How to Become a Marketing Manager

A marketing manager oversees all of the marketing activities of a company. They typically manage a small team, but also have a hands-on role with the advertising of products and brands.

Marketing is the umbrella term for the advertising of products, brands and services across platforms. A marketing manager is in charge of all of this; they both supervise a team and delegate tasks to them, and have a hands-on role with many of the campaigns. 

A marketing manager job description includes many different things, including: 

• Making marketing strategies and plans and working out how they will be implemented. 
• Managing the marketing team, which will involve everything from interviewing to delegating work and assessing employee progress. 
• Creating promotional material and campaigns.
• Analysing the performance of campaigns across different platforms in the digital world, on TV, and in print. 
• Working out expenditures and budgets.
• Networking with relevant companies and collaborating. 
• Attending conferences and events, including event marketing.
• Doing market research. 

To become a successful marketing manager, certain qualifications and skills are necessary. Most people working in this field are graduates in business, marketing, or advertising, although it is certainly possible to get into this field without a degree. People typically begin at entry level marketing positions and move up as their experience progresses; before becoming a marketing manager, candidates often take further marketing qualifications to boost their career. From being a marketing manager, there is also the opportunity to progress to a marketing director role.

Marketing managers are expected to have ‘T’ shaped skills; while they can specialise in a certain field, they should also have a broad knowledge of other areas. Topics which they should acquire knowledge about include: SEO, outreach, branding, digital advertising, print marketing and TV advertising. They should also be ambitious, confident, great at leadership and communication across the board.

Marketing managers typically enjoy a good salary, especially as they progress and can become shareholders in the company. The job is in demand, so it is relatively easy to get onto this career ladder.