Agency Account Managers keep the customer – and the agency — satisfied. They typically handle a handful of advertising and marketing accounts, and serve as the primary point of agency contact for their clients. They also represent the client at agency meetings. Their job is to communicate both good and bad news to a client with tact and aplomb, answer questions, and make certain they receive what they asked for as part of their agency contractual agreement.
It’s a challenging role requiring a careful balance between the client’s needs, wants and priorities, and the agency’s bottom line. They play a crucial role in client retention as well as potentially bringing in new business as part of an existing client referral process.
Agency Account Manager Skills Needed
Agency Account Managers must have strong interpersonal and communication skills. They must be able to finesse delicate client relationships while driving the agency to produce its best results. The Ad Agency Account Manager must develop an understanding of:
- The client’s business model
- The marketplace and factors affecting sales
- Advertising techniques from creative, research and media outreach
An Agency Account Manager knows when to push and when to let things simmer. The Account Manager’s job duties include having a strong but non-aggressive leadership style, as they ultimately control the agency’s use of time and resources, and then present the product deliverables to the client.
Balancing the needs of the client against the agency’s bottom line, while being driven by a complex timeline of tasks, requires finesse as well as stress management and organizational skills. Collaboration and teamwork is key to this role. In addition to all the “soft” people skills, the Agency Account Manager must be extremely organized, particularly if they have several clients to manage simultaneously.
Suggested Software Proficiency
The Agency Account Manager needs to be proficient in all of the typical programs used by an advertising agency, including software that handles:
- Project Management/Collaboration
- Customer Relationship Management
- SEO Tools
- Survey Products
- Inbound and Outbound Marketing Platforms
- Billing Programs
- Marketing/Webinar Tools
- Research Services
The Agency Account Manager is primarily responsible for providing reporting to clients in whatever format the agency offers and the client requires.
Find Your New Account Manager
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