Advertising Sales Agent

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

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: Advertising Account Executive; Advertising Account Representative; Advertising Consultant; Advertising Representative; Advertising Sales Representative (Ad Sales Representative); Directory Advertising Sales Representative (Directory Advertising Sales Rep); Display Advertising Sales Representative (Display Advertising Sales Rep); Media Consultant; Multimedia Sales Consultant; Retail Advertising Account Executive

Tasks

• Explain to customers how specific types of advertising will help promote their products or services in the most effective way possible.
• Prepare and deliver sales presentations to new and existing customers to sell new advertising programs and to protect and increase existing advertising.
• Obtain and study information about clients' products, needs, problems, advertising history, and business practices to offer effective sales presentations and appropriate product assistance.
• Provide clients with estimates of the costs of advertising products or services.
• Maintain assigned account bases while developing new accounts.
• Recommend appropriate sizes and formats for advertising, depending on medium used.
• Locate and contact potential clients to offer advertising services.
• Draw up contracts for advertising work, and collect payments due.
• Deliver advertising or illustration proofs to customers for approval.
• Process all correspondence and paperwork related to accounts.
• Consult with company officials, sales departments, and advertising agencies to develop promotional plans.
• Determine advertising medium to be used, and prepare sample advertisements within the selected medium for presentation to customers.
• Prepare promotional plans, sales literature, media kits, and sales contracts, using computer.
• Arrange for commercial taping sessions, and accompany clients to sessions.
• Inform customers of available options for advertisement artwork, and provide samples.

Knowledge

• Sales and Marketing
• English Language
• Customer and Personal Service
• Communications and Media
• Computers and Electronics
• Administrative
• Mathematics

Skills

• Speaking
• Active Listening
• Reading Comprehension
• Writing
• Critical Thinking
• Monitoring
• Active Learning

Abilities

• Oral Comprehension
• Oral Expression
• Speech Clarity
• Written Comprehension
• Speech Recognition
• Written Expression
• Near Vision
• Fluency of Ideas
• Originality
• Deductive Reasoning
• Inductive Reasoning
• Information Ordering
• Category Flexibility
• Problem Sensitivity
• Selective Attention