The employer’s guide to hiring for remote marketing jobs

A step-by-step guide to hiring for remote marketing jobs, from writing job posts to onboarding, managing, scaling, and retaining top talent.

Hiring for remote marketing roles isn’t just about posting a job and waiting for the right person to appear. It’s about creating a consistent, intentional experience from start to finish - one that attracts the right candidates, helps them shine during the process, and gives them a reason to stay once they’re hired.

This guide is for employers and hiring managers who want to build a remote marketing team that actually works. Whether you're hiring your first marketer or scaling a growing team, this step-by-step resource will help you navigate the full journey. We've included real-world advice, internal links to deeper guides, and a relaxed tone to keep things practical.

By the end, you’ll have a clear picture of what it takes to find, hire, and keep great marketing talent in a remote-first world.

1. Start by figuring out who you actually need

Before you rush to write a job post, pause and get clear on what kind of marketer you actually need. Are you looking for a content generalist who can wear multiple hats? A performance specialist to own paid channels? A strategic thinker to lead a new vertical? Different stages of company growth demand different roles, and if you don’t define that upfront, you’ll attract the wrong people.

It helps to look at what your current team is doing, what gaps are slowing you down, and what your near-term goals are. Be honest: do you need a full-time hire, a freelancer, or something in between? Do you have the resources to onboard someone properly?

Once you're clear on the role, write a job description that sets the right tone. This is your first impression - it should reflect what your company values and what success in the role looks like. Clarity here saves time (and money) later on.

🔗 How to write a job description for remote marketing jobs

2. Look in the right places

Not all job boards are created equal, and remote marketers know this. If you want quality applicants, you have to meet them where they are. That means going beyond generalist job sites and tapping into marketing-specific spaces, remote-first communities, and even newsletters or Slack groups.

Posting in the right places filters out the noise. You’ll spend less time reviewing irrelevant CVs and more time speaking to candidates who are actually a fit.

Start by identifying where your ideal hire spends time online. Are they active on LinkedIn? Are they part of niche communities like Demand Curve or Superpath? Do they follow certain industry leaders or subscribe to marketing newsletters?

Also, think about the kind of role you're hiring for. A growth marketer might be active in different spaces than a brand strategist. Tailor your outreach accordingly.

🔗 Where to find the best remote marketing candidates in 2025

3. Keep your hiring process sharp and fair

A sloppy hiring process doesn’t just turn off good candidates, it also increases your chances of making a bad hire. Remote marketers have options. If your process feels unstructured, inconsistent or unclear, they’ll move on.

The fix? Build a structured, repeatable approach that treats candidates with respect and gives you the information you need to make smart decisions.

Start by defining what success looks like for the role. Use a scorecard to track skills, experience and values alignment. Create a consistent interview process, with questions that dig into real-world scenarios and working styles. Loop in team members for a broader view.

And remember, great candidates are evaluating you too. Every touchpoint, from the initial email to the final offer, reflects your team’s culture and maturity.

🔗 Screening and interviewing for remote marketing jobs
🔗 25 interview questions for remote marketing roles

4. Spot red flags before it’s too late

No one is perfect, but hiring is about patterns, not perfection. If you notice the same concerns coming up in different parts of the process, don’t ignore them.

Some red flags are especially important in remote roles. If a candidate struggles to communicate clearly over email or video, can’t follow basic instructions, or seems evasive about their previous work, it’s worth digging deeper. Remote teams rely heavily on trust, ownership and written communication. You need people who can operate independently and keep you in the loop.

That said, avoid over-indexing on "culture fit." Be specific about what you’re looking for, and why it matters in the role. Someone being different isn’t a red flag. But someone being dismissive, disorganised or defensive? That might be.

🔗 Red flags to watch for when hiring for remote marketing jobs

5. Set new hires up for success

Once the offer is signed, the real work begins. Onboarding is your chance to turn a good hire into a great teammate. And in remote marketing jobs, that means going beyond the basics.

A strong onboarding process helps new hires understand not just what to do, but how to do it well within your team’s context. That includes access to documentation, clear priorities, regular check-ins and a warm welcome into your culture. Don’t let them drift through their first few weeks.

