Pursuing a career as a marketing manager could be a good fit for you if you are seeking a career where you can use your initiative and interpersonal abilities. Marketing has always been and will continue to work towards being a crucial component of a product’s or company’s success story. This is why a career as a marketing manager will continue to be in high demand.

A marketing manager is responsible for locating, evaluating and interacting with potential customers for an organization’s product or service. Pursuing a career as a marketing manager will require you to develop effective skills that will enable you to promote a company’s product and bring sales to the company.

I will discuss the roadmap to follow when pursuing a career as a marketing manager.

How to Become a Marketing Manager

1. Obtain an O’level Certificate

   If you are interested in pursuing a career as a marketing manager, you must take subjects related to the business sector in secondary school. You should have a minimum of credits in subjects such as Economics, Accounting, Commerce, Mathematics and English. You must have a commercial subject as this is a requirement to getting admission to the university.

2. Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

   This is an important step in pursuing a career as a marketing manager. You should apply to an accredited university and study to earn a bachelor’s degree in marketing. Additionally, you can also get a degree in business administration, advertising or communication.

3. Get Practical Experience

   You must apply for internships and entry-level positions in companies. Furthermore, this will enable you to get hands-on experience and allow you to understand the various fields of marketing and help you identify your interests.

4. Consider a Master’s Degree

   This is not a major requirement for becoming a marketing manager. However, a higher degree can help you stand out in the employment market. A master’s degree will give you a broader understanding of finance, leadership, human resources and more.

5. Develop Marketing Skills

   To be successful as a marketing manager, you need to be well-grounded in the required skills. You should build and develop communication, sales and presentation skills. Additionally, these skills will enable you to perform efficiently and work on multiple tasks simultaneously.

6. Choose an Area of Specialisation

   Marketing is a broad field. There are various fields of marketing that you can manage. You must have a particular niche in which you become an expert. Marketing managers are typically employed by large organisations and industries such as healthcare, entertainment, banking and technology. However, you will be able to locate a marketing career in whatever sector you are interested in.

7. Join a Professional Association

   You must register and join a professional marketing association. A professional marketing association can keep you up to date on the latest marketing advancements, strategies, and technologies, Additionally, it will enable you to have access to opportunities to network with other professionals in your field.

Areas of Specialisation in Marketing

1. Content Marketing

   The manager and team member in charge of creating content for a company’s website is the content marketing manager. Additionally, they research, strategise, coordinate, write and publish an organisation’s promotional copy.

2. Digital Marketing

   Digital marketing involves using various online outlets and channels to raise brand awareness, reach more potential customers, and convert more people into sales leads. Furthermore, digital marketing managers plan and execute online marketing campaigns.

3. Search Engine Marketing

   Search engine marketing utilises best practices in search engine optimisation to boost the chances that a company’s website content will appear higher in search engine results.

4. Brand Marketing

   The main responsibility of a brand marketing manager is to define a brand’s voice and image. They also ensure that it is positively, professionally and properly represented on all promotional materials. Additionally, they adjust marketing efforts to fit the customer’s needs and preferences.

5. Product Marketing

   Professionals in this field create the messaging, positioning and pricing for a product. Additionally, they adjust marketing efforts to the demands and interests of the customer.

6. Social Media Marketing

   The professionals in this field create and publish posts about a company’s product on social media. Additionally, they monitor the performance of each post to discover areas for improvement.

Skills Required for a Marketing Manager

1. Data Analytics
2. Knowledge of Marketing Software Platforms
3. Customer Relationship Management
4. Digital Marketing
5. Budgeting
6. Communication skills
7. Negotiation
8. Planning and Execution
9. Adaptability
10. Email Marketing
11. Design
12. Social Media Platforms
13. Advertising
14. Search Engine Optimisation

Schools in Africa to Study Marketing

1. University of Cape Town, South Africa
2. Federal University of Technology Akure, Nigeria
3. University of Pretoria, South Africa
4. Cairo University, Egypt
5. University of Ghana, Ghana
6. Makerere University, Uganda
7. University of the Free State, South Africa
8. Ain Shams University, Egypt
9. University of Ibadan, Nigeria
10. Alexandria University, Egypt
11. Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria
12. University of Nairobi, Kenya
13. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science of Technology, Ghana
14. University of Botswana
15. Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
16. University of Nigeria, Nigeria
17. Covenant University
18. University of Lagos
19. Rhodes University, South Africa
20. University of Sousse, Tunisia

You must make research about the university you want to study in before making applications. You should check if the university is accredited to study marketing and check the curriculum of the course.

In Conclusion, Pursuing a career as a marketing manager might not come as a piece of cake. Before you attain the position of marketing manager, you must have years of experience and results to show for it. You must focus on gathering experiences and results in the early phase of your career. Be diligent and committed to your career pursuit. Additionally, you must network with experts as this can help in your career growth.

Good luck!

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