A professional who works for an advertising agency and acts as a liaison between the agency and its clients is known as an advertising executive. The executive, also known as an advertising sales agent, is in charge of overseeing and coordinating a client’s advertising campaign, which includes marketing, promotions, creative design, and public relations. An advertising executive typically reports to an advertising manager and may be in charge of several accounts at the same time. In a competitive environment, the professional will typically have at least a bachelor’s degree and will be required to work more than 40 hours per week.
An advertising executive must understand how to meet the needs and objectives of her clients because she works closely with them. Before beginning an advertising campaign, an executive must first learn about a client’s product or service, and then determine who that product or service’s target audience is. The executive is in charge of developing a game plan for her client’s marketing strategies and opportunities. Advertisements may be placed in various media outlets such as television, radio, magazines, and newspapers as part of a marketing campaign.
During an advertising campaign, an account executive will typically meet with clients every day. The executive will take information gathered from client meetings and effectively and succinctly communicate it to the advertising agency’s creative staff, which includes graphic designers, writers, and photographers who will design the ads. After the ads have been created, the executive will meet with his client to get approval or feedback on any changes that need to be made. An advertising executive will be responsible for ensuring that an ad campaign meets deadlines and stays within the client’s budget while supervising and coordinating it. Clients will also be briefed on the ad campaign’s sales projections by the account executive.
Examining the effectiveness of ad campaigns is one of the advertising executive’s other responsibilities. Not only will the ad executive ensure that clients are satisfied, but he will also ensure that the accounts are profitable for his advertising firm. Working in advertising is a precarious profession; if an advertising agency loses a major client, the advertising sales agent may be fired.
An advertising executive may also be in charge of bringing in new business for his agency. This could be accomplished by cold calling or meeting with prospective clients. Attending business conferences and seminars is another way for an account executive to generate new business.
The majority of advertising account executives have a strong background in sales and advertising. Advertising, marketing, liberal arts, and business administration are the most common majors among the professionals. A master’s degree in business administration is earned by some in this field. Account executives can work their way up to account supervisor or advertising manager positions.