Comparing Marketing Specialists to Marketing Managers
Marketing specialists and managers both take part in assisting an organization with marketing their products or services. Marketing specialists focus on developing strategies to advertise while managers determine the demand of products and services. A lot of the work these two marketing occupations complete combine to help an organization or business with their marketing needs.
| Job Title | Education Requirements | Median Salary (2021)* | Job Growth (2020-2030)* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing Specialist (All Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists) | Bachelor's Degree | $63,920 | 22% |
| Marketing Manager | Bachelor's Degree | $135,030 | 10% |
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Responsibilities of Marketing Specialists vs Marketing Managers
Though marketing specialists and managers complete some of the same tasks to help an organization sell products and services with different marketing strategies, a lot of their duties differ. Marketing specialists use information to find the best marketing strategies that a company can use to efficiently advertise their products. Marketing managers check out what competitors offer and find out which products and services an organization should provide to a target audience. They also find which products and services will produce a good outcome for the organization to ensure they are maximizing profit.
Marketing Specialist
Marketing specialists formulate different strategies that can help an organization market quality products and services. They are responsible for finding the right audience to market the product and services to. Marketing specialists need to be analytical as they must be able to review and analyze data to develop new, effective marketing strategies. They work with other departments, such as brand management, to find the right demographic for the products or services. Experienced marketing specialists can be promoted to supervisory roles or become marketing managers.
Job responsibilities of a marketing specialist include:
- Developing a marketing campaign
- Exploring consumer demand
- Presenting ideas based on marketing research
- Recommending new strategies
Marketing Manager
Marketing managers help with the development of products and services based on the demand by consumers. Marketing managers are responsible for analyzing data to determine the need or desire for a new product or service, and they may also be involved in setting prices. They also must be able to communicate efficiently with other staff members to discuss different options to ensure productivity. In addition, they must be creative in order to make new and unique ideas that can positively influence creation of new products and services. Travel is typically required as marketing managers have to meet with clients or the media.
Job responsibilities of a marketing manager include:
- Supervising development of a new product or service
- Working with other departments such as sales and product development
- Negotiating contracts
- Overseeing marketing studies
Related Careers
Potential marketing specialists could opt to pursue a career as a public relations specialist. Both occupations involve targeting and communicating the right audience in order to meet a company's objectives. Individuals looking at a career as a marketing manager may also want to consider a sales manager position, which also involves using data to find potential customers to buy a product; however, in this field they are directly overseeing the sale of products rather than assisting in the development process.
