Chief marketing officers generate ideas to promote their company.
A chief marketing officer develops promotional strategies for a company. Chief marketing officers hold vital positions, as they are responsible for creating public interest in their company’s products and services. They do this through the use of graphics, commercials, advertisements, press releases and other forms of communication. Chief marketing officers work in practically every industry, for large corporations and small businesses alike.
Basics
Chief marketing officers work with leaders of the advertising and sales departments to coordinate their efforts. They oversee graphic designers, webmasters and hire, train and organize others who work in the marketing department. They must understand their company’s overall mission and find creative ways to make it appealing to potential customers. They keep an eye on what is considered "trendy" and attempt to create "trends" of their own. And, of course, chief marketing officers also pay close attention to what the competition is doing.
Skills
Chief marketing officers must be highly innovative and able to come up with eye-catching advertisements or even commercial jingles to promote their products. They must have a strong eye for design and know what appeals to the buying public. They also need strong organizational and leadership skills, directing their employees when putting a marketing strategy in place. On top of those things, chief marketing officers should be skilled communicators, as well as resilient, analytical, professional, confident and highly motivated.
Background
Most chief marketing officers have spent a great deal of time in their field before heading an entire department. They also typically need to possess at least a bachelor’s degree in marketing, or perhaps even a master’s. Others area of study for aspiring marketing managers including advertising, business administration, communications and management. Some also receive various forms of certification for the purpose of advancement.
Prospects
Since almost every company needs someone to handle promotions, opportunities for chief marketing officers should always be plentiful. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of marketing managers will grow by 12 percent through 2018 alone. That is about the same as the increase for all other occupations during the same decade. That said, becoming a chief marketing officer is far from easy and occasionally takes years of proving yourself as an employee in the marketing, advertising or sales departments.
Earnings
Chief marketing officers are among the highest earners in the country, mainly because their positions are so crucial to a company’s success. According to the BLS, marketing managers earned a median salary of more than $108,000 per year in May 2008--with some earning in excess of $127,000 per year.
Tags: marketing officers, Chief marketing officers, Chief marketing, marketing managers, advertising sales, advertising sales departments