Last Updated: November 10, 2020
Every marketing agency’s goal is to build relationships with businesses, drive profits, and create compelling advertising content for clients. These compelling advertisements don’t come cheaply though, meaning professional negotiators must hammer out sales details, research campaign methods, and sell a company on an advertising plan.
Advertising sales directors manage an advertising agency’s sales team, leading the business-end of an agency. These individuals must contact clients, keep the sales team on task, and ensure the advertising team stays within budget. Read on to discover more about how to become an advertising sales director.
Main Job Responsibilities
Location and Opportunity
The following areas have some of the best job opportunities for sales directors:
Marketing firms need a way to compete with each other, and the advertising sales director is a major player in whether or not a firm takes on a new client. Sales directors frequently cold call or make first contact with new accounts, developing sales pitches about what their firm can provide for the client.
After establishing a business relationship with a new client, the sales director develops budgets and projections for the advertising campaign, creating client proposals and managing a sales team throughout the process.
Advertising sales directors might be considered the “coach” of a sales team. These professionals have the experience and education needed to help their sales representatives close deals and build up business connections. Other professionals they work with include:
Qualifications
Our Recommended Schools
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Grand Canyon University (GCU)
GCU's Colangelo College of Business offers leading edge degrees that address the demands of contemporary business environments.
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Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU)
Explore the bond between business and consumer behavior with a degree in marketing.
Most people typically can’t jump directly into an advertising sales director position at a marketing firm. These individuals have several years of experience, usually as an advertising sales representative, and show exceptional drive and initiative throughout their careers.
Many firms require their advertising sales directors to earn at least bachelor’s degrees in advertising or marketing, but many of these people will go on to earn master’s degrees later in the career.
Become an Advertising Sales Director
Job growth for advertising is expected to continue to grow in the coming years as more businesses look to advertise their services. To meet this need, marketing firms will hire more advertising sales directors to manage larger sales teams.
According to Salary.com, advertising sales directors have the potential to earn competitive salaries if they excel in their careers. The median income for an advertising sales director in 2011 was $168,000. If you’re interested in a career as an advertising sales director, contact schools offering marketing degrees.