At face value, a marketing manager seems like a fun career. It allows you to explore your creative side and think on your feet. However, those interested in this career need to learn more about what it entails. Is it in demand? What’s the pay like? Are you qualified?
We’re here to answer all of these questions and more. Read on to learn how to become a marketing manager and additional information about this exciting job.
Table of Contents
- What do Marketing Managers Do?
- Why Become a Marketing Manager?
- How to Become a Marketing Manager
- What Skills Do You Need to Become a Marketing Manager?
- Advancing Your Career in Marketing
- Marketing Career Growth
- Finding a Job as a Marketing Manager
- What Companies Hire Marketing Managers?
- Interview Questions – Examples
What do Marketing Managers Do?
A marketing manager is responsible for analyzing markets, creating a plan to reach a company’s goals, and executing that plan by managing a team. They are in charge of finding new customers by attracting them with the company’s products and services.
The marketing manager may be responsible for any of the following:
- Provide guidance, direction, and market research to all levels of staff in order to develop or maintain a competitive edge in the marketplace
- Plan, direct, and coordinate all activities related to promotion of products or services
- Provide leadership to serve as liaison with external agencies
- Develop creative solutions for problems that arise when implementing promotional strategies
- Managing a team of employees to execute the company’s marketing strategies
Why Become a Marketing Manager?
There are many perks to becoming a marketing manager. These include:
- Great prospects for advancement
- Creative control of marketing campaigns
- A chance to think outside the box and work with emerging technologies
- High salary and bonuses available
Below we’ll cover some of the most attractive features of marketing manager jobs.
High Demand
The BLS forecasts that growth from 2019-2029 will be 6% for marketing managers. This rate is higher than the national average, but consider that this statistic covers marketing management positions of all kinds.
As more business moves online, the percentage of these jobs that are digital rather than using traditional media will only grow. Therefore, it’s reasonable to assume that the future growth outlook for digital marketing manager jobs could be even higher.
Also, keep in mind that every brand needs an advertising department. And because every advertising department needs a creative leader, brands will increasingly seek out digital marketing managers who can keep up with the latest trends.
When the next Twitter or Instagram comes along, brands want someone who will be ready to adopt early and figure out brilliant digital strategies before the competition. As such, you can expect a consistently high demand for digital marketing manager jobs.
Marketing Manager Salary Going Up
Salary.com reports that a digital marketing manager in the U.S. earns a median salary of around $108,500, with an average bonus of almost $9,000 on top of that. It also suggests that only 10% of digital marketing manager jobs pay less than $79,000, which is still handsome compensation. As you progress in your career, you may end up earning upwards of $150,000, especially if you work for a big brand.
Big brands need a strong online presence, meaning they’re willing to pay big bucks for a top-class digital marketing manager to lead their campaigns. It’s a high-responsibility job, as a significant amount of digital advertising is about not making avoidable mistakes on the great stage of the internet. But, the pay is often worth the effort you contribute.
Good Careers for Creative People
Advertising is a highly creative industry. Especially given the wide variety of media available, there’s never been a better time for creative people to discover high-paying digital marketing manager jobs where they can bring their ideas to life.
Think of Airbnb’s decision to advertise on Instagram with primarily user-generated content. Or, how about Gillette’s game-changing “best a man can get” campaign? These projects required creative thinking and bold decision-making. Becoming a successful marketing manager isn’t an exercise in boardroom groupthink — it’s an opportunity to challenge branding norms and transform a company into something more accessible.
How to Become a Marketing Manager
Many digital marketing manager jobs require a bachelor’s degree or even a master’s degree, depending on the level of seniority. However, there are several other pathways into digital marketing manager jobs that we’ll cover below.
Bachelor’s Degree
Several bachelor’s degrees can lead to a career as a marketing manager, including:
- Marketing
- Management
- Business
- Communications
- English
So, if you think you need a marketing degree to be a digital marketing manager, think again. Any liberal arts degree can help you get into this career as it teaches you how to communicate, think creatively, and solve problems.
Master’s Degree
Obtaining a master’s degree in marketing would be a huge advantage for advancing your career. Many managers pursue this qualification when they already have some experience in the industry as an avenue to further advancement. Brands also revere master’s degrees in general advertising, which can make it easier for you as more intuitions have these programs.
Certificate Programs
Certificate programs are short programs that take you through essential concepts in digital marketing. They can be great additions to a bachelor’s degree in a creative field or even a good foundation if you don’t have a bachelor’s degree. If you’re looking to transition from another business field, certificate programs are a quick and inexpensive way to learn more about how digital marketing manager jobs work and build your CV.
Digital Marketing Bootcamps
Bootcamps lie somewhere between certificate programs and bachelor’s degrees. Colleges and academic providers, such as BrainStation and Thinkinful, often run these digital marketing bootcamp programs to offer intensive study and give you an overview of what life is like in digital marketing manager jobs. Additionally, these bootcamps were created to provide career-ready training.
You’ll be glad to hear that bootcamps are an excellent choice for transitioning from other career paths as they are shorter and more affordable than college degrees. Plus, employers recognize them as valid since colleges also tend to offer them.
Marketing Courses
Many self-study courses are available to help you learn what it takes to be a digital marketing manager. Choosing this path shows prospective employers that you are motivated to learn, while they are also an excellent choice if your degree is in a discipline like liberal arts, and you want to acquire some key skills.
What Skills Do You Need to Become a Marketing Manager?
Your studies should equip you with many skills needed to become a digital marketing manager. Perhaps the most important these skills are what we’ll refer to as the 3 C’s:
- Communication
- Creativity
- Caution
Below we’ll explain why these skills are essential for succeeding in digital marketing manager jobs.
