Advertising Sales Agents

What the job really is

Sell or solicit advertising space, time, or media in publications, signage, TV, radio, or Internet establishments or public spaces.

At a glance

• Sector: Sales
• O*NET-SOC code: 41-3011
• O*NET job zone: 4 — considerable preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• 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.
• 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.
• Draw up contracts for advertising work, and collect payments due.
• Deliver advertising or illustration proofs to customers for approval.
• Inform customers of available options for advertisement artwork, and provide samples.
• Recommend appropriate sizes and formats for advertising, depending on medium used.

Tools and technology

Adobe Creative Cloud software, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, Canva, Facebook, Google Analytics, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Advertising and Promotions Managers
• Product Marketing Managers
• Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
• Search Marketing Strategists
• Telemarketers
• Public Relations Specialists
• Sales Managers
• Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 4 (considerable preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Advertising Sales Agents — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.