Branding is one of the fastest-growing trends in the world, which makes the career of a brand manager something incredibly lucrative and appealing. You see, the entrepreneurial spirit is more alive than ever before and never in history have there been as many startups as there are today. Each of these startups aspires to become a strong brand, which is why the need for brand managers has never been higher. With that in mind and without further ado, here are seven tips to help you build a brand manager career.
1. Acquire formal education
The first consideration is that most brands want someone with an actual certificate. As a result, you should go to a college, which offers a business program. You can start planning towards this as early as in high school by taking classes in statistics, finance or economics. Keep in mind that although this may sound trivial, it’s something that will look great on your resume and equip you with a skillset to make your transition into this field a lot easier.
2. Learn about marketing
One issue with a marketing career is that there’s no single course or college that can teach you absolutely everything about it. This means that you need to invest a fair amount of time and resources supplementing your expertise by visiting seminars, attending courses and mingling at industry-related events. This is critical because it gives you a competitive edge over those who base their strategy on a single course or tutor. Try to learn from as many different (credible) sources, as possible.
3. Gain experience
In addition, gaining direct experience in the field is key to being taken seriously. To become a certified brand manager, you will often need an internship. So, research organizations that are willing to accept your application. Make sure that the companies are reputable, as a recommendation from a niche authority might jumpstart your career. There are usually many more applicants than openings in such organizations, so be persistent.
4. Accept an entry-level job
Also, as with most supervisory positions, you don’t just become a brand manager. You generally need to start from an entry-level job and work your way up. With the help of an online job-seeking platform, this task should be a lot easier. Don’t feel discouraged even if you can’t initially find a position within a specific industry. For instance, if you can’t find employment in the branding or marketing industry, look for a similar field with translatable skills. The three crucial skills are management, public relations and, of course, leadership.
5. Become tech-savvy
Previously, branding was managed in an analog world, currently, it’s all about the digital environment, which is why you should become as tech-savvy as possible. These tools are used for establishing your brand, surveying your competitors and even managing your own team. For example, instead of handing out cash payments in envelopes, you might apply for a payroll card in order to automate this process and make it simpler for everyone. All in all, the more tech-savvy you are, the better.
6. Employ your creativity
The above-listed steps serve as branding basics. At one point, however, it’s imperative that you start exercising your own creativity. You first need to learn the basics, but with experience, you’ll sense the time to start exploring the boundaries of your creativity. So, try experimenting with your ideas but use discretion in your client relationships; you don’t want to suggest ideas to your clients that are more revolutionary than they can agree to or accept.
7. Networking
An important step in becoming and growing as a brand manager is networking. Sure, people-skills are a great start, but your personal development and career success depends, to a surprising extent, on exploring and expanding your associations. For the creation of a brand, you need designers, writers, programmers, as well as a myriad of services that have to be outsourced. In other words, you can’t do it all on your own and your ability to properly negotiate, use leverage to your own advantage or just have the right connections is more important than may currently appear.
The Last Word
Brand management is incredibly competitive. You can do this. But, to triumph, ‘raise your game’, be more committed and dedicated than the competition.