1. Communication
Communication is vital in advertising. Quite aside from the fact that your goal is to communicate a message to your customers to drive sales, you need to communicate clearly with the people you work with.
You need to ensure that your campaigns are in line with the message that your brand wants to project, but also that you are expanding this message in a way that benefits the company as a whole. You’ll need to collaborate with other departments frequently to ensure that everyone is on the same page.
You’ll also need to communicate clearly with your team. For example, as a digital marketing manager, you may have a social media team working for you. You’re ultimately responsible for their work, so you need to communicate clearly defined goals and also listen closely to their feedback.
2. Creativity
Advertising is an ideal career for creative people. In line with the previous virtue of communication, creative collaboration is how a great digital marketing manager achieves success.
In many cases, your team will be responsible for coming up with ideas. But that doesn’t mean you can throw all of your creativity out the window. You need to be able to think on your feet and offer feedback on new ideas. By identifying the strengths and weaknesses of each, you’re able to accurately convey the brand’s message in a clear, accessible way.
3. Caution
A good digital marketing manager can learn a lot from chess. By this, we mean winning strategies are the ultimate goal, but along the way, it’s just as important to avoid losing moves.
A positive, quietly successful campaign may see a reasonable return on investment without changing the game. This is progress. Bold strategies and grand initiatives are all very well, but you need to make sure you collaborate with your team and examine every angle.
If you make your message too vague, your audience won’t hear it. If you don’t approach a touchy topic with sensitivity, people will lose trust in your brand. It’s all about finding a balance.
How can a digital marketing campaign go wrong? Ask the bright sparks at Burger King.
Advancing Your Career in Marketing
Continued professional development is vital for marketing managers looking to advance their careers. Staying up-to-date with industry trends and attending conferences and workshops can help professionals gain valuable insights and knowledge. By remaining informed and engaged in the marketing community, marketing managers can position themselves for growth and success within the field.
There is significant potential for career growth within the marketing field, with opportunities to progress to senior marketing manager positions or even director of marketing roles. These advanced roles typically involve greater responsibility and strategic oversight, offering a chance to make a more significant impact on an organization’s marketing efforts.
Aspiring marketing managers can excel in their careers by actively networking within the industry, seeking mentorship from experienced marketing professionals, and continually developing and refining their skills. By investing in personal and professional growth, marketing managers can ensure their long-term success and advancement within the field.
Marketing Career Growth
Below we’ll outline the work that a marketing manager typically performs at entry, mid-tier, and senior levels.
Entry Level
Your first job in digital marketing will likely be research-intensive. Many newbies work with focus groups to identify target demographics and design feedback surveys. You may also have some creative input into marketing campaigns.
Mid-Level
As you progress, you’ll have more creative input into campaigns. You may also have responsibility for some projects and have a team working under you. You’ll also communicate more with other parts of the business to work on brand identity.
Senior Level
As a senior digital marketing manager, you’ll have creative control over large-scale campaigns. You’ll be responsible for everything from budgeting campaigns to meeting and exceeding sales targets.
Finding a Job as a Marketing Manager
Marketing managers are in demand across various industries, including retail, technology, healthcare, and advertising agencies, among others. As such, there are numerous opportunities for qualified professionals to find employment in a sector that aligns with their interests and expertise.
In the job search process, it’s essential to employ effective strategies for finding marketing manager positions. Networking plays a crucial role in discovering job openings and connecting with industry professionals. Additionally, utilizing online job boards and social media platforms, such as LinkedIn, can help identify potential opportunities and showcase your qualifications to potential employers.
To increase the chances of landing a marketing manager position, it’s vital to create a standout resume. Make sure to highlight relevant education and certifications, as well as any marketing successes and achievements. Tailoring your resume to specific job postings can demonstrate your attention to detail and genuine interest in the role, setting you apart from other applicants.
What Companies Hire Marketing Managers?
Below are some of the biggest companies offering digital marketing manager jobs.
- The Coca-Cola Company. The world’s favorite carbonated beverage is so iconic that we’d forgive you for thinking that the Coca-Cola Company doesn’t need a marketing department. Quite the opposite. It’s always looking for new ways to communicate with its audience and has an active online presence. Its annual marketing budget is over $4 billion, so you can expect a generous paycheck. This company also offers a golden opportunity to learn about the nuances of caution in advertising campaigns via its popular abbreviation.
- Facebook. You’ll need to be at the top of your game as a digital marketing manager at Facebook. This company rewrote the book on digital marketing with its vast social dataset and incredible toolkit for social advertising. If you’re interested in being at the forefront of advertising innovation, you can’t do much better than Facebook.
- Amazon. Amazon spends more on advertising than any other company in the United States. Working as a digital marketing manager at Amazon, you’ll have the honor of showing your audience the latest developments across all Amazon services.
Interview Questions – Examples
- What do you believe the qualities of a great marketing manager are?
- What do you like (and dislike) about marketing manager roles at startups?
- Share an example of a successful marketing campaign that you led in one of your previous roles or projects
- What’s your experience with marketing automation tools such as HubSpot or Marketo?
- What marketing blogs do you subscribe to and which marketing influencers do you follow?
- What’s your favorite overall marketing campaign?
For more help, check out our marketing interview question guide to help prepare you for your next interview.
Conclusion — Pursue a Marketing Manager Career
With every brand needing an exciting online presence, digital marketing manager jobs are never in short supply. If you’re creative, able to handle responsibility, and find exceeding targets an exciting prospect, it might be the career for you. Start your path to becoming a digital marketing manager today!
