Brand Manager
Brand management is a type of marketing specialism. To be a brand manager, you will need a background in marketing a wide range of products or services. It is possible to earn a high salary in brand management, with recognition and interest from other companies in your skills. If you are interested in developing your career into brand management, there are several ways to improve your prospects.
Marketing is usually about individual items in a company's range of products. Brand management is about the perception of the company or their products as a whole. Think about some famous companies such as Pizza Hut and Virgin, or well-known organisations or events such as the Olympic games. You remember these names and their logos because of excellent brand management.
Most people understand the basics of marketing. They know that it is the way a company or individual promotes certain goods or services to the public or to interested parties. If you are marketing something, you need to keep your ideas fresh and relevant to your audience. This can result in some interesting marketing techniques using a variety of media.
As a brand manager, it will be your job to improve and maintain the company's image. Brand management is about building and sustaining the relationship that the public or interested parties have with the company. Brand managers aim to give their brands trustworthiness and respectability, and instill a confidence in the company that can add value to the items or services it delivers.
In the UK there are no specific requirements to become a brand manager. In most cases, brand managers start their careers in marketing departments. If you are interested in this line of work, you should aim to get a range of GCSEs with grades A-C, including English language and mathematics. You may then either progress to A-levels, or opt to study a business course at college. This will give you a good foundation to build your marketing career upon.
While at college, you may have the opportunity to get some work experience with a local company, to learn about marketing in action. This is a great way to build up your contacts for future employment.
Many people go straight into employment after finishing their college course. You may be able to find a job with a small company as the marketing officer, or in a larger organisation within the marketing department. For small companies, you may become a brand manager without realising it at first, because it is very important for small businesses to build customer loyalty.
If you want to further improve your chances of becoming a brand manager, you may decide to study marketing or brand management specifically at university. Most courses will be offered as Advertising and Brand Management at undergraduate level. The University for the Creative Arts at Farnham in Kent offer a 3-year BA (Hons) in Advertising and Brand Communication. This course is focused on real-life advertising techniques and has strong links to the creative industries.
Once you obtain a job as a brand manager, you will be expected to become an expert on the company you are representing. It is likely that you will begin as brand manager for a small section of the portfolio of the business, and with experience, gradually move into managing the company brand as a single entity. You may want to continue your professional development by taking part-time or distance learning courses, such as are offered by the Chartered Institute of Marketing.
Brand management can be a well-paid occupation, and has the potential to be a fast-paced and stimulating career. You should also be prepared to take responsibility if a brand fails or loses the confidence of the consumer, but that is the challenge that brand managers face and is part of what makes the job so rewarding.
