Advertising Sales Agents

Sell or solicit advertising space, time, or media in publications, signage, TV, radio, or the Internet. Includes individuals who obtain leases for outdoor advertising sites or persuade retailers to use sales promotion display items.

Median Annual Wage: $47,890

Education: Bachelor's degree (41%); Associate's degree (28%); High school diploma or equivalent (14%)

Projected Growth: Little or no change (-2% to 2%)

Related Job Titles: Account Executive; Account Manager; Sales Representative; Advertising Account Executive; Advertising Sales Representative; Advertising Account Representative; Marketing Consultant; Advertising Representative; Directory Advertising Sales Representative; Advertising Consultant

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Source: O*NET OnLine information for Advertising Sales Agents.

More Sales and Related Careers

  • Explain to customers how specific types of advertising will help promote their products or services in the most effective way possible.
  • Provide clients with estimates of the costs of advertising products or services.
  • Locate and contact potential clients to offer advertising services.
  • Process all correspondence and paperwork related to accounts.
  • Prepare and deliver sales presentations to new and existing customers to sell new advertising programs and to protect and increase existing advertising.
  • Inform customers of available options for advertisement artwork and provide samples.
  • Prepare promotional plans, sales literature, media kits, and sales contracts, using computer.
  • Deliver advertising or illustration proofs to customers for approval.
  • Recommend appropriate sizes and formats for advertising, depending on medium being used.
  • Draw up contracts for advertising work and collect payments due.
  • Obtain and study information about clients' products, needs, problems, advertising history, and business practices to offer effective sales presentations and appropriate product assistance.
  • Write copy as part of layout.
  • Consult with company officials, sales departments, and advertising agencies to develop promotional plans.
  • Identify new advertising markets and propose products to serve them.
  • Determine advertising medium to be used and prepare sample advertisements within the selected medium for presentation to customers.
  • Attend sales meetings, industry trade shows, and training seminars to gather information, promote products, expand network of contacts, and increase knowledge.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Advertising Sales Agents.

  • Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
  • Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
  • Negotiation - Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
  • Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
  • Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Advertising Sales Agents.

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