Career Overview
Sell or solicit advertising space, time, or media in publications, signage, TV, radio, or Internet establishments or public spaces.
Also Known As
- Advertising Account Representative
- Advertising Representative
- Advertising Sales Representative (Ad Sales Representative)
- Sales Representative
Alternate Job Titles
- Account Planner
- Account Specialist
- Advertising Account Representative
- Advertising Agent
- Advertising Assistant
- Advertising Consultant
- Advertising Coordinator
- Advertising Representative
- Advertising Sales Representative (Ad Sales Representative)
- Advertising Solicitor
- Agent
- Broker
- Digital Advertising Sales Representative (Digital Advertising Sales Rep)
- Directory Advertising Sales Representative
- Display Advertising Sales Representative
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Prepare and deliver sales presentations to new and existing customers to sell new advertising programs and to protect and increase existing advertising.
- Maintain assigned account bases while developing new accounts.
- Provide clients with estimates of the costs of advertising products or services.
- Locate and contact potential clients to offer advertising services.
- Explain to customers how specific types of advertising will help promote their products or services in the most effective way possible.
- Obtain and study information about clients' products, needs, problems, advertising history, and business practices to offer effective sales presentations and appropriate product assistance.
- Prepare promotional plans, sales literature, media kits, and sales contracts, using computer.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Sales and Marketing
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Communications and Media
- Mathematics
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Speaking
- Persuasion
- Social Perceptiveness
- Service Orientation
- Active Listening
- Negotiation
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Speech Clarity
- Oral Expression
- Speech Recognition
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Written Expression
- Near Vision
- Originality
- Fluency of Ideas
- Inductive Reasoning
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Social Orientation
- Perseverance
- Achievement Orientation
- Self-Confidence
- Optimism
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Relationships
- Working Conditions
- Independence
- Achievement
- Recognition
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months
Education Details: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Experience Required: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Adobe Creative Cloud software
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Photoshop
- Canva
- Google Analytics
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
Tools & Equipment
- Desktop computers
- Laptop computers
- Multi-line telephone systems
- Personal computers
- Personal digital assistants PDA
- Tablet computers
Work Environment
- Telephone Conversations
- Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
- Contact With Others
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $33,480 |
| Median | $61,460 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $133,540 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 97,470
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Advertising and Promotions Managers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $126,960
Marketing Managers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $161,030
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $76,950
Search Marketing Strategists
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $76,950
Telemarketers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $34,410
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.