How to Become a Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers play a key role in all businesses, as they design and implement the strategies to promote an organization’s products and services. If you’re wondering how to become a marketing manager, this guide is for you. It includes the requirements for becoming a marketing manager, the types of careers available in this field, and many other related topics.

What Is a Marketing Manager?

A marketing manager is in charge of leading the marketing efforts for an organization’s product or service. They lead the marketing department in the creation of campaigns to increase customer base and interest and promote the brand through various channels. They are also in charge of researching and identifying current market demands.

Marketing Manager Job Description

A marketing manager oversees all marketing efforts. They create and execute a marketing plan to attract potential customers and increase brand awareness. They also manage a team that works on website marketing, copywriting and content marketing, data analytics, corporate communications, public relations, and social media management.

Marketing Manager Salary and Job Outlook

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), marketing managers earn an average salary of $144,490 per year. BLS also projects a 10 percent job growth, with 31,100 job openings each year for marketing, advertising, and promotion managers between 2020 and 2030.

Top Reasons to Become a Marketing Manager in 2021

Becoming a marketing manager can lead to a fulfilling career that allows you to support a company’s growth and meet customers’ needs. Below are some of the top reasons you should consider investing in a marketing manager career.

• The industry is in a vibrant state. People are spending more time online than ever, for a variety of reasons. As a result, digital marketing is expanding. This includes social media platforms that have been changing the way consumers engage with products and brands. There has never been a better time to join the marketing industry.
• Marketing is essential to all businesses. Marketing is used by every type of organization, whether public, private, for-profit, or not for profit. There are openings in financial institutions, government departments, e-businesses, traditional retailers, and charity organizations.
• There are numerous opportunities for career growth. As a marketing manager, you can work on either the agency side or the client-side. The agency side would require you to work for an agency that offers marketing services to businesses. The client-side would require you to work directly for a business, public sector department, or non-profit.
• There are lots of opportunities to connect with people. As a marketer, you get to engage and network with a variety of people from different backgrounds. Social networking opportunities allow you to grow professionally and personally.

Marketing Manager Job Requirements

A marketing manager has a challenging role to fill. It requires a combination of technical skills and soft skills. Below are some of the key requirements for anyone who wants to become a marketing manager.

• You need in-depth knowledge of various marketing strategies, branding, and channels. You need to keep up with the latest marketing trends and strategies. You also need to understand the needs of your audience and how to reach them through different channels.
• You need to be skilled in marketing automation software. You need to know how to automate using software like Hubspot Marketing and Bitrix24. There is a variety of automation software used within marketing, most of which will be chosen by your employer.
• You need solid organizational and time management skills. Being a manager requires that you know how to prioritize and delegate tasks to ensure smooth operations across your team and consistently meet your deadlines.
• You need strong leadership, communication, and collaboration skills. As a manager, you’ll need to be an excellent leader, have great communication skills. Many of the responsibilities attached to this role require you to collaborate with other departments and effectively lead marketing efforts.

Types of Marketing Manager Careers

There are a plethora of types of marketing, including product, brand, social media, content, mobile, and email marketing. The list below provides more information on some of the different types of marketing managers and the responsibilities they fulfill.

Product Marketing Manager

A product marketing manager is in charge of overseeing the marketing efforts of products. They lead the marketing team to ensure consumers are well aware of the product and use a variety of strategies to promote it. In addition, they collaborate with other company heads to clarify the goal and direction of the product.

Digital Marketing Manager

A digital marketing manager leads the digital marketing team to promote a product or service through different digital platforms and channels. With a strong background in e-commerce, search engine optimization (SEO), and pay-per-click (PPC), they’re able to enlarge brand awareness, customer engagement, and ultimately, consumption.

Brand Marketing Manager

A brand marketing manager is in charge of brand identity and development, marketing campaigns, materials, and other messaging methods to showcase the brand. These professionals must have proficient communication and management skills and robust data analysis skills. In addition, they must be able to track return on investment (ROI).

Marketing Manager Meaning: What Does a Marketing Manager Do?

Marketing managers oversee their marketing team’s performance, organize and delegate tasks, and keep track of all marketing operations. They also need to make sure that strategies are executed appropriately and are in line with the company’s overarching goals. Below are some of the major roles that a marketing manager fulfills.

Collaborates With Top Management

Marketing managers work and communicate with the executive team about marketing strategies, branding, and the overarching goals of an organization. They need to report on new trends in the market and make sure that the products and services provided by a company are aligned with customer needs.

Conducts Research to Formulate Strategies

Marketing managers need to stay on top of the latest trends in the industry and analyze the marketing strategies of the competition. They are in charge of measuring the effectiveness of the campaigns and studying consumer behavior.

Oversees The Marketing Budget

A marketing manager is in charge of the department’s budget. They need to make sure that promotional materials and other marketing activities are in line with the company’s projected expenses. They are also in charge of reporting the financial results of their department to company heads.

Essential Marketing Manager Skills

An effective marketing manager has a combination of technical and soft skills. Below are some of the main skills you’ll need to develop to be successful in this role. It’s important to remember each company or employer has its own list of required and desired skills. However, the skills listed below will likely be expected across the industry.

Content Management Skills

As a marketing manager, you need to have a knack for content creation and management. This means that you need to know what implementations will increase audience engagement and consumption. Knowing how to optimize digital channels and plan out marketing initiatives needs to be second nature for these professionals.

