E-commerce consultant
The e-commerce consultant has become an essential profile as online sales have taken a central place in companies' commercial strategies. Combining technical expertise, commercial sense and mastery of digital tools, this career offers a wide variety of assignments and sectors to work in.
What is an e-commerce consultant?
Definition and main role of the e-commerce consultant
The e-commerce consultant is an online commerce expert whose job is to help companies develop and optimise their online sales activities. They work on overall strategy as well as on specific issues: website ergonomics, traffic acquisition, visitor conversion and customer loyalty.
Their role is above all that of an objective adviser, able to identify areas for improvement and propose concrete, measurable solutions, working with the marketing, IT and sales teams.
Types of company that use this profile
The e-commerce consultant works in a variety of contexts:
● retail chains and retailers wishing to develop their online sales channel;
● SMEs going through digital transition, which have not yet brought this expertise in-house;
● digital agencies, where the consultant manages several client accounts in parallel;
● B2C brands seeking to improve their conversion rate and customer experience.
What are the responsibilities of an e-commerce consultant?
Optimising the performance and ergonomics of e-commerce sites
The consultant carries out full audits of the site: navigation, purchase journey, loading speed, conversion funnel and mobile compatibility. On this basis, they make precise recommendations, such as simplifying the ordering process and improving product pages, and oversee their implementation with the technical teams.
Developing and monitoring digital marketing and sales strategies
They help define the acquisition and loyalty strategy suited to the company's objectives, activating the relevant levers: SEO, SEA, emailing, social media and affiliate marketing. They ensure consistency between channels to maximise the return on investment of every action taken.
Analysing sales and customer behaviour to improve results
Data analysis is at the heart of their work. They use web analytics tools, Google Analytics, heatmaps and A/B testing to understand visitor behaviour and measure the impact of the actions put in place. They produce regular reports with key indicators: conversion rate, average basket value, acquisition cost and retention rate.
Qualities and skills needed to be a good e-commerce consultant
Knowledge of e-commerce platforms, digital marketing and analytics
The e-commerce consultant must master the main platforms on the market, Shopify, PrestaShop and WooCommerce, as well as digital marketing and performance measurement tools: Google Analytics, Google Ads, Meta Ads and CRM tools such as HubSpot or Brevo.
Commercial acumen, analytical thinking and the ability to propose innovative solutions
Beyond technical skills, they need strong commercial acumen and must know how to turn complex data into actionable recommendations. Their ability to propose innovative solutions to concrete problems (basket abandonment, low organic visibility) is one of their most important strengths.
What are the advantages of working as an e-commerce consultant?
Direct impact on sales and company growth
One of the major strengths of this career is seeing results directly. Every successful optimisation translates into tangible, measurable indicators: an increase in traffic, an improved conversion rate and revenue growth. This closeness to business results strengthens the consultant's credibility and added value.
Varied work and assignments in different sectors
The consultant works in a range of sectors: fashion, beauty, high-tech, food, B2B. This variety of assignments is one of the main attractions of the career, particularly for those working in an agency or freelance. Each new client brings its own challenges and encourages continuous learning.
E-commerce consultant: salary and career progression
Average salary
The pay levels observed in France are as follows:
● entry level (0 to 3 years): between €35,000 and €42,000 gross per year;
● experienced profile (3 to 6 years): between €42,000 and €55,000 gross per year;
● senior or freelance: up to €70,000 gross per year, or even more on a daily rate.
Career progression
The most common paths are:
● in-house e-commerce manager within a retail chain or brand;
● head of e-commerce or digital director in larger organisations;
● digital entrepreneur, launching their own shop or independent consulting business.
What studies lead to becoming an e-commerce consultant?
Licence or master in digital marketing, business or e-business
At EDC Paris Business School, the MSc Digital Marketing is available as initial training or on a work-study basis and covers all the digital levers, with an approach focused on performance and results, skills that can be put to direct use in e-commerce consulting. The Master in Management, for its part, offers dual expertise in management and in Marketing, Data & Business Intelligence, particularly suited to those wishing to progress towards e-commerce manager roles.
Additional training in analytics, SEO/SEA and e-commerce site management
Several certifications can strengthen your profile:
● Google Analytics Certification and Google Ads Certification;
● Meta Blueprint and Shopify Partner Academy;
● training in technical SEO, CRO and marketing automation.
These certifications are directly valued by recruiters and clients.