bizMe

By Kristen, Milwaukee

I work for a city newspaper in a large metropolitan area selling advertising for our print publications as well as our online initiatives and niche products.

My typical day varies from day to day and that is why I love working in this industry. When I arrive at 8:30 I check my emails to find out which special sections are deadlining for the day. I then read the newspaper watching for my clients ads. If my clients have ads that ran that day, I pull tearsheets, which are copies of their ads, to bring to them.

My day is a mixture of following up with clients about special sections, cold calling for new business, creating ad campaigns and maintaining the clients that have ongoing ad campaigns. I am an outside sells rep which means that I am expected to get out into the field to see my clients and prospect new ones.

As a retail rep I work directly with the owners and managers of the businesses in my territory. I enjoy working with them directly because I become more than just a sales rep. I develop a relationship with my clients and am often considered as a marketing consultant when I offer advertising suggestions and create proposals that may take their business to the next level.

Publishing sales is very much like running your own business. I am an outside sales rep with a specific territory, which I maintain and develop. I have a monthly goal that I must meet as well as a quarterly goal. Each year my monthly and quarterly goals increase depending on the previous year’s sales.

After a long day of selling, I make my way back into the office to order ads, follow-up with my manager, write sales proposals, and prepare for tomorrow’s client meetings.

I have a business degree from a four-year university and had several internships while in college.