What Does a Marketing Manager do?

The main job of a marketing manager is found right in the title: marketing. As a marketing manager, you will work to find and secure clients for the company you work for. This may include selling products or services. It’s also common for a marketing manager to work with a marketing research team.

Marketing managers have many responsibilities. They are usually the head of a team and have a say in the company’s marketing plan. However, the main job duty will be to implement the marketing plan. So let’s look at the common job duties of a marketing manager.

Job Duties of a Marketing Manager

As a marketing manager, you will have a marketing plan to implement. Some of the common job duties include:

• Paying close attention to market trends
• Deciding when and how to introduce new products and services
• Helping to advise on improving existing products and services
• Overseeing a marketing team
• Helping to run marketing campaigns and outreach programs
• Developing the company’s brand image
• Monitoring products or services from competitors
• Monitoring the marketing plan of the company to ensure it’s working properly

Many other job duties may be a part of the day-to-day for a marketing manager. These are some of the common duties, however. Depending on the industry you work in, your job duties may vary.

Common Skills of a Marketing Manager

If you want to become a marketing manager, you will likely need to have the right skills. Some of the common skills include:

• Decision-Making – You will need to make fast decisions about strategies for selling products and services. It’s important to be a good decision-maker if you want to become a marketing manager.
• Leadership – You will likely lead a team as a manager. Good leadership skills are important for this career path.
• Communication Skills – Not only will you work with a team, but you will also need to work with vendors and superiors. Therefore, good communication skills are necessary if you want to be a successful marketing manager.
• Creativity – Any position in marketing requires a creative person.
• Analytical Skills – A big part of the job of a marketing manager is looking at research data. You will need to develop marketing strategies based on trends. Analytical skills will help you be more successful in this career.

These are the skills you need to become a marketing manager. Other, more technical skills can be learned through education and training.

How to Become a Marketing Manager

Step #1 – Finish High School

You need a high school education or equivalent to become a marketing manager. However, since you will need to get a bachelor’s degree, you want to make sure you do well in high school.

A high GPA and good SAT or ACT scores can help you get into a good college. If you’re worried you might not score high on the SAT or ACT, use a top prep course. This can ensure you get a high score.

Step #2 – Get Your Bachelor’s Degree

You want to get a degree in marketing, business administration, advertising, or a similar field. It’s common to take courses in the following subjects:

• Consumer Behavior
• Business Law
• Economics
• Finance
• Computer Science
• Mathematics
• Public Relations
• Marketing Research
• Statistics

These courses will help you develop the skills necessary to become a marketing manager. You will likely need to complete an internship to get your bachelor’s degree.

Step #3 – Work in Marketing

An entry-level job in marketing will help you along the path to becoming a marketing manager. Many will work in sales, advertising, brand management, market research, or consumer analysis. You will need to gain several years of experience to become a marketing manager.

About 12% of marketing managers gain this position with less than five years of experience. It’s more common to have around 8 to 10 years of experience to become a marketing manager.

Step #4 – Gain Certifications

There are several certifications you can get to boost your resume. For example, if you want to speed up becoming a marketing manager, you can get the PCM (Professional Certified Marketer) certificate. You will need a bachelor’s degree, and you will need to pass the 210-question exam.

You can also get the CME (Certified Marketing Executive) certification. This comes from SMEI (Sales & Marketing Executives International). This certification requires you to be working as a marketing manager, marketing educator, or executive manager. You can also be an owner-operator of a business.

The exam is based on a 532-page prep textbook. Once you pass the exam, you must complete 20 hours of continuing education to renew this certification every year.

Other certifications to consider include:

• Business Marketing Institute Certification in Business-to-Business Marketing
• American Bankers Association’s CFMP (Certified Financial Marketing Professional)
• Association of International Product Marketing & Management’s CPMM (Certified Product Marketing Manager)

There are also programs you can use from business schools for certifications in other areas. For example, you can become certified in digital marketing, content marketing, social media marketing, SEO, or other marketing methods.

Step #5 – Get your Master’s Degree

A master’s degree in marketing or business administration will set you apart. When you want to become a marketing manager or climb the ladder higher, a master’s degree will likely become necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions About Being a Marketing Manager

How much can I make as a marketing manager?

The average annual salary for a marketing manager is about $66K. However, you can make more or less, depending on your location, experience level, and employer. With three to five years of experience, the average salary is closer to $70K per year.

Top companies will pay a six-figure salary for a good marketing manager. Some will even pay more than $140K per year. For example, if you work in San Francisco, the average salary is about $101K. San Diego, New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago all pay higher than the national average for marketing managers.

What type of skills can help me make more as a marketing manager?

The right type of skills can give you a salary boost as a marketing manager. Most of these skills have to do with specific software programs. If you know how to use any of the following, it can lead to a higher salary:

• Tableau
• Marketo
• Pardot
• Adobe Analytics
• Salesforce Marketing Cloud

You can also boost your salary if you’re a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) or you have a business degree.

What type of employee benefits are common for marketing managers?

If you get hired on as a marketing manager, you will likely gain many benefits. It’s common for this position to come with health insurance, including vision and dental. You will also gain access to paid time off. In addition, some companies provide a gym membership and even some meals.

It’s becoming increasingly common for marketing managers to work from home, too. As a result, a 401(k) may be available, along with stock options. Some companies even provide commuter assistance programs.

What type of hours do marketing managers work?

If you go into a career as a marketing manager, you can expect to work full-time hours. Sometimes, you will work extra hours to meet deadlines. It’s common for marketing managers to work some nights and weekends when a deadline is tight.

Is the career of a marketing manager in high demand?

Yes. This career path is growing faster than the average of other occupations. Moreover, it’s expected to continue to grow over the next ten years, as well.

Where do marketing managers work?

It’s common for marketing managers to work in an office setting. Some will work from home, but it will likely be a home office. You will do most of your work in front of a computer, but you may also meet with your team in person.

Many marketing managers also meet with clients, which may be done virtually or in person. You will also take meetings with vendors for video production, media outlets, and print production.

How long will it take me to become a marketing manager?

You will likely need a four-year bachelor’s degree to become a marketing manager. Along with a degree, you will need to gain experience as a marketing specialist or coordinator. Commonly, five years of experience is required for this position.

It will likely take you between 8 and 10 years to become a marketing manager. Even after accepting this position, you will likely need six months to a year of training before the role is fully yours.

What type of position will I likely start in before becoming a marketing manager?

You will likely start in an entry-level advertising or marketing position. Once you’ve gained some experience, you may work up to a junior-level position before applying for a marketing manager position.

Before you decide to enter any career, it’s important to know what it will entail. If you want to know what a marketing manager does, you can use the information above. It’s also helpful to find someone in this position you can shadow for a few days. This will give you more insight into the day-to-day routine of a marketing manager.

Jordan Fabel

Covering different 'paths' that people's lives can take. Creative, foster parent, ticket dismissal, you get the idea. Exploring the requirements, certifications, exams, and obviously, approved courses along each path.