Advertising Sales Agents

Advertising Sales Agents typically perform the following tasks: • Prepare and deliver sales presentations to new and existing customers to sell new advertising programs and to protect and increase existing advertising. • Maintain assigned account bases while developing new accounts. • Provide clients with estimates of the costs of advertising products or services. • Locate and contact potential clients to offer advertising services. • Explain to customers how specific types of advertising will help promote their products or services in the most effective way possible. • Obtain and study information about clients' products, needs, problems, advertising history, and business practices to offer effective sales presentations and appropriate product assistance. • Prepare promotional plans, sales literature, media kits, and sales contracts, using computer. • Process all correspondence and paperwork related to accounts. • Draw up contracts for advertising work, and collect payments due. • Deliver advertising or illustration proofs to customers for approval. • Inform customers of available options for advertisement artwork, and provide samples. • Recommend appropriate sizes and formats for advertising, depending on medium used. • Write copy as part of layout. • Determine advertising medium to be used, and prepare sample advertisements within the selected medium for presentation to customers. • Gather all relevant material for bid processes, and coordinate bidding and contract approval. • Consult with company officials, sales departments, and advertising agencies to develop promotional plans. • Identify new advertising markets, and propose products to serve them. • Arrange for commercial taping sessions, and accompany clients to sessions. • Attend sales meetings, industry trade shows, and training seminars to gather information, promote products, expand network of contacts, and increase knowledge. • Write sales outlines for use by staff.