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How to Become a Marketing Manager

by | Feb 7, 2019 | Articles, Marketing

Every business needs a highly efficient and talented Marketing Manager on their payroll. Without one, their advertising campaigns will always lack direction, which ultimately means they’ll constantly struggle to draw custom

If you think you’ve got what it takes to be a business’s Marketing Manager, then why not go for it? You should know, however, that, in order to follow this particular career path, you’re going to have put a lot of hard work in. You’re going to have to devote your time and efforts to honing your craft and becoming the best marketer you can possibly be.

To see what you need to do specifically to become a Marketing Manager, read on.

Get an education

The first step you need to take if you’re serious about one day becoming a Marketing Manager is to get yourself an education in the field. First and foremost, this means taking a Bachelor’s degree course in either business, marketing, advertising, or communications. A good route to take in this instance is a course that will not only teach you about your subject matter but also about what it takes to lead and manage in the world of business. For instance, Walsh University’s BBA Management program helps to develop leaders so that you can apply for the correct jobs in confidence.

If you want to speed up the process of you making it to a management position in the field, you should also consider taking a postgraduate course in marketing specifically. Having an MBA on your resume will help you to stand out from your competition when it comes to landing that all-important entry-level role.

Take an internship role

To be able to truly understand the restraints and pressures that Marketing Managers are always seeking to mitigate, you need to shadow somebody who already holds such a position. Before you start working in the field yourself, then, you should take an internship in which you can work closely with a manager, as doing that is the only way you are going to know if this is the career for you.

To take full advantage of your marketing internship and your manager-shadowing opportunity, you should get as much hands-on experience as you can. This should involve you:

  • Making copies
  • Answering client phone calls
  • Sitting in on meetings and brainstorms
  • Working on both online and real-world campaigns
  • Being as creative as you can

Get an entry-level job… and work hard when you do

Everybody has to start somewhere, so you should have no qualms in getting yourself an entry-level job. The pay might not be so good to start off with but, if you work hard enough, you’ll prove to your bosses just how committed you are to your craft. That’ll put you in better stead going forward when internal-promotions become available.

Market yourself

You might be good at marketing and advertising other things, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you will be good at marketing yourself. You may struggle when it comes to showing off your own credentials, and you shouldn’t let this doubt your advertising your abilities. You’re going to have to work on your ability to market yourself, however, if you want to grab the brass ring and really accelerate your career.

When aforementioned internal-promotions become available, you need to point out how much you contributed to your department. You need to prove what impact you’ve made, and you need to show a willingness to bring about more change going forward.

Work on a number of your skills

Alongside the skill of being able to market yourself, there are a number of others that you need to equip yourself with if you want your bid to become a Marketing Manager to be a successful one. One of these skills is the ability to keep your finger on the pulse of the latest trends. Another is that you have to be able to communicate your work and your marketing plans with strength and coherence. You’re also going to need to be highly efficient when it comes to the use of the Internet and computer devices, whether you go down the digital marketing route or not.

Join marketing associations

Joining a marketing association may not directly impact your quest to reach the level of Marketing Manager, but it will benefit you throughout your journey. For one, being a part of such an association will help you to stay informed with regards to the very latest developments, strategies, and technologies that are being used and deployed in the industry.

As well as this, by spending your spare time immersing yourself in the world of marketing, you’ll also find yourself living in a way that facilitates career growth. By living the life you wish to live tomorrow, today, you’ll take one step closer to being the perfect version of yourself.

When you make it, carry on growing

If you land yourself a job as a Marketing Manager, first and foremost, congratulations. Your celebrations should be short-lived, though, as you’ve still got work to do. Alongside the various marketing campaigns that you have to run and oversee, you also have the task of continuing your personal and professional growth. In the instance of containing your growth, you should:

  • Continue to market yourself and your abilities
  • Keep track of what your customers want and expect
  • Carry on analyzing your competition to see where you can get better
  • Remain well-read when it comes to the latest marketing advancements of the day

Oh, and make sure you don’t let the power go to your head. You were an intern once, remember!

To become a Marketing Manager, you’re going to have to devote a lot of your time and a lot of your effort to the field. More to the point, you’re going to have to get an education in the field, pick up an internship, get an entry-level job, market yourself, work on a number of your skills, join marketing associations, and, last but not least, carry on your growth even when you’ve made it.