactful strategies. Going beyond traditional tactics, Yuri leverages his expertise in affiliate and influencer marketing to amplify brand reach, conversions, and authentic connections.
4
Brad J.
Marketing and branding professional
Experience
12+ years
Country
US
Industry focus
Real estate | Beauty | NGOs & government | Finance | Sports, outdoors & fitness | Home & garden | Education | Professional services | Technology
Brief overview
Leveraging 12 years of marketing expertise and a marketing degree, Brad has empowered businesses of all sizes, from large corporations to local shops, to bring their ideas to life. By combining education, experience, and innovation, he translate their vision into executable programs that deliver lasting benefits.
Specialties
- Branding
- Marketing strategy
- Tracking implementation
- Email marketing
- Google Ads
- Facebook Ads
Why hire Brad?
Brad has a proven track record in brand-building. He launched a brand and marketing strategy from scratch, generating over 300 monthly leads for a high-end product. His innovative approach, from Google Ads to email marketing, drives brand awareness, engagement, and conversions. He also excels in identifying high-value prospects, building a robust pipeline for sustainable success. With a focus on actionable leads and exceeding expectations, Brad's expertise makes him a valuable creative strategist.
5
Michael K.
Freelance marketing expert
Experience
12+ years
Country
US
Industry focus
Automotive
Brief overview
Michael has over 12 years of digital marketing experience with a strong background in analytics. His experience with full-cycle campaign management includes planning, implementation, optimization, and post-mortem analysis—proving his ability to drive efficient growth through creative solutions.
Specialties
- Branding
- Google Ads
- Bing Ads
- YouTube Ads
- Apple Search Ads
- Pinterest Ads
Why hire Michael?
Michael brings over a decade of data-driven marketing experience to his role as a creative strategist. He designs and executes successful campaigns, utilizing analytics to optimize and refine for efficient growth. By acting as a holistic marketing consultant, he offers strategic direction across paid search, display, and social media.
6
David D.
Web design and marketing expert
Experience
10 years
Country
US
Industry focus
Art & entertainment | Real estate | Beauty | Automotive | Baby | Electronics | Education | Finance | Food & drink
Brief overview
David is an omnichannel marketer with deep expertise in email, SMS, paid SEM, SEO, user experience, community marketing, and affiliate marketing in a variety of industries.
Specialties
- Web design
- Web development
- Tracking implementation
- CRM implementation
- Email marketing
- Community management
- Branding
Why hire David?
David's expertise in web design, development, and branding makes him a strategic asset for businesses. He starts with a data-driven approach to identify quick wins in performance, marketing channels, and branding. Finally, he optimizes email marketing, SMS, and acquisition channels to drive revenue growth.
7
Howard S.
PPC professional
Experience
16 years
Country
GB
Industry focus
Sports, outdoors & fitness | Pets | Health & wellness | Beauty
Brief overview
Howard has been involved with online marketing since 2008 and a full-time media buyer and marketing consultant for six years. His main experience is working with eCommerce brands, helping them acquire new customers at profit using paid advertising channels such as Facebook, Instagram, Google, YouTube, Bing, Pinterest, and lately, Snapchat and TikTok.
Specialties
- Facebook Ads
- Google Ads
- Google Shopping
- Instagram Ads
- Pinterest Ads
- YouTube Ads
- Tracking implementation
Why hire Howard?
Howard's 10+ years of paid advertising expertise across platforms like Facebook, Google, and YouTube makes him a growth-focused creative strategist. He goes beyond ad management, crafting holistic digital marketing strategies that include email, content, and influencer outreach. Howard's data-driven approach, focused on customer journey mapping and targeted messaging, consistently delivers profitable results, even with limited budgets.
8
Mick B.
Freelance marketing professional
Experience
15+ years
Country
US
Industry focus
Beauty | Health & wellness | Home & garden | Style & fashion | Technology | Food & drink
Brief overview
Mick is a strategic growth marketing and eCommerce leader with experience in industries like beauty, fashion, and wellness. He helps brands of all sizes optimize their omnichannel marketing, focusing on the sweet spot where performance marketing, algorithms, conversion optimization, content, and creativity converge.
