What are the key responsibilities of a Sports Marketing Account Manager. How can you become a successful Sports Marketing Account Manager. What skills are essential for this role. What career growth opportunities exist in sports marketing.
The Role of a Sports Marketing Account Manager
A Sports Marketing Account Manager plays a pivotal role in bridging the gap between sports organizations and their clients. These professionals are responsible for managing client relationships, developing marketing strategies, and ensuring the successful delivery of sports-related products and services.
Key responsibilities of a Sports Marketing Account Manager include:
- Building and maintaining strong client relationships
- Developing and implementing marketing campaigns
- Managing project timelines and budgets
- Analyzing market trends and competitor activities
- Collaborating with internal teams to ensure client satisfaction
Essential Skills for Success in Sports Marketing
To thrive as a Sports Marketing Account Manager, professionals need a diverse skill set that combines business acumen with sports industry knowledge. Some of the most crucial skills include:
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Project management expertise
- Analytical and problem-solving abilities
- Creativity and innovation in marketing strategies
- Adaptability to rapidly changing industry trends
How can you develop these skills? Pursuing relevant education, gaining hands-on experience through internships, and staying updated with industry developments are all effective ways to enhance your skill set.
Education and Qualifications for Sports Marketing Careers
While specific requirements may vary depending on the employer, most Sports Marketing Account Manager positions require at least a bachelor’s degree. Common fields of study include:
- Marketing
- Sports Management
- Business Administration
- Communications
Is a graduate degree necessary for this role? While not always required, an MBA or a master’s degree in sports management can provide a competitive edge and open doors to higher-level positions.
The Sports Marketing Industry Landscape
The sports marketing industry is dynamic and ever-evolving, influenced by factors such as technological advancements, changing consumer behaviors, and global events. Understanding the current landscape is crucial for success in this field.
Some key trends shaping the industry include:
- Increased focus on digital and social media marketing
- Growing importance of data analytics in decision-making
- Rise of e-sports and virtual events
- Emphasis on sustainability and social responsibility
How can Sports Marketing Account Managers stay ahead of these trends? Continuous learning, attending industry conferences, and networking with peers are effective strategies for staying informed and adaptable.
Building and Maintaining Client Relationships
At the core of a Sports Marketing Account Manager’s role is the ability to build and nurture strong client relationships. This involves not only meeting clients’ immediate needs but also anticipating future requirements and providing proactive solutions.
Effective strategies for client relationship management include:
- Regular communication and updates
- Personalized approach to understanding client goals
- Prompt resolution of issues and concerns
- Providing valuable insights and industry expertise
How can you improve your client relationship skills? Practice active listening, develop empathy, and focus on delivering consistent value to your clients.
Developing Effective Sports Marketing Campaigns
Creating impactful marketing campaigns is a crucial aspect of a Sports Marketing Account Manager’s role. This involves a deep understanding of the target audience, creative concept development, and strategic execution across various channels.
Key steps in developing a successful sports marketing campaign include:
- Defining clear objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs)
- Conducting thorough market research and audience analysis
- Crafting compelling messaging and creative concepts
- Selecting appropriate marketing channels and tactics
- Implementing and monitoring campaign performance
- Analyzing results and optimizing strategies
How can you enhance your campaign development skills? Study successful case studies, experiment with different marketing techniques, and stay updated on the latest marketing technologies and platforms.
Leveraging Technology in Sports Marketing
In today’s digital age, technology plays a crucial role in sports marketing. Sports Marketing Account Managers must be adept at utilizing various technological tools and platforms to enhance their marketing efforts and deliver results for clients.
Some key technologies and tools used in sports marketing include:
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems
- Social media management platforms
- Data analytics and visualization tools
- Content management systems
- Marketing automation software
How can you stay updated with the latest marketing technologies? Attend industry webinars, participate in online courses, and engage with tech-savvy colleagues to expand your knowledge and skills.
Career Growth and Advancement Opportunities
The field of sports marketing offers numerous opportunities for career growth and advancement. As Sports Marketing Account Managers gain experience and expertise, they can progress to senior roles such as:
- Senior Account Manager
- Account Director
- Marketing Director
- Chief Marketing Officer (CMO)
What steps can you take to advance your career in sports marketing? Focus on continuous learning, seek mentorship opportunities, take on challenging projects, and develop leadership skills to position yourself for higher-level roles.
