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What Does a Marketing Associate Do?

B. Miller
B. Miller

The duties a marketing associate will perform on a daily basis will vary depending on the size of the company and the amount of time the individual has been working there. In most cases, a marketing associate is considered to be a fairly entry-level position, and this person will provide administrative support either to a marketing department or as part of a larger marketing firm. In some situations, however, an individual with more experience or education will perform more tasks directly related to marketing, such as doing market research or editing copy once it has been written. This person might also participate in corporate events or even be responsible for planning them.

The most basic type of marketing associate will work as a type of administrative assistant. This person might be responsible for answering phones, maintaining filing systems, and greeting clients when they come into the office; other tasks might include scheduling meetings or assisting in other office management tasks. He or she might be required to prepare regular reports with certain data as requested by the marketing manager or team of executives. The individual will need to be knowledgeable about the company in order to answer questions or direct clients to the proper area.

A marketing associate might assist in office management tasks.
A marketing associate might assist in office management tasks.

This is a very entry-level marketing associate job, however. Many people with this title do more work that is directly related to marketing, such as performing different types of research or even editing marketing copy for style or grammatical errors. A marketing associate might also be part of a development team, assisting in creating and maintaining relationships between the marketing company itself and product manufacturers. It is important for anyone in this line of work to always remain professional when interacting with clients for this reason.

Marketing associates might research industry trends.
Marketing associates might research industry trends.

Some companies will also require marketing associates to help with promotional materials and events; for instance, the individual might be required to prepare press releases or other announcements based on important things happening in the company. At conferences or trade shows, this person might need to help to schedule events, prepare materials for distribution, or represent the company in a booth, among other tasks. In addition to always maintaining professionalism, people who work in marketing will generally need to be outgoing and great communicators. As an individual in this line of work gains more education and experience, he or she will likely also gain more responsibility and receive promotions to higher level positions.

Discussion Comments

nony

@Mammmood - Well I think it’s important to reiterate that a marketing associate is not necessarily a copywriter, although they should certainly be able to write copy. It sounds like a more expansive position.

Consider the research duties for example. You would probably spend a lot of time doing this, to get facts and stuff that you can put into your copy.

Copy without the “meat” of facts and figures is shallow indeed and will not be persuasive in my opinion. For that reason alone, even if you want to be a copywriter, I wouldn’t bypass this route. Research will give you the information you need to really sell the sizzle in your copy.

Mammmood

@SkyWhisperer - If you’re good, I don’t think it would take you too long to move up the ladder. Start by copy editing and creating press releases and if they like what they see they should promote you in short order.

After all, from the company’s perspective you are considered more “cost effective” (to put it politely) than to hire a full time copywriter to do the same thing. I don’t know much about the range for a marketing associate salary but it would probably pretty modest I would guess.

However, if you really want to break in and can’t stomach the idea of an entry level position, I suggest you start pitching the agencies or even local businesses for freelance writing jobs.

Since you will be working on a project basis you will probably be a good value, and they can see your work up front. If they like you they can hire you full time.

SkyWhisperer

I want to break into marketing. I have an English degree, but frankly, the marketing associate job description doesn’t sound too exciting. Is this really the only avenue I have to getting into a marketing department or working at an advertising agency?

While I appreciate the usefulness of working your way up I don’t see that the duties of an administrative assistant (which is what the entry level position sounds like) would be the best use of my time.

I’d rather work as an entry level copywriter or something like that, but I don’t know which would be easier in terms of breaking into the industry.

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    • A marketing associate might assist in office management tasks.
      By: michaeljung
      A marketing associate might assist in office management tasks.
    • Marketing associates might research industry trends.
      By: sakkmesterke
      Marketing associates might research industry trends.
    • Marketing associates are often tasked with clerical duties typical of an administrative assistant role.
      By: Gianluca Rasile
      Marketing associates are often tasked with clerical duties typical of an administrative assistant role.
    • Marketing associates may craft text advertisements to send to frequent customers.
      By: bloomua
      Marketing associates may craft text advertisements to send to frequent customers.
    • Marketing associates typically work on campaigns under the direction of a manager or senior account executive.
      By: milanmarkovic78
      Marketing associates typically work on campaigns under the direction of a manager or senior account executive.
    • A marketing associate may help to manage displays at a trade show.
      By: Pavel Losevsky
      A marketing associate may help to manage displays at a trade show.