Specialties
- Branding
- Marketing strategy
- Amazon marketing
- Growth hacking
- CMO
- Google Ads
- Google Shopping
- Facebook Ads
- Instagram Ads
Why hire Mick?
Mick is a seasoned creative strategist and helps brands thrive in the B2C landscape through his expertise in omnichannel marketing, combining performance marketing, content, and creative strategies. From successful product launches to growing customer bases, Mick's results-oriented approach fosters sustainable growth.
9
Katia G.
B2B and SaaS marketing expert
Experience
10+ years
Country
ES
Industry focus
Education | Professional services | Technology
Brief overview
Katia is a PPC, SEO, and content marketing expert who helps B2B and SaaS companies grow. She's also the co-founder of Getuplead, a Google Ads and LinkedIn Ads agency for B2B tech and SaaS.
Specialties
- Content
- Marketing strategy
- Tracking implementation
- SEO
- Google Ads
- Facebook Ads
- Instagram Ads
- LinkedIn Ads
- Bing Ads
Why hire Katia?
Katia's B2B, SaaS, and CMO experience make her a valuable asset. Her customer-centric approach focuses on understanding B2B buyer needs to drive growth. She uses data analysis to optimize campaigns like Google Ads, lowering costs while maximizing reach for sustainable success in B2B.
10
Michael K.
Freelance marketing consultant
Experience
10+ years
Country
US
Industry focus
Beauty | Electronics | Automotive | Finance | Education | Food & drink | Health & wellness | NGOs & government | Pets
Brief overview
Michael is a marketing consultant focused on empowering businesses to maximize their potential through unique identity-based marketing strategies. He's also the founder of Blue Portal Consulting, a strategic digital marketing agency.
Specialties
- Branding
- Marketing strategy
- Google Ads
- Facebook Ads
- Instagram Ads
- YouTube Ads
- Pinterest Ads
- Bing Ads
Why hire Michael?
Michael's expertise lies in crafting marketing strategies that drive ROI. He understands the unique needs of each brand, ensuring long-term growth and impactful returns through comprehensive marketing solutions. Collaboratively, Michael bridges the gap between business objectives and marketing initiatives, offering personalized strategies across various areas like advertising, SEO, social media, and content creation.
How much do freelance creative strategists cost?
The cost of hiring a freelance creative strategist varies, depending on their experience, expertise, track record, industry, and location. Generally speaking, a freelance creative strategist's costs range from $750 to $1,500 per day, but the prices can be higher or lower than that depending on your specific expectations. If you were to hire one in-house their average salary would be around $92,879.
When should you hire a creative strategy expert?
Hiring a creative strategy expert or creative director gives you a competitive advantage because you'll be able to stand out from the crowd with a brand identity that attracts your target audience, converts them, and keeps them close. In a world driven by AI sameness, hiring a creative strategy expert can help your company rise above the ocean of competitors and stay ahead in the competitive digital landscape.
What skills should you look for in a creative strategist?
If you want to hire a creative strategist who delivers actual results, look for these skills:
Experience working in creative environments
The best creative strategists have enough experience in creative jobs to take a step back and see the bigger picture. They understand how to create an effective campaign and know which tactics work best for various business goals.
Thinking outside the box
Your creative strategist should be... creative. Although they may not always be hands-on when it comes to creating designs or copy, they need to think outside the box to come up with innovative strategies that create meaningful experiences and set your business apart in terms of brand, tone of voice, appeal, and how you choose to deliver your messages to your target audience.
Project management
A good creative strategist should be able to plan, organize, and manage projects from start to finish. This includes organizing tasks, deadlines, budgets, resources, and knowing how to prioritize ideas.
Leadership skills
Your creative strategy expert should know how to drive your projects and your creatives. This means they should act as an effective leader who understands how to motivate team members, coordinate tasks, and ensure their projects are completed on time.
Communication and collaboration
Good communication and collaboration skills are essential for a successful creative strategist. They should be able to work with creative team members, clients, and stakeholders to ensure that everyone is on the same page and understands their role in the project.