Networking and Professional Development
Building a strong professional network is essential for career growth in sports marketing. Attend industry events, join professional associations, and engage with peers on social media platforms to expand your connections and stay informed about industry trends and opportunities.
Some valuable networking opportunities in sports marketing include:
- Sports marketing conferences and trade shows
- Local sports business networking events
- Online forums and discussion groups
- Alumni associations and university events
How can you make the most of networking opportunities? Prepare an elevator pitch, be genuine in your interactions, and follow up with new connections to build lasting professional relationships.
Staying Ahead of Industry Trends
The sports marketing landscape is constantly evolving, and staying ahead of industry trends is crucial for long-term success. Sports Marketing Account Managers should make a conscious effort to stay informed about emerging technologies, changing consumer behaviors, and new marketing strategies.
Effective ways to stay updated on industry trends include:
- Subscribing to industry publications and newsletters
- Following thought leaders on social media
- Participating in webinars and online courses
- Engaging in discussions with colleagues and peers
How can you incorporate new trends into your marketing strategies? Regularly assess your current approaches, be open to experimentation, and analyze the results of new initiatives to continuously improve your marketing efforts.
Developing Specialized Expertise
As the sports marketing industry becomes more complex, developing specialized expertise can set you apart from your peers and open up new career opportunities. Consider focusing on areas such as:
- Digital marketing and social media strategies
- Data analytics and performance measurement
- Sponsorship activation and management
- Content creation and storytelling
- Athlete branding and influencer marketing
How can you develop expertise in a specific area? Seek out projects that allow you to gain hands-on experience, pursue relevant certifications, and consider specializing in a particular sport or market segment.
Balancing Creativity and Analytics
Successful Sports Marketing Account Managers must strike a balance between creative thinking and data-driven decision-making. While creativity is essential for developing compelling campaigns and innovative strategies, analytics provide valuable insights for measuring performance and optimizing results.
Key areas where creativity and analytics intersect in sports marketing include:
- Campaign concept development and performance tracking
- Audience segmentation and personalized messaging
- Content creation and engagement analysis
- Brand storytelling and ROI measurement
How can you improve your ability to balance creativity and analytics? Practice data visualization techniques, collaborate with both creative and analytical team members, and seek feedback on your ability to present data-driven insights in compelling ways.
Adapting to Global Markets
As sports continue to gain popularity worldwide, Sports Marketing Account Managers may find themselves working with clients and audiences across different countries and cultures. Developing a global mindset and cultural sensitivity is crucial for success in these scenarios.
Key considerations for adapting to global markets include:
- Understanding cultural nuances and local customs
- Adapting marketing messages for different regions
- Navigating international regulations and legal considerations
- Collaborating with local partners and agencies
How can you develop a global perspective in sports marketing? Seek out opportunities to work on international projects, learn a new language, and immerse yourself in diverse cultural experiences whenever possible.
Embracing Sustainability and Social Responsibility
As consumers become increasingly conscious of environmental and social issues, sports marketing professionals must incorporate sustainability and social responsibility into their strategies. This shift presents both challenges and opportunities for Sports Marketing Account Managers.
Key areas of focus for sustainable and socially responsible sports marketing include:
- Eco-friendly event management and production
- Cause-related marketing campaigns
- Athlete advocacy and social impact initiatives
- Sustainable product development and promotion
How can you integrate sustainability and social responsibility into your marketing strategies? Stay informed about relevant issues, collaborate with purpose-driven organizations, and develop metrics to measure the social and environmental impact of your campaigns.
The Future of Sports Marketing
As technology continues to advance and consumer behaviors evolve, the future of sports marketing holds exciting possibilities. Sports Marketing Account Managers who stay ahead of these trends and adapt their strategies accordingly will be well-positioned for success.
Some emerging trends that may shape the future of sports marketing include:
- Augmented and virtual reality experiences
- Artificial intelligence-driven personalization
- Blockchain technology for ticketing and fan engagement
- Integration of e-sports and traditional sports marketing
- Increased focus on data privacy and ethical marketing practices
How can Sports Marketing Account Managers prepare for the future of the industry? Cultivate a growth mindset, remain open to new technologies and ideas, and continuously seek opportunities to innovate and adapt your marketing strategies.
