As I was grocery shopping yesterday, something new caught my eye–Cap’n Crunch’s Chocolately Crunch. Not only did the cereal sound delicious, but it had a beautifully designed box (with “NEW!” across the top) and prime placement at the beginning of the cereal aisle. I’m not trying to make your stomach growl, although mine surely did, but I want you to think about how this situation arose. Presumably a client, The Quaker Oats Company, approached an ad agency with a brief, asking them for help with creating and introducing a new product. Within the ad agency an account manager worked closely with the agency’s creative team and the client, to make the product a success and to grow the relationship with client into a long-lasting one.
Photo Credit: Flickr user RubyGoes
An advertising account manager is the liaison between the clients and their agency, and is responsible for bringing in and keeping clients as happy as possible, so that they come back for more business. They work with every department inside the agency, as well as vendors and partners outside the agency, and clients. They guide a campaign or project from before its inception, to its very end. Basically they take preojects all the way through the brief and concepting and back and forth with clients, and into production to create the work. Then they’re actively involved in pushing that work out into the world, and play a role in the post-launch analytics and continual optimizing. Many of these projects overlap so they’re always juggling and managing something. Account managers need to be experts of their clients’ industry, and they need to be champions for everyone within the agency.
Account management isn’t exclusive to advertising, though that may be where it’s best known. Account positions are also extremely common at Marketing and PR firms, advertisers (as opposed to ad agencies), daily deal companies, and anywhere else that ongoing relationships are important. Account managers are responsible for keeping clients happy so that they can be sold on more business in the future.
On a typical day, an advertising account manager does a lot of communicating and “hand-holding.” They discuss with a client about their needs and wants and then relay this information to the creative team within the ad agency. The strategist might also present the final advertising product to another client. This might involve selling the client on the idea, negotiating the price, and working to secure future business. The account manager could also monitor current campaigns to make sure they end up successful. If a campaign wraps up, the account manager will talk with the client to ensure they’re happy and guide them through thinking about what projects might be up next.
The position looks quite similar in other industries.
As an Account Manager you should make between $32,000-$76,000 per year. And there’s plenty of room for advancement. You could become an Advertising Account Director ($64,735 – $160,792) or an Account Supervisor ($48,000-$95,000). Some Account Management positions can come with a commission structure or bonus incentive if they entail more selling than hand holding.
These hot spots have the highest salaries for Account Managers:
To be an Account Coordinator you’ll probably need a four year degree from a university, with a focus on advertising or business. You’ll also need at least one internship in the field to build the skills for the job. It’s important that you’re able to take calculated risks, be curious, have a sense of diplomacy, and possess passion and ambition. Also, you’ll need to have organizational and project management skills, interpersonal strengths, salesmanship, strategic thinking, domain expertise, and collaboration. If you’re a people-person you can really rock this role!
If Account Management still sounds like your cup of tea, here are a few things you should do to get started (though Mad Men should teach you everything that you need to know).
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Copywriter | Raleigh, NC |
| Analytics Intern | Raleigh, NC |
| Social Media Intern | Raleigh, NC |
| Associate Copywriter | Raleigh, NC |
| Account Coordinator | Raleigh, NC |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Product Owner, Community Products | San Francisco, CA |
| Product Owner, Social Media Analytics | San Francisco, CA |
| Marketing Intern | New York, NY |
| Online Marketing Manager/Profit Center Manager | San Antonio, TX |
| Automotive Digital Account Executive | Sacramento, CA |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| PHP/Python & Database Developer | Herndon, VA |
| Marketing Intern | Herndon, VA |
| Outside Sales-Well funded Internet Startup (Online Ad Sales) | Herndon, VA |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Scrum Master - Relocation to Panama City, FL | Phoenix, AZ |
| Project Manager | Longview, TX |
| Product Owner, Community Products | San Francisco, CA |
| Product Owner, Social Media Analytics | San Francisco, CA |
| Plastics Set-up Technician | Greeneville, TN |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Neighborhood Sales Manager, Washington, D.C. | Washington, DC |
