What is an Advertising Manager?

Advertising managers have fast-paced and creative jobs! They are in charge of planning and directing the advertising campaigns for companies - their main goal is to promote interest in a product or service.

Working together with art directors, sales agents, and financial staff, advertising managers develop and bring these campaigns to life, often acting as the go-between for agencies and clients.

What does an Advertising Manager do?

An advertising manager executing an advertising campaign at a company meeting.

An advertising manager will typically do the following:

  • Work with department heads or staff to discuss topics such as contracts, selection of advertising media, or products to be advertised
  • Gather and organize information to plan advertising campaigns
  • Plan the advertising, including which media to advertise in, such as radio, television, print, online, and billboards
  • Negotiate advertising contracts
  • Inspect layouts, which are sketches or plans for an advertisement
  • Initiate market research studies and analyze their findings
  • Develop pricing strategies for products to be marketed, balancing the goals of a firm with customer satisfaction
  • Meet with clients to provide marketing or technical advice
  • Direct the hiring of advertising, promotions, and marketing staff and oversee their daily activities

An advertising manager creates interest among potential buyers of a product or service for a department, for an entire organization, or on a project basis (account).

They work in advertising agencies that put together advertising campaigns for clients, in media firms that sell advertising space or time, and in organizations that advertise heavily. They collaborate with sales staff and others to generate ideas for an advertising campaign and oversee the staff that develops the advertising. They also meet with the finance department to prepare a budget and cost estimates for the advertising campaign.

Often, an advertising manager serves as a liaison between the client requiring the advertising and an advertising or promotion agency that develops and places the ads. In larger organizations with an extensive advertising department, different advertising managers may oversee in-house accounts and creative and media services departments.

Are you suited to be an advertising manager?

Advertising managers have distinct personalities. They tend to be enterprising individuals, which means they’re adventurous, ambitious, assertive, extroverted, energetic, enthusiastic, confident, and optimistic. They are dominant, persuasive, and motivational. Some of them are also artistic, meaning they’re creative, intuitive, sensitive, articulate, and expressive.

Does this sound like you? Take our free career test to find out if advertising manager is one of your top career matches.

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What is the workplace of an Advertising Manager like?

An advertising manager typically works in an office. Advertising jobs are usually stressful, particularly near deadlines. They may travel to meet with clients or representatives of communications media.

Advertising Managers are also known as:
Promotions Manager Marketing and Promotions Manager Advertising and Promotions Manager Advertising Sales Manager