Account Manager – USA at STATSports – Job Board
Account Manager– USA
STATSports North America
About STATSports…
STATSports has grown from its humble origins in Ireland to be the world-leading provider of GPS player tracking and analysis equipment.
The STATSports APEX System is a customer driven platform. The unique, user-friendly interface was designed and shaped alongside some of the world’s top strength coaches, medics, and sports coaches. It is the only system to offer sports specific software for Football, Basketball, American Football, Rugby, and Athletics.
We have recently added to our product range with Apex Athlete Series – the highest powered and sophisticated consumer-based GPS tracking device on the market. This product allows people of every age and ability to track their data just like their favourite sports stars.
Our Pods have been tried and tested by many of the top teams and research facilities the world over and time and again results prove our system to be the most accurate, reliable, and consistent device on the market.
Check us out at www.statsports.com
What you will do…
- Serve as the lead point of contact for all customer account management matters.
- Build and maintain strong, long lasting client relationships.
- Ensure the timely and successful delivery of our solutions accordingly to customer needs and objectives.
- Ensure prompt and accurate answers to clients’ queries and assist with challenging requests or issues escalations as needed.
- Recording interactions with clients daily to create a timeline of service provided.
- Visit clients throughout the year to ensure client’s needs and objectives are being met.
- Prepare reports on account status.
- Clearly communicate the progress of monthly/quarterly initiatives to internal/external stakeholders.
- Develop new business with existing clients and/or identify areas of improvement to meet sales quotas.
- Collaborate with sales team to identify and grow opportunities within territories.
- Deliver on-line and onsite demonstrations of STATSports’ new products and services products, to prospective clients and existing customers.
- Be an advocate for our brand and products, Live the STATSports Values
- Daily testing of hardware and software both internally and externally.
- Contribute to internal projects, led by the R&D team which may involve, data collection, analysis and presentation of results.
- Relay ideas/suggestions for new features and system improvements, gathered from clients to the development team.
- Continued contribution to the sports science department.
- Represent STATSports at external engagements.
Essential
About you…
- Sports and Exercise Sciences degree or equivalent.
- Minimum 1-year experience working within the sporting industry
- Demonstrated understanding and application of effective service and selling strategies.
- Ability to travel 30-40% of the time.
- Eligible to work in the United States
Desirable
- Experience working with GPS.
Why work for STATSports…
Our work and our industry is exciting, vibrant and fast paced. We combine the technology and sport industries to provide a world leading product and service to our elite clients and consumers. We are incredibly proud of our success to date and our continuous growth.
Our team- Each member of STATSports has been handpicked to the highest standard. Each staff member is passionate about STATSports and the work we do. We work hard but have plenty of fun too.
Benefits
Salary- competitive/ negotiable
31 days leave (inclusive of 10 federal days)
Birthday leave
Health Care
Sickness Pay
Job type
Full-time
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Account manager – who is it, what does it do and how to become one
Account manager is a profession for those who like to communicate a lot.
80% of working time should be spent on negotiations with the client and the project team. At the same time, you often have to act as a “double agent”: the account manager defends the interests of the company in front of the client and the interests of the client in front of the company.
From this article you will learn who an account manager is, how much he earns, how to become one. We will tell you what types of account managers exist, what are the pros and cons of this specialty, and what qualities are needed for work.
Table of contents
- Who is an account manager
- Where to study to become an account manager
- Salary of an account manager
- Where can an account manager work
- Career prospects
- Types of account managers
- Duties of an account manager
- Required qualities and skills
- Advantages and disadvantages of the profession
Who is an account manager
Account manager is the link between the company and the client.
He must set up the workflow so that the team is comfortable and the client is satisfied with the result.
Let’s take an example of how an account manager works. A customer contacted a marketing agency, he wants to conduct an advertising campaign.
Step 1. The account manager collects the wishes of the client and passes them on to the team.
Step 2. Together with the team, he develops and presents the idea of order fulfillment.
Let’s say that the concept was liked by the client. But he suddenly realized that the deadlines did not suit him. Now, instead of a month, the agency has only a week to work.
Step 3. At this moment, the account manager starts to think how to get out of the situation – the team cannot complete a month’s work in a week. At the same time, he must ensure the quality of the implementation of the idea, not lose the client and defend the interests of the people working on the task.
