Perfect Products and Increase Company Profits as a Marketing Manager
Commercials and ads are used to entice consumers and compel them to purchase the latest products and newly released technology. Before these ads ever make it on TV or in print, marketing managers spend a lot of time ensuring all advertisements are effective. Through market research and focus groups, marketing managers are able to identify strengths and weaknesses in products based on consumers' reactions. They use this information to make product adjustments until they have a final product that is appealing to customers before they hit store shelves.
Setting a Pricing Strategy
While a marketing manager's main responsibilities are to test and tweak products to identify features that customers are most likely to buy, they also create pricing strategies to maximize profits. This requires finding the ideal price point to sell products for. While it's important to set a price that maximizes potential profit, marketing managers must also stay within a price range that consumers are comfortable paying. Through market research, price comparison and analysis, marketing managers set pricing strategies that produce profits for companies while also being affordable to the target consumer.
Leveraging Social Media
Today's marketing managers use platforms outside of traditional advertising outlets to help build brands and reach consumers. Social media continues to be one of the most powerful tools for companies to introduce new products and connect with consumers. Marketing managers skilled in social media best practices can create campaigns that generate buzz and build excitement around the release of a new product. When a marketing manager launches an effective social media campaign, they are able to make consumers feel compelled to purchase a product far ahead of its release date.
Marketing Manager Job Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for marketing managers is expected to grow 12 percent from 2012 to 2022. Marketing managers will continue to play an important role within corporations to help them expand into new markets and grow their profits.
Education Requirements
To be a competitive entry-level marketing manager candidate, job seekers will need a bachelor's degree. Most marketing managers hold four-year degrees in marketing, communications, advertising or business. Completing an internship while in school in a corporation's sales or advertising department is a great way to build a resume while also gaining firsthand experience.
Finding Employment
Social media is an effective tool for recent graduates looking for work. Platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook have niche and industry-specific groups that connect marketing professionals. Students and recent graduates can also join a professional associate, like the American Marketing Association, to stay current on industry-specific news and trends.