Analytical and problem-solving skills
A good creative strategy specialist knows how to combine creativity and analytical thinking to solve problems and create compelling marketing campaigns. They must identify customer needs, analyze data, come up with innovative solutions, and adjust their strategy as needed.
Creative writing and storytelling
An effective creative strategist should be able to deliver catchy copywriting and create stories that capture your target audience's attention. They should know how to communicate your message in a way that resonates with customers and drives action. Content creation should be their secret weapon to drive attention, conversions, and loyalty among potential and existing customers.
Graphic design knowledge
Your creative strategist should have some graphic design knowledge to create visually appealing and on-brand campaigns. This includes a deep understanding color theory, typography, imagery, and how to combine these elements for maximum impact.
Technology savvy
Technology constantly evolves, and a creative strategist should stay current with the latest trends. They should be comfortable working with various software programs, such as Adobe Creative Suite, Google Analytics, Google Search Console, project management tools, business intelligence tools, and social media analytics tools.
Digital marketing know-how
Your creative strategist should understand all aspects of digital marketing, such as SEO, PPC, advertising, email marketing, social media platforms, creative content marketing, and more. They should use data to measure creative campaign performance and adjust their strategy accordingly.
How to hire the perfect creative strategy manager
There are many ways to hire a good creative manager. Here are some of the most popular ones:
Use job boards
Job boards like Indeed or Monster are a great place to start when looking for creative strategy specialists. You can post your job openings, collect applications, sift through them, and then go through the usual interviewing and testing process to find the ideal candidate.
Hire on freelance platforms
If you want to source creative specialists for a short-term project, freelance platforms like Upwork are an excellent option. You can search through profiles or post a job opening, then review portfolios and check out previous customer reviews to find the right match for your project.
Ask for referrals
Sometimes the best way to find a great creative strategist is to ask for referrals from your network. Ask colleagues, friends, and family if they know anyone who has vast experience in the field and reach out to them if you think they’re a good fit.
Hire with Mayple
Finally, you can always choose to hire a creative strategist through Mayple. Our platform connects companies with talented freelancers with the skills and experience to do the job. Simply contact us and we'll match you with a vetted creative strategy expert in your industry, all in a matter of days.
Questions to ask your creative strategy freelancer before you hire them
- Who are your previous clients?
- Do you have experience running creative projects for similar brands in our industry?
- How much branding experience do you have?
- Do you use your own designers, or would you need to work with our internal design team?
- Would you be creating marketing content for us? And for which social media platforms?
- Would you work on the performance side of things - improving the user experience for our site visitors?
This year is yours for the taking: Find your creative partner
Great campaigns don't just happen, they are crafted with vision, passion, and a deep understanding of what resonates with your audience.
With these top 10 creative creators and strategists in your corner, you can forge memorable campaigns that connect with your customers, ignite conversation, and propel your brand to new heights.
FAQs
What is a creative strategy manager?
A creative strategy manager connects the client's business strategy to their unique, innovative approach to engage client audiences with compelling, impactful creatives. They have a strong understanding of various creative fields and know how to lead creative direction. They play a crucial role on your marketing team.
What are the 7 elements of creative strategy?
There are six main elements to creative strategy: creative objective, target market, primary selling proposition, secondary selling proposition, support, and tone of voice. Combined with the rational, emotional, and functional considerations the target audience has, these elements form the seven core components of any creative strategy.
What is the difference between a strategist and a creative strategist?
A strategist is a higher-level thinker who focuses on the big picture and develops strategies for business initiatives. A creative strategist is more focused on executing those strategies, designing specific creative advertising campaigns, measuring their effectiveness, and optimizing them for maximum impact.
What is a brand vs creative strategist?
Brand strategists are more high-level and focus on a company's overarching brand and narrative. Creative strategists are closer to the day-to-day operations of creative work. If brand strategy was a question, it would be "where," whereas creative strategy would be "how."
How to find the best creative strategy manager for your team
Your creative strategy manager plays a pivotal role in any marketing team. Don't look for educational requirements or past job titles instead look for someone that has experience in your niche, a proven track record, the ability to display strategic thinking and unique digital experiences for your potential customers.