Step 4. The account manager can offer the client several solutions: simplify the work, increase the deadlines, hire more employees to help the team.
For example, if the client chose the “make it easier” option, then the manager may advise against creating freehand art and suggest that the team use neural networks that generate images by words. So the work will not increase in price and the team will meet the deadline.
Where to study to become an account manager
The profession of an account manager is not taught in universities, and there are few courses in this profession. A lot is tied to the personal qualities of a person. So we can say that an account manager is a calling.
Courses
Check out our selection of courses for project managers. Especially if you are sure that you already have the qualities necessary for an account manager, but you lack professional skills. Professions and requirements for these employees are very similar.
Read more in our article about the work of a project manager.
Course
School
Rating
Cost
Installment plan
Duration
Reference
Project Manager
Edison Academy
5.0
66 500 ₽
Yes
3 months
School website
Project Management Quick Start
Product Star
4.6
39 900 ₽
Yes
2 months
School website
Project management
Skillbox
4.5
100 306 ₽
Yes
4 months
School website
Fundamentals of project management
Geek Brains
4.4
School website
Project Manager
Yandex Practicum
4.4
102 000 ₽
Yes
6 months
School website
Project management.
Organization and management of the project life cycle
NIIDPO
0.0
18 930 ₽
Yes
5 months
School website
More courses
Colleges
You can become an account manager after graduation. In your work, you will need knowledge from economics, psychology, marketing, sociology, etc. Therefore, you can take the position of an account manager with an economic, psychological, sociological higher education or education in the field of advertising and PR.
Account manager salary
An account manager’s income depends on his/her personal qualities, responsibilities and the company he/she works for. For example, an account manager who likes clients and does “farming” will receive more than just an intermediary between the customer and the contractor.
“Farmers” are professionals who develop the existing customer base and attract new ones.
Salary of an account manager in Russia at the beginning of 2023 according to GorodRabot.
ru
Vacancies for beginners and experienced account managers on hh.ru
At the initial stage, for example, in the position of account manager assistant, you can receive about 45,000 ₽. Then the income will grow to 100,000–200,000 rubles if you bring clients to the company.
Where an account manager can work
An account manager can build his career in areas where he will communicate with individuals.
Account managers are needed where business deals with customers.
These can be:
- service centers,
- small design studios,
- printing centers and so on.
You can also work in companies that work with other organizations: an advertising agency, a trucking company, a business process automation agency, and so on.
Career prospects
Account manager career can develop in two directions.
Standard way – a client manager can go through all the steps of the career ladder from a novice specialist to the head of the client department.
Client scaling path – an account manager may not grow in position, but more and more famous companies and people will become his clients.
Types of account managers
In a business environment, there are several types of relationships that develop between market participants.
B2C (Business – End Consumer) – A legal entity sells goods for end use to a consumer.
В2В (business to business) – a company sells goods to another company for further sale.
The work of an account manager, his salary and duties depend on which of these schemes the business operates on and which clients the specialist will communicate with.
B2B and B2C account manager
| B2C manager | B2B manager | |
| Customers | Individuals | Companies |
| Client base | Extensive because the clients are individuals. For example, if an account manager works in a service center for the repair of equipment, different people can apply for the services of the company, regardless of their field of activity. | The client base is limited by the number of companies that are suitable for cooperation. For example, a woodworking firm can only work with companies that sell wood and buy wood products. |
| Purpose of work | Resolve a customer’s problem: act as an administrator if the customer requested the company’s services. | Solve the client’s problem: dive into his business, help with development. |
| Work tasks | Helps clients to make an application, complete the necessary documents, receive their order. | Comes up with a strategy to work with the client, can influence his business. |
| Salary | Salary is lower (from 20,000 ₽). | The salary is higher (from 40,000 ₽). |
| Education and experience | Suitable for people without education and experience. | Need education, more experience and skills. |
Read also:
What is the difference between sales in B2B, B2C and B2G segments
Svetlana Savelyeva
9 min.
Responsibilities of an account manager
An account manager, as the link between the client and the team, has a wide range of responsibilities. We will tell you what the account manager is responsible for and what he does.
Responsibilities of an account manager when working with a client:
- negotiate,
- advise on services,
- plan and agree on a pool of work,
- form reliable relationships,
- report on progress,
- create attractive loyalty programs,
- analyze the results of work.
