Advertising Manager Career and Salary Profile
Advertising managers fulfill an essential role in advertising agencies, serving as liaison between the client and creative department and providing a wide variety of client services. Some companies have in-house advertising managers that oversee the planning, development and execution of advertising and marketing campaigns. The first step toward an advertising manager career can be a bachelor’s degree in business administration program with a specialization in marketing.
Job Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that employment of advertising managers will increase steadily in coming years. Job growth will occur as advertising and media outlets expand, and companies continue exploring new options to gain market share and sales. Given the high level of interest in this field, competition for entry-level jobs is likely to be strong. Candidates with relevant education, experience and proficiency should enjoy the best prospects.
Advertising Manager Job Duties
Advertising managers perform a variety of job duties, including consulting with clients to determine how to improve market share and sales. They gather and organize information to help with decision-making regarding media placement, campaign length, featured products and services, and technical details.
In advertising agencies, it is the advertising manager’s responsibility to ensure that a client’s needs are being met and that any concerns are addressed. These professionals stay in close communication with the client, answering questions, explaining strategy and providing status updates. Advertising managers are typically responsible for obtaining client approval on projects and communicating client feedback to the creative team. They also work to increase agency revenue by recommending new promotional opportunities or additional services.
In many cases, advertising managers prepare advertising budgets, calendars and project schedules. They usually meet with the creative team during strategy sessions, and may recommend creative concept revisions according to the client’s needs and preferences. Depending on the size of the agency or company, advertising managers may also negotiate contracts and coordinate media placements.
Virtually all advertising managers work in an office environment. Overtime may be required to meet important project deadlines. Advertising managers often travel to meet with clients and attend trade shows.
Potential Salary for Advertising Managers
According to BLS reports, the average salary for advertising managers was $97,670 as of May 2009. The middle 50% earned between $56,000 and $121,970. Salaries for the lowest 10% were around $40,990, while the highest 10% brought in upwards of $166,400. Recent bachelor’s graduates will generally start out toward the lower end of the range. The top salaries typically go to advertising managers with extensive experience and advanced education.
Education and Training
Most entry-level advertising positions require a bachelor’s degree in advertising, marketing or business administration. Some organizations favor candidates with a master’s degree. Many aspiring advertising managers pursue internships, as agencies usually seek to hire applicants with relevant experience.
An advertising manager career can begin with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a specialization in marketing. Coursework typically includes principles of management, advertising management, electronic commerce, statistics and principles of marketing.
Employers can be confident that graduates of a business administration program with a specialization in marketing are able to:
- Employ fundamental business and marketing principles.
- Develop marketing strategies for diverse business environments.
- Analyze, plan, implement and monitor advertising campaigns.
- Identify market segments, estimate consumer demand and position products.
- Leverage advanced skills and knowledge to succeed as an advertising manager.
Many employers offer opportunities for continuing education. It’s possible to gain an entry-level position with a bachelor’s degree and use tuition assistance to pay for a master’s degree.
Do You Have What It Takes to Excel in an Advertising Manager Career?
To succeed as an advertising manager, you should be driven, focused and able to interact effectively with a variety of personality types. This field also requires a high level of creativity and flexibility, self-motivation, good decision-making skills and the ability to communicate persuasively. If you have these essential qualities, take the next step to an exciting career as an advertising manager by earning your bachelor’s degree in business administration with a specialization in marketing.
