Advertising sales agents, also known as advertising sales representatives, are responsible for selling advertising space to businesses and individuals. They are the bridge between producers and consumers, connecting with potential customers, making sales presentations, and maintaining customer accounts. Traditionally, advertising agencies have been in a position to lead projects, but the best results come from a more collaborative relationship. If a customer is interested in continuing, the advertising sales agent will create an advertising proposal to present to them.
Companies may also promote successful advertising agents to senior sales and marketing management positions that involve more management and marketing strategy. Some advertising agents may be referred to as account executives or account managers, particularly those who focus on ad production. Advertising agents can sell ads for one media type or ad packages that place a company's advertising across multiple media types. To become an advertising agent, you can earn a bachelor's degree in advertising or a related field such as marketing, communications, or business. As an advertising sales agent, you will be responsible for selling advertising space in print, radio, television and online publications.
The role of an advertising agency has evolved so much that they can offer much more than just advertising. Media buyers strategically buy optimal advertising for their customers; companies with a product, brand, or service to advertise. An advertising agency is independent of the customer and provides a third-party perspective on the sale of the customer's goods or services. If you don't think selling advertising space is your calling, you may want to consider a career in insurance sales or sales management. An advertising agent is a professional who meets with business customers, analyzes the customer's market needs, and designs an advertising campaign that will help meet the customer's sales objectives.
Like most sales jobs, advertising sales agents work mostly on commissions, meaning their income depends on the amount of advertising space and time they can sell. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than fifty percent of advertising sales agents work for the information industry; employees of radio and television stations as well as print and online publishers where they sell advertising time on programs, publications and sites owned by communication media companies. In conclusion, an advertising agent is responsible for connecting producers with consumers by selling them advertising space in various media outlets. They must have a bachelor's degree in a related field such as marketing or communications and be able to work under pressure to meet sales quotas. Advertising agents are often promoted to senior sales and marketing management positions that involve more management and marketing strategy.