Advertising, Marketing, Promotions, Public Relations, and Sales Managers
Any manager involved in advertising, marketing, promotions, public relations, or sales is responsible for selling a company’s goods or services. All of these occupations impact profitability. Therefore, a company’s success or failure is dependent upon reliable and talented managers.
Managerial Opportunities
Advertising managers have two options when entering the field. Small businesses may hire an advertising manager to work in-house. He will be responsible for marketing, promotions, advertising, market research, pricing, or public relations. The other option is to work for an advertising firm. There are several career paths to follow when working for a larger organization. An account executive is in charge of certain client accounts. He will act as a liaison between the firm and the client. A creative director will create and present all advertising copy. The media director determines which medium of advertising is used for each account, whether it is newspaper, radio, TV, Internet, billboards, or magazines. Some candidates may be interested in a career as a marketing manager. Marketing managers work with a team of employees to determine the best strategy for marketing a product or service. Marketing research is utilized extensively. This manager’s job is to develop a plan that will best target the market and attract potential customers. Promotions managers also impact the sale of a company’s goods or services. They must develop an advertising plan that is supplemented with an incentive program. For example, direct mail pieces might be distributed with a 20% off coupon for a future purchase. Other incentives to consider are discounts, sweepstakes, samples, or gifts. The main focus for a public relations manager is to maintain the image of a company. With this as his goal, the public relations manager will ensure that all advertising and marketing strategies meet with the beliefs and attitudes of the organization. Sponsored events within a community are often the result of a public relations manager. Sales managers often take the most credit for successful sales or the most heat for lack of sales. They will design and implement a training program, supervise and motivate sales representatives, and monitor sales statistics. They will also need to communicate goals to their sales people and keep upper management advised on progress.
Necessary Qualifications
All of these managerial positions typically require a bachelor’s degree from a liberal arts college. A degree in business administration is a definite advantage. The completion of a college internship and some exposure to management classes is looked upon favorably, as well. Any individual interested in this field should be ready to work many long hours. Most advertising, promotion, marketing, public relations, and sales managers work more than forty hours a week. Their weeks often entail long nights and weekends. Communication skills are vital, as are creativity and decisiveness. Most importantly, these individuals must be highly motivated and driven to succeed.
Salaries and Advancement Opportunities
Due to the visibility of these management positions, the opportunity for promotion is very high. Individuals working for a small company will find it easy to find other opportunities in larger firms with more responsibilities and higher salaries. Very often, these managers move on to start their own businesses. Salaries vary due to the industry in which managers are employed. They can range from $30,000 to $150,000 per year. The size of the organization also impacts these figures.
*This is a summarized article created to allow for a quick career review. For the most accurate and up-to-date information visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor website to learn more about Advertising, Marketing, Promotions, Public Relations, and Sales Managers.
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copyright 2005
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