| Expansion Market Research Intern | New York, NY |
| New York Metro Market Research Intern | New York, NY |
| Graphic Design Intern | New York, NY |
| Partner Marketing Intern | New York, NY |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Metallurgical Engineer | Hutchinson, KS |
| Senior Network Security Engineer | Atlanta, GA |
| Strategy Analyst - Senior | Jacksonville, FL |
| Market Research Analyst CPG | Stamford, CT |
| CATEGORY SPECIALIST | Atlanta, GA |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Business Analyst | Warren, MI |
| Graduate Associate/Summer Internship | Warren, MI |
| Creative Intern | Warren, MI |
| Administrative Assistant | Warren, MI |
| Digital Copywriter | Warren, MI |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Marketing Intern | San Francisco, CA |
| Video Editor Intern | San Francisco, CA |
| Gear and Apparel Buyer / Merchandising Manager | San Francisco, CA |
| HTML / CSS Programmer for Email | San Francisco, CA |
| PPC Marketing Manager at ZOZI | San Francisco, CA |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| 2013 Summer Internship Program | Miami, FL |
| Special Events Coordinator | South Lake Tahoe, CA |
| 2013 Summer Internship Program | Miami, FL |
| Event Coordinator | Washington, DC |
| Special Events Coordinator | South Lake Tahoe, CA |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| QC Lead & CMM Programmer | Union City, CA |
| Merchandiser-14 hrs month | Glendale, AZ |
| System Administrator | Apex, NC |
| Mechanical Designer | Apex, NC |
| student athlete-business development-Sporting Industry | Dundee, MI |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Research Assistant | Santa Clara, CA |
| Research Assistant | Santa Clara, CA |
| Copywriter | Detroit, MI |
| Copywriter | Detroit, MI |
| Creative Intern | Detroit, MI |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Global Production Planning & SAP Analyst | Barrington, NJ |
| Temporary Associate Buyer | Barrington, NJ |
| Web Application Developer | Barrington, NJ |
| Director of Training & Development, Dealer Initiatives Job | Santa Monica, CA |
| Information Security Manager Job | Santa Monica, CA |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Associate/Intern, Business Development | Evanston, IL |
| Intern, Marketing & PR | Evanston, IL |
| Sales / Marketing Executive | Savannah, GA |
| Associate, Sales | Chicago, IL |
| Associate, Client Management | Chicago, IL |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Senior Financial Analyst | Auburn, WA |
| Senior Instructor | Fort Bragg, NC |
| Senior Business Development Manager - Warfare Solutions (WS) | Washington, DC |
| Inside Sales Business to Business - Killer Instinct Required | Forest Park, IL |
| Inside Sales | Forest Park, IL |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Sr Business Analyst | Foothill Ranch, CA |
| SEO Consultant | New York, NY |
| eCommerce Sales Account Executive | New York, NY |
| SQL Server Database Architect | Los Angeles, CA |
| Sr. Web Production Support Analyst | Industry, CA |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Construction Superintendent | Redwood City, CA |
| Diesel Technician/Mechanic II Binghamton NY Area (Pipe) | Binghamton, NY |
| Class A CDL Driver | Valley Park, MO |
| CDL Driver (Asset Manager) | Austin, TX |
| Local CDL Driver | Milan, IL |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Administrative Assistant | Seattle, WA |
| Digital Production Assistant (North America & Amsterdam) | Seattle, WA |
| Senior Creative Designer | Seattle, WA |
| Market Development Representative (North America & Amsterdam) | Seattle, WA |
| Accounting Assistant | Seattle, WA |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Paid Search Account Coordinator | Denver, CO |
| Account Coordinator Internship | Denver, CO |
| Account Coordinator | Denver, CO |
| Account Manager | Denver, CO |
| Storyteller – B2B Informational Offer Copywriting Emphasis | Denver, CO |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| UX / Interaction Designer (2-4 Years Experience Required) | Minneapolis, MN |
| Digital Advertising Account Executive (Outside Sales) | Des Moines, IA |
| SEO and Visual Design Coordinator | Las Vegas, NV |
| Graphic Designer (Web Graphic Design Experience Required) | Minneapolis, MN |
| Customer Service, Sales, and Technical Support | Fort Collins, CO |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Software Engineer- Cold Fusion | Washington, DC |
| Project Manager | Boston, MA |
| Counselor Addictions / Administrator (must be in recovery) | Panama City Beach, FL |
| Speech Therapist (Home Health) | Winter Haven, FL |
| Physical Therapist & Physical Therapy Assistant (PT & PTA Home Health) | Spring Hill, FL |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Accountant | White Plains, NY |
| Hair Stylist - Full or Part Time | Wauwatosa, WI |
| Testing Senior | Dearborn, MI |
| AWS Security Operations Center Manager | Seattle, WA |
| ASSISTANT PROFESSOR | Cincinnati, OH |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Austin Tennis Jobs | Austin, TX |
| Java Technical Lead | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Mortgage Loan Originator / Coordinator | Los Angeles, CA |