Responsibilities of an account manager when working with a team:
- create a brief,
- distribute tasks among team members,
- jointly prepare proposals and present them to the customer,
- consult on tasks and deadlines,
- monitor the execution of tasks,
- prepare reports for the company.
Almost all the tasks of an account manager are related to scheduling work and building good relationships with people. Most often, a specialist works from the office or comes to clients, but sometimes he can work remotely.
In some small companies, the role of an account manager can be taken over by a team leader or project manager.
Top 19 courses on communication with people, business communications and negotiation
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19 courses
KPI account manager
The account manager has his own KPI, which indirectly help to monitor the quality of work.
KPI:
- relationship prolongation – how many times the customer prolongs the contractual relationship with the company;
- customer churn – how many customers left;
- cross-selling indicator – how many more products or services were sold during the cooperation.
The longer the collaboration lasts, the more satisfied the customer is and the more money he brings to the company. This is the main metric of the account manager.
Required qualities and skills
Much of the work of an account manager is based on soft skills. These are key skills for successful development in this specialty. Therefore, we will tell you more about them.
Soft skills
What you need to know:
- to negotiate – will help to find a compromise between the client’s desires and the company’s capabilities;
- feel people – so the manager can understand how to interact with different people;
- be a team player – an account manager cannot lead a project alone;
- work hard and fast – the work can be very intensive, and the schedule is irregular;
- be stress-resistant – there are force majeure on projects that you need to be able to cope with;
- to speak and write correctly – will help to convey thoughts and ideas more accurately.
Useful personal qualities:
- creativity – sometimes you need non-standard approaches and solutions for client tasks;
- broad-minded – it is important for a manager to understand various issues in order to understand what the client is talking about;
- leadership qualities – will help to effectively manage a team;
- organizational skills – will help to assemble a team for the project and complete it on time;
- strategic thinking – the account manager must understand in advance how the proposed options for solving the problem will affect the client’s business.
It is important for every manager to work on soft skills, because they often determine his income. Below is a table with courses that will help you pump in this area.
Course
School
Rating
Cost
Installment plan
Duration
Link
Soft skills for women leaders
Edison Academy
5.
0
37,000 RUB
Yes
2 months
School website
Soft Skills online course for managers
Teachline
4.8
23 000 ₽
Yes
2 months
School website
Emotional intelligence and leadership
Skillbox
4.5
30 698 ₽
Yes
2 months
School website
Soft skills for IT beginners
SkillFactory
4.4
4 990 ₽
–
0.5 months
School website
More courses
Hard skills
The required professional skills of an account manager depend on the scope of the project they are working on. An account manager must dive deep into the client’s business to bring results. For example, in order to successfully work with Western SEO projects, the manager himself must have experience with SEO and be fluent in English.
It will be useful for a manager to understand schedulers and trackers. With their help, it is easier to control the work and send reports to clients.
Task scheduling software:
- Trello
- Jira
- Week
- Yandex.Tracker
- PlanFix
- Hygger
- MeisterTask
An account manager can manage different projects: online and offline. To make it easier for him to collect statistics and analyze data, he needs to master special programs:
- CRM systems,
- Yandex.Metrica,
- Google Analytics,
- 1C,
- Excel.
Read also:
What are hard skills, how to develop them and how they differ from soft skills
Ruzana Anchek
12 min.
Advantages and disadvantages of the profession
Beginners without experience and special education can be taken into this profession.
Charisma and leadership qualities are very important. At first, no one will offer you to work with large businesses, but gradually, improving your skills and knowledge, you will be able to grow in salary. Before looking for vacancies, weigh the pros and cons of this profession.
Benefits
If you decide to work as an account manager, you will meet many different people. What are the other advantages of the specialty “customer manager”:
- you can get a job without experience,
- gain valuable experience that will help in the future in a leadership position,
- purchase useful contacts,
- work in a demanded specialty,
- to move up the career ladder,
- increase income,
- work remotely,
- does not need to deal with cold sales.
Disadvantages
Among the disadvantages are:
- irregular working hours,
- responsibility for the result of the team’s work,
- responsibility to the team,
- you may have to manage several projects at the same time,
- possible burnout,
- high probability of stress,
- if you do not like to communicate, then the profession will not suit you,
- salary mainly consists of a bonus part.
