Business and Personal Marketing

<h2 id="section---IsBusinessAndPersonalMarketingForMe">Is Business and Personal Marketing for Me?</h2> <h3 id="section---CareerOverview">Career Overview</h3> <p>Marketers help promote products or services, either to the public or to other businesses. As a marketing specialist, your responsibilities can include identifying potential customers, pinpointing the competition and expanding your company's share of the marketplace. </p> <h3 id="section---CareerInformation">Career Information</h3> <p>As a marketing professional, you'll most likely work in an office setting. Depending on your position and responsibilities, your hours might be irregular and involve some overnight travel. Once you enter the job market, you might be employed as a <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Marketing_Management_5_Steps_to_Becoming_a_Marketing_Manager.html">marketing manager</a> or <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Public_Relations_Manager_How_to_Become_a_Public_Relations_Manager_in_5_Steps.html">public relations manager</a>. Management positions in product development, promotions and sales may also be available. </p> <h3 id="section---EmploymentAndSalaryInformation">Employment and Salary Information</h3> <p>According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of advertising, marketing and promotions managers was expected to increase by an average rate of 12% nationwide from 2012-2022. An average rate of growth was also projected for public relations and sales managers in the same 10-year period. </p> <p>In May 2013, advertising and promotions managers earned a mean annual salary of $112,870. Sales managers averaged $123,150, while marketing managers enjoyed a mean annual salary of $133,700 (<i>www.bls.gov</i>). </p> <h2 id="section---HowDoIWorkInBusinessAndPersonalMarketing">How Do I Work in Business and Personal Marketing?</h2> <h3 id="section---UndergraduatePrograms">Undergraduate Programs</h3> <p>Many employers seek applicants who possess at least a <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Marketing_Bachelors_Degree_Programs.html">bachelor's degree in marketing</a>. Four-year programs in <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Sales_and_Marketing_Management_Bachelors_Degree.html">sales and marketing management</a> or <a href="https://learn.org/articles/General_Business_Bachelors_Degree_Programs.html">general business</a> with a concentration in marketing may also help you qualify for a position. Core coursework might include topics in marketing systems and trends, human behavior, merchandising and retailing. You may also study commercial and international marketing or administrative and professional networking techniques. </p> <h3 id="section---MasterSDegreePrograms">Master's Degree Programs</h3> <p>At the graduate level, a <a href="https://learn.org/articles/Master_of_Business_Administration_in_Marketing_Degree_Program_FAQs.html">Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Marketing</a> program can provide you with the opportunity to acquire some advanced research and planning techniques while studying corporate marketing, forecasting and product control. You might also pursue topics related to customer awareness, international promotions, market assessments and marketing outlets. </p> <h3 id="section---DoctoralDegreePrograms">Doctoral Degree Programs</h3> <p>Requirements for a Doctor of Philosophy <a href="https://learn.org/articles/PhD_in_Marketing_Online_and_Campus-Based_Degree_Program_FAQs.html">Ph.D. in Marketing</a> include a dissertation and a satisfactory score on an exam. Seminars often replace traditional coursework and cover topics in marketing approaches and strategies and customer behavior. You'll also have the opportunity to conduct original research and create a mockup for a marketing campaign. </p> <h3 id="section---RequiredSkills">Required Skills</h3> <p>As an aspiring marketing professional, you should be able to meet deadlines and work under pressure. You should also possess good communication and technological skills.</p>