The best remote onboarding processes are proactive. They anticipate what questions a new marketer might have. They provide structure without being rigid. And they give people space to start making an impact early on.

If you’ve hired well, your new teammate is motivated and ready to go. Onboarding is where you show them they made the right choice.

🔗 How to onboard remote marketing hires for long-term success

6. Manage without micromanaging

Managing a remote marketing team isn’t about constant check-ins or daily status updates. It’s about giving people the clarity, tools and trust they need to do great work without being watched.

That starts with clear goals. Every marketer should know what they’re working toward, how their success is measured, and how their work fits into the bigger picture. Without that, they’ll either drift or overcompensate.

Use systems that support visibility without creating noise. Async updates, shared docs and regular 1:1s go a long way. So does real feedback, not just praise or vague "good jobs," but actionable input that helps them grow.

Above all, show trust. If you’ve hired well and onboarded properly, there should be no need to micromanage. Check in, don’t check up.

🔗 How to manage remote marketing teams (without micromanaging)

7. Scale without breaking your team

Scaling a remote marketing team is exciting, but if you’re not careful, it can get messy. More people often means more meetings, more confusion and more dropped balls.

To scale well, you need to grow your systems alongside your headcount. That means refining workflows, documenting processes, clarifying ownership, and making sure communication still flows.

It also means being intentional about who you hire, and in what order. Don’t just add people to "move faster." Add people to solve specific problems, take on clear responsibilities and strengthen your team dynamic.

Culture is harder to protect at scale, so keep checking in with your existing team. Are they clear on what’s changing? Do they still feel connected? Growth should feel exciting, not exhausting.

🔗 How to scale your remote marketing team without losing focus or quality

8. Keep the good ones

Retaining remote marketing talent isn’t about beanbags, pizza budgets or forcing people back into an office. It’s about showing that you value their time, trust their work, and want them to succeed.

Make development part of the conversation. Talk about growth paths. Fund learning. Give people new challenges. Great marketers want to get better, not just do more.

Also: pay fairly. Reward loyalty. Celebrate wins. And keep the team connected, especially as you grow.

Retention isn’t something you figure out after someone quits. It’s built into how you lead.

🔗 How to retain remote marketing talent

9. Wrap-up and next steps

Remote hiring doesn’t need to be a guessing game. If you’ve made it through this guide, you now have a clear roadmap for attracting, hiring and keeping top marketing talent, without relying on luck or last-minute fixes.

Each step in this guide links to more focused resources. Use them as you go, and come back to them when things shift. Whether you're refining your job posts or building out a multi-layered team, the key is consistency.

Ready to put it into action?

Post your next remote marketing job on Howard and build a team that gets better with every hire.

FAQs: Hiring for remote marketing jobs

Q: How do I know when to hire a remote marketer?

A: If your team is consistently stretched, missing growth opportunities, or lacking a key skill (like SEO, content, or paid acquisition), it might be time to hire. Look for recurring bottlenecks, not just temporary busyness.

Q: What should I prioritise in a remote marketing hire?

A: Prioritise clear communication, self-direction, and relevant experience. Remote work demands a high level of ownership, so look for people who can work independently and still stay aligned with your goals.

Q: How do I compete with bigger companies for remote talent?

A:You don’t need massive budgets. Offer clarity, flexibility, and growth opportunities. Many marketers prefer smaller teams where they can make an impact, move faster, and avoid bureaucracy.

Q: How can I tell if a candidate will thrive remotely?

A: Look for signs of self-management, proactive communication, and remote experience. Ask how they stay organised and what kind of support helps them do their best work. You can also give small async tasks to see how they handle autonomy.

Q: What’s the biggest mistake employers make when hiring remote marketers?

A: Rushing the process. Skipping steps like structured interviews, clear onboarding, or defined expectations can turn good hires into short-term ones. Take your time to hire right, not fast.

Q: Do I need different onboarding for remote hires?

A: Yes. Remote onboarding needs more structure and communication than in-person setups. Build in extra check-ins, clear documentation, and social touchpoints early on.

Q: Where should I post my remote marketing job?

A: Start with niche, marketing-specific job boards and remote-first communities. Broad platforms often bring too much noise. For a better experience, post your job on Howard.