| Regional Sales Director / GM | Phoenix, AZ |
| Business/Data Analyst | Detroit, MI |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| 2013 ECSE Long Term Sub Teacher, 1.0 FTE, MCEC (Dates: 10/9/13-12/20/13) | Minnetonka, MN |
| Client Consultant | New York, NY |
| Business Development Intern | New York, NY |
| 2013-14 Grade 3 Long Term Sub Teacher, 1.0 FTE, Groveland | Minnetonka, MN |
| 2013-2014 Extended Day Kindergarten Long Term Sub Teacher, 1.0 FTE, Deephaven Elem | Minnetonka, MN |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Social Media Intern | New York, NY |
| Social Media/Marketing Associate | New York, NY |
| SEO Strategist | New York, NY |
| Business Development/Capital Advisor | New York, NY |
| Sales and Marketing Intern | New York, NY |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Executive Assistant/Paralegal | Roseville, CA |
| Freelance Journalist | New York, NY |
| Manufacturing Supervisor / Production Floor Supervisor | Marietta, OK |
| Senior Medical Editor - Promotional/Pharmaceutical | Raleigh, NC |
| Unit Secretary | Baltimore, MD |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Account Coordinator | New York, NY |
| Account Manager | New York, NY |
| Sales Intern | New York, NY |
| Jr. Brand Strategist | New York, NY |
| Brand Strategist | New York, NY |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| District Manager | Modesto, CA |
| Intern, Analytics | San Francisco, CA |
| Executive Assistant (Atlanta, GA) | Atlanta, GA |
| Configuration Data Specialist - Long Beach, CA | Long Beach, CA |
| Intern - Public Policy (Part Time / Fall Term) | Tampa, FL |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Social Media Intern | San Francisco, CA |
| VP Strategy Director | Chicago, IL |
| VP Strategy Director | Chicago, IL |
| Associate Creative Director | Chicago, IL |
| Director Interaction Design | Chicago, IL |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Copywriter | Los Angeles, CA |
| Agent Marketing Manager | Chicago, IL |
| Boston Summer 2013 Internship Program | Boston, MA |
| Research Coordinator - Psychometrician | Philadelphia, PA |
| Copy Editor | Boston, MA |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Marketing Coordinator Needed for Electronics Company | Dayton, NJ |
| Researcher I, II | Anchorage, AK |
| Project Course Assistant | Bolling AFB, DC |
| Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Operator | Moyock, NC |
| Strategic Buyer | Sulphur Springs, TX |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Production InternshipProgram - Summer 2013 | New York, NY |
| Quality Reviewer (Part Time) | Milwaukee, WI |
| Japanese Language Project Intern | New York, NY |
| French Language Project Intern | New York, NY |
| Director, Business Development | Houston, TX |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Property Tax Junior Intern | Philadelphia, PA |
| Property Tax Intern | Philadelphia, PA |
| Unclaimed Property Tax Intern | Chicago, IL |
| Site Support Specialist | Chicago, IL |
| Transaction Advisory Services Analyst | San Francisco, CA |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Spanish Speaking - Outside Sales Executive | Dallas, TX |
| User Growth Manager / Growth Hacker | San Francisco, CA |
| Administrative Assistant/Coordinator | San Francisco, CA |
| Administrative Assistant/Coordinator | San Francisco, CA |
| Product Lead | San Francisco, CA |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Product Manager | New York, NY |
| Product Manager Product Development | New York, NY |
| Software Engineer | New York, NY |
| DevOps | New York, NY |
| Sales Executive - Private Capital Markets | New York, NY |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Marketing Intern | Los Angeles, CA |
| New Media Specialist | Knoxville, TN |
| Administrative Assistant | Knoxville, TN |
| Office Coordinator | New York, NY |
| E-Commerce Manager | Hagerstown, MD |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Web Application Developer (R&D) | Chicago, IL |
| Senior Quality Assurance Analyst | Chicago, IL |
| Web Developer (Production) | Chicago, IL |
| Quality Assurance Lead | Chicago, IL |
| Account Coordinator | Chicago, IL |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Flight Operations Specialist | Braintree, MA |
| Receptionist | Braintree, MA |
| Sales Development Associate | Braintree, MA |
| Sales Intern | Braintree, MA |
| Client Management Consultant | Braintree, MA |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Project Manager | Chicago, IL |
| Product Marketing Sr. Specialist | Boston, MA |
| Buisness Development Manager DemandSMART - Toledo - OH | Toledo, OH |
| Business Development Manager - DemandSMART - Memphis, TN | Memphis, TN |
| User Experience Designer (with visual design expertise) | Boston, MA |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Gameplay Scripter | Chicago, IL |
| Sales Development Specialist | Sunnyvale, CA |
| Growth Hacker | Menlo Park, CA |
| Account Executive | Chicago, IL |
| Quality Assurance Tester | Chicago, IL |
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