Marketing Specialist
Marketing specialists ensure the appropriate communication messages and mediums are used to meet sales targets. Their work uses research to find the best means for their company to reach the target demographic for a particular product or service. A marketing specialist may focus on a particular branch of an organization or specific marketing type, but most positions are a combination of training/education, pricing, inventory management, communication pieces, reporting, trade shows, coordination and more.
Future Job Market
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Fair
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Good
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Excellent
Typical Employers:
Employers may include seed, feed, fuel, fertilizer, plant, animal pharmaceuticals, equipment companies or any agricultural agency that markets products or services. Entire agencies are dedicated to agricultural marketing, advertising and communications and will hire marketing specialists. There are also opportunities for self-employment or freelance work.
Suggested Professional Organizations and Associations:
- National Agri-Marketing Association
- National Association of Farm Broadcasting
- Agricultural Communicators Network
- North American Agricultural Journalists
- State agribusiness associations
Salary:
$78,000?
SAE Connections:
What Responsibilities Will I Have?
- Plan, develop and direct the distribution of product
- Develop and execute marketing programs
- Develop a marketing strategy for the organization
- Complete primary and secondary market research to generate reports
- Compile information about a market segment’s demographics, geography and other attributes
- Be responsible for internal and external communications
- Coordinate and/or produce a variety of communication medium including, but not limited to, graphic design, websites, social media, photography, videography and written pieces
- Coordinate and execute special events
- Work with suppliers to ensure distribution programs
- Create incentive programs for sales associates and suppliers
- Monitor brand performance and use information gained to recommend actions
- Provide financial analysis and business planning
- Conduct market research on company products and competitive products/companies
- Develop a marketing budget and adhere to outlined expenses
- Work with all other functions of the business to carry out business goals
Recommended High School Courses:
- agricultural education
- business
- art
- communications
- science
- mathematics
Education/Training Required:
A bachelor’s degree in agricultural business, agricultural economics, agricultural communications, marketing, journalism, communications, business administration or a related field is required.
