How To Become A Marketing Manager

Every organization needs to have a brand presence. They need to have a presence in the public sphere for end users and potential customers to know that they can provide a solution to a specific problem. But how is this done effectively?

The public consumes information at rapid rates and if something doesn't grab their attention within two seconds, they aren't going to pay any mind to it. This coupled with the fact that everyone has different inclinations and likes, companies need to find a way of appealing to the masses.

This is done with the help of an important role player in an organization – the marketing manager. Marketing managers establish lines of communication with clients and consumers, and they play an important role in creating an appeal for the product or the service that a company sells.

The steps you would need to take to become a marketing manager are to first obtain your bachelor's degree, then gain hands-on experience, and lastly pursue a graduate degree if you are seeking greater opportunities and career growth.

Let us delve into the career path and take a closer look at the steps you would need to take to become a marketing manager.

What Is A Marketing Manager?

A marketing manager plays an important role in communicating the company's offerings, whether it is products or services, to the public. But the role that they play is not as simple as creating a few creative billboards for the world to see.

Instead, they need to design a strategy that will connect the company with its target market. The reality is that not everyone in the world will consume the product or service that a company produces. The goal is not to appeal to or sell the project to the world, but rather to sell it to everyone in the company's desired demographic.

What Does A Marketing Manager Do?

Marketing managers need to monitor market trends and they need to make decisions about devising effective marketing strategies that will not only appeal to the public but will also sell the product according to the market trends available.

At the foundational level, marketing managers play a direct role in the profitability of an organization. If they do their job successfully, this will directly be seen in the turnover of products in a company.

Types Of Marketing Managers

There are a few different types of marketing manager roles that serve a different function within an organization. An affiliate marketing manager is someone who monitors and tracks the relationship and success of an organization and its marketing affiliates, a brand marketing manager promotes and upholds the company's brand and public image, and a content manager is responsible for an organization's digital content.

Product marketing managers manage product performance and its positioning on the market, and social media managers manage the company's image on a wide variety of social platforms.

It is important to realize that a company doesn't only sell its products and services, but it also sells itself and its image to the public.

What Skills Do You Need To Be A Marketing Manager?

There are a number of innate and acquired skills that you need to have to be successful as a marketing manager. You need to be able to communicate with individuals from many different backgrounds, while also being able to appeal to different customers in the public space. You need to be creative and have organizational and time management skills.

You need to be able to not only plan a budget but to also stick to and stay within the confines of a budget.

You also need to have some hard skills that will usually be taught to you during your degree programs which include media production, technological skills, and research and sales skills.

Steps To Become A Marketing Manager

Step One: Obtain A Bachelor's Degree

A bachelor's degree will teach you many of the technical and required skills that you need to successfully market products and brands respectfully to the public sphere. You could choose to pursue a specialized degree in the form of a degree in marketing, or you could choose a more generalized degree such as a degree in business administration or business management.

Step Two: Gain Experience

Even with your bachelor's degree, you may not qualify for a management position without any direct industry experience. You would therefore need to work your way up the corporate ladder so to speak, and gain hands-on marketing experience.

Step Three: Pursue A Graduate Degree

If you did choose to go for a business management or business administration degree, here would be your opportunity to specialize in marketing by getting a master's degree that is focused on marketing.

Earning a graduate degree in marketing can prove to be extremely beneficial in that you will unlock great potential for career and salary growth.

What Degree Do You Need To Be A Marketing Manager?

At the very least, you would need a bachelor's degree in marketing, business management, or business administration, but to open up greater opportunities, you would need to consider a master's degree.

What Is The Average Salary For A Marketing Manager?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), advertising, promotions, and marketing managers earn a median annual salary of $133,380.

FAQs

What Is The Job Outlook For Marketing Managers?

The BLS states that the overall employment for marketing managers expects to see a projected growth of 10% over the next decade with an average of 35,300 positions opening up on average each year.

Is A Marketing Manager A Good Job?

Considering the earning potential and the job outlook for marketing managers, pursuing this career path would be a good decision to make as it is a good job to have.

Conclusion

If you like appealing to the greater public and you have a creative streak within you, this may be a great career opportunity for you. Considering that the world is constantly adapting and that there are always demographics to which a company can appeal, pursuing a career in marketing is guaranteed to keep you on your toes and always learning something new.