Media/Advertising Sales Agent Job Description

Media/Advertising Sales Agent Job Profile and description

Advertising Sales Agents also referred to as Account Executives and Advertising Sales Representatives for various media companies are tasked with prospecting and soliciting advertisers from target companies to place their ads in their media. The media can be print media for full or fractional page ad placements in newspapers and magazines, broadcast media such as TV, Cable and Radio for 30-60 second commercials or program sponsorships, and online websites for banner ads.  For many companies, advertising revenues are their sources of income, exclusively or in part. Advertising Sales Agents aim to generate revenues from ad placements and earn commissions from reaching ad sales quotas.

Media/Advertising Sales Agent Duties and Responsibilities

• Cover geographic region or industry assigned to solicit ads and create a long-term partnership.
• Assist the client in specifying and designing the ads by coordinating with in-house advertising designers or refer them to partner creative ad agencies and freelancers.
• Obtain ad space leases in billboards.
• Secure inventory of radio and TV spots available for ad placements.
• Provide reports to clients on ad penetration surveys.
• Harness social networking sites for ad solicitation.

Media/Advertising Sales Agent Skills and Specifications

• Must have excellent interpersonal and selling skills when soliciting ads from target clients
• Must have customer-focus to ensure that client concerns are answered
• Excellent  verbal and writing communication skills in English

Media/Advertising Sales Agent Education and Qualifications

A high school diploma is basic for entry level positions but many companies prefer candidates with a college degree in Marketing Management, Commerce, and Mass Communication or equivalent in experience in the marketing or advertising fields is an advantage

Media/Advertising Sales Agent Salary

Inclusive of commissions, the median annual salary of advertising sales agents stood at around $43,500 in 2008. The middle 50% earned anywhere from $30,750 to $64,400 annually.  The lowest 10% earned about $22,700 in the newspaper and book publication industries while the highest 10% earned more than $93,600 usually in the Motion Picture industries.