Social Media Skills

A successful marketing manager knows how to engage with different audiences through different platforms. They understand the type of content that fits different social media channels best, the types of clients that can be found through them, and the latest trends in each.

Analytics and Tech Skills

A marketing manager needs to understand how to analyze data to inform their decision-making process. Expertise in data and analytics tracking can give you helpful insights to overcome possible marketing obstacles. In addition, knowledge of tools such as Canva, Buffer, Google Analytics, the Adobe Suite, and Hootsuite will help you create content for a variety of audiences.

How Long Does It Take to Become a Marketing Manager?

It can take up to six to eight years to become a marketing manager. Within that timeframe, you’ll be earning a degree and acquiring the necessary work experience to qualify for a managerial position. Most employers seek out candidates with a degree in business, marketing, or business administration and with experience in a supervisory role.

Can a Coding Bootcamp Help Me Become a Marketing Manager?

Yes, a coding bootcamp can help you hone your skills and make you a more desirable candidate. This is especially true for bootcamps dealing with social media management and online digital marketing. They aren’t necessary, but they can help you become a better candidate.

Can I Become a Marketing Manager from Home?

Yes, it is possible to get an associate or bachelor’s degree online or attend online bootcamps to acquire the necessary skills. Additionally, there are a variety of remote marketing management positions, which would allow you to gain the necessary hands-on experience from home. However, some companies might require their marketing manager to work on-site for a wide range of reasons.

How to Become a Marketing Manager: A Step-by-Step Guide

Below you’ll find the required steps to become a marketing manager. Keep in mind that different employers have different expectations and preferences. With that said, you can use this list as a reference for the most common and efficient way to pursue this career.

Step 1: Get a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing or a Related Field

Most employers prefer marketing managers with a degree in marketing, communications, advertising, or other relevant fields. While some employers will accept lower credentials, other employers might require a master’s degree.

Step 2: Gain Relevant Experience

Most marketing managers assume their role through a combination of education and experience. You can look for entry-level positions, such as a marketing assistant, advertising assistant, or sales representative to gain experience. Gain as much experience as you can to broaden your knowledge of the different elements and areas of marketing.

Step 3: Keep Your Essential Marketing Skills Up-to-Date

Marketing managers are expected to have strong communication, research, and interpersonal skills. They also need to be organized with their time and have strong creative and analytical skills. As you progress in your career in marketing, it’s important to stay updated on the latest trends. Online courses and bootcamps function as excellent tools for this.

Best Schools and Education for a Marketing Manager Career

There are many available educational paths you can take to become a marketing manager. This will depend on your available resources and career goals. Below is a list of the best education paths you can take to become qualified as a marketing manager.

Marketing Manager Bootcamps

Bootcamps offer a quick way to learn the necessary skills to become a marketing manager. You’ll get to learn about marketing and user research, marketing plans, marketing strategies, metrics and performance tracking, and competitive analysis. Many bootcamps also provide certificates, which help to enhance your resume.

Vocational School

Vocational schools offer learners basic training in marketing and promotion strategies, along with communications, accounting, and sales. One of the prerequisites for vocational schools is a high school diploma or GED. They tend to be more affordable and less time-consuming compared to an undergraduate degree program.

Community College

Community colleges offer associate degrees that can be completed in two years. They equip students with all of the key skills to effectively identify marketing variables and the different components of successful advertising. You’ll also learn how to analyze consumer decision-making processes and media advertisement.

University

The most relevant degree for a marketing manager is a bachelor’s degree in marketing. This is a four-year college program that covers principles of marketing, business marketing, managerial communications, marketing research, and product management. Many marketing bachelor’s degree programs include a mandatory internship that allows you to gain some experience.

The Most Important Marketing Manager Certifications

Marketing certifications instantly give you an advantage as a marketing manager. They serve as proof that you have skills based on your professional experience and show employers that you have what’s needed to be successful at the job.

Hootsuite Social Marketing Certification

The Hootsuite Social Marketing Certification equips marketing professionals with fundamental social marketing skills to increase impact and gain favorable results for a brand and products. This certification is especially ideal for anyone pursuing a social media marketing role.

Google Ads Certification

This certification by Google will demonstrate how well versed you are in Google Ads. It's an extra credential for professionals who can demonstrate basic and advanced knowledge of online advertising concepts, campaign setup, management, measurement, and optimization.

HubSpot Content Marketing Certification

HubSpot Academy offers a free certification course on content marketing. It is geared towards marketing professionals, inbound professionals, and content producers. It includes 12 modules on the latest content marketing strategies, practices, and research.

How to Prepare for Your Marketing Manager Job Interview

Your level of preparation for the interview process will play a key role in determining whether you’ll land the job. Aside from the required technical skills, you should demonstrate excellent communication skills and carry yourself with confidence. Below are some questions that you are likely to encounter during a marketing manager job interview.

Marketing Manager Job Interview Practice Questions

• If the company’s launching a new product, how would you plan and organized a successful marketing campaign?
• What do you think sets our brand apart from other competitors?
• Discuss an experience where the marketing team wasn’t well-coordinated. What did you do and what was the outcome?
• Discuss a product that you were able to market successfully. What were your strategies and how did you study your target audience?

Should I Become a Marketing Manager in 2021?

If you’re interested in pursuing a marketing manager position, now is a great time to do it. Nearly all organizations rely on marketing teams to promote their product or service and increase sales. Working as a marketing manager will also allow you to choose from a variety of industries to work within and provide opportunities for personal and professional growth.