Opportunities to further your career within the Media Sales industry
Companies in almost every sector will need to make use of advertising at some point. As such, there is always a diverse range of Media Sales roles available for the right candidates. Many companies simply don’t know what kind of advertising they need until they are shown by a professional, and having a keen insight into the media industry is what makes the Media Sales profession so vital. Since there will always be media agencies and publications looking to sell advertising space, a Media Sales division is an indispensable part of any company.
Popular Industries
Media Sales professionals typically work for either an external media agency or in-house at the sales department of newspapers, TV stations or other specific media organisations. Those who work for a dedicated media company will use their insights to identify the most advantageous form of advertising to meet a company’s particular needs, while their sales aptitude will allow them to sell this solution to the business in question. The role of an in-house Media Sales professional instead approaches the transaction from the other side, persuading companies to buy advertising space in the publication they work for. You will, therefore, be required to help businesses harness the power of advertising while maximising revenue for your employer.
Recent Changes
The advent of digital media has seen the media industry grow more in the past two decades than in any period since the first-ever TV advert in 1941. Most online mediums are free to use and rely on advertising to sustain themselves, which has hugely impacted the monopoly that traditional broadcast and print media once had. Companies across all sectors are using the internet as a more targeted and cost-effective way of communicating with their audiences.
As such, the role of Media Sales professionals working for media agencies has changed substantially. They must now grapple with a whole host of other advertising and marketing mediums, like PPC, email and social media, and weigh up which would be most suitable and beneficial for their clients.
Future Prospects
Those in Media Sales can progress into senior and managerial roles. Most in this field typically start as a Media Sales executive before moving into senior sales executive, account management or advertising sales management positions, each of which comes with greater strategic and managerial responsibilities.
Employers’ Requirements
To thrive in a Media Sales role, you must be naturally outgoing and social, as you’ll need to interact with potential clients and develop long-lasting business relationships. Excellent oral communication skills are therefore essential, and you must also be a strong negotiator who can persuade clients of the merits of what you are selling them.
You need to be resilient and handle pressure well, especially when dealing with objections from clients and be a good listener in order to take into account your clients’ needs. Media Sales professionals must also possess a keen awareness of company targets, KPIs, and revenue, with strong attention to detail.
CV Requirements
A passion for media and an understanding of which advertising services are offered by the company you’re applying to are essential. For those aiming to work for a media agency, knowledge of both traditional and non-traditional advertising mediums is also fundamental. You will be tasked with persuading prospective clients of their merits and won’t be able to do so without this insight. Media Sales professionals must also be able to handle and analyse a variety of data since this will inform the direction of any campaigns they organise.
Interview Preparation
Employers are looking for individuals who have gone above and beyond in their previous roles and made a significant difference to the way things were done within the company. A good way to demonstrate this is with statistics. It is one thing to state that you have improved client retention rate or business sales by a certain amount, but if you have the figures to quantify the claim, you’re sure to impress the interviewer.
Educational Requirements
There are no formal requirements for a career in Media Sales, but most employers prefer university graduates. A degree in business, marketing or any other related field will stand you in good stead, and any previous sales or media experience will also be highly advantageous.
Looking for Media Sales jobs? Check out our current opportunities on our job page.
