Marketing, Advertising & Public Relations
The fields of Advertising, Marketing, and Public Relations perform a wide range of similar functions: brand development, promotion, market research, public affairs, and direct marketing. Although they are all interrelated, there are significant differences among the three.
Marketing: Marketing involves developing, implementing, and analyzing strategies to promote products or services, engage target audiences, and drive business growth. It requires creativity, data analysis, and effective communication to achieve marketing objectives and enhance brand visibility and market presence.
Advertising: Advertising involves creating and executing campaigns to promote products, services, or brands through various media channels. Advertising professionals develop creative concepts, strategize audience targeting, and measure campaign effectiveness.
Public relations: Public relations entails managing communication between organizations or individuals and the public. PR professionals build and maintain positive relationships with the media, stakeholders, and the community. They handle crisis situations, craft compelling messages, and strategically position their clients to foster a favorable public image.
In summary, marketing involves the overall process of promoting products or services to achieve business goals, while advertising focuses on creating and disseminating these messages through various channels. Public relations manages communication and relationships with the public, media, and stakeholders to maintain a positive brand image.
EXPLORE CAREERS
Marketing Research
A career in market research entails gathering and analyzing data to gain valuable insights into consumer behavior, preferences, and market trends. Market researchers conduct surveys, interpret data, and provide crucial information that aids businesses in making informed decisions, shaping effective strategies, and staying competitive in their respective industries.
Digital Marketing
A digital marketer strategizes, implements, and optimizes online marketing campaigns to promote products, services, or brands through digital channels. They utilize various platforms, such as social media, email, SEO (search engine optimization), and PPC (pay-per-click) advertising, to reach and engage target audiences, drive website traffic, and achieve specific marketing objectives.
Sales
A career in sales involves building relationships, identifying potential customers, and persuading them to purchase products or services. Sales professionals use effective communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills to meet sales targets, drive revenue growth, and contribute to the success of their company by satisfying customer needs and fostering loyalty. If you are curious to learn more about sales from a business perspective, check out the business page.
Media Coordinator
A media coordinator is responsible for coordinating various aspects of media campaigns. They liaise with advertising agencies, media outlets, and internal teams to schedule and execute advertisements, ensuring timely and accurate placements. Additionally, they monitor campaign performance, handle logistics, and assist in optimizing media strategies to achieve maximum reach and impact.
Public Relations Specialist or Coordinator
A public relations specialist or coordinator is responsible for managing communication between an organization and the public. They create and implement PR strategies, handle media relations, write press releases, and manage social media presence. Their goal is to enhance the organization's reputation and maintain positive public perception.
Advertising & Promotion
A role in advertising & promotion involves creating compelling and innovative campaigns that captivate audiences, promote products or services, and drive brand awareness. Utilizing a mix of creativity, market research, and strategic thinking, they craft persuasive messages across various media channels to achieve business objectives and elevate brands to new heights.
FIND OPPORTUNITIES
To begin exploring jobs and careers within marketing, advertising, and public relations, search the following job boards. Please note this is not an exhaustive list, but designed to be a starting place.
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Marketing
Advertising
Public Relations
DEVELOP YOUR INTEREST
There are many options to get involved at Colorado College and develop your career competencies. Get involved to deepen your understanding of an industry and help you decide if a job in this field is of interest to you. Planning your experience can feel daunting, so check out some industry specific ideas both on and offf campus below. As you plan, meet with the Advising Hub to discuss your major and academic interests to ensure you’re on track for your academic plans as well.
- Join a club! Check out the clubs open to you at CC: Colorado College Clubs. Any leadership experience is always great, but see if you can obtain a position related to the marketing, advertising, or PR of a club to gain relevant experience! This could include recruiting new members or managing communications and social media for the club.
- On-Campus Job Examples: Writer and Social Media Intern for CC Communications, Media and Marketing Intern, Communications Student Advisory Council, Admissions Communication Intern, Theatre & Dance Social Media Manager, Outdoor Education Marketing Coordinator, or Athletics Marketing Intern. No matter what role you might find interesting on campus, they will always desire someone who can assist in their communication across campus and your interest in enhancing their “brand.”
- Consider a major or minor that contributes to your communication and creativity skills, such as Business, Economics & Society, English, Art, Psychology, and Journalism.
- Graduate school can be a good next step, however not always necessary. It is important to have experiences to help narrow down your area of interest. If you are interested in graduate school, ensure to start preparation early, such as identifying programs of interest, knowing admission requirements, and talking to faculty and the Career Center about your interests.
- Search for graduate school programs through databases such as Princeton Review
- Some common graduate programs for marketing, advertising, and PR include: advanced degrees in Business Administration, Data Analytics, Digital Marketing, Strategic Communications, and Advertising.
- Stay up to date on current events. Check out these websites for news in the world of marketing, advertising, and PR: AdAge, Adweek, and Marketing Week.
- Check out some podcasts to learn more about the industry and stay up to date! Here are a few suggestions to get you started: AdExchanger Talks, Marketing Over Coffee, On Top of PR, Perpetual Traffic
- It is important to creatively highlight your skills and accomplishments, and many jobs will likely require a portfolio.Check out these platforms to create a digital portfolio: Weebly, Wordpress, Wix, Carbonmade, Behance, Squarespace
- Check out courses on LinkedIn Learning. Everybody with a Pikes Peak Library card has access to LinkedIn Learning courses for free. There are many courses surrounding skills related to marketing, advertising, and PR, such as digital marketing, SEO, and social media best practices.
- Connect with alumni! Alumni can be a great resource to learn more about the industry. You can find alumni through LinkedIn or TigerLink, CC’s networking platform.
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CURIOUS TO LEARN MORE
- Professional Associations: AdCouncil, American Marketing Association, 4a’s, Association for Women in Communication, Association of National Advertisers, National Sports Marketing Network, Public Relations Society of America, Society for Marketing Professional Services, Society for Technical Communication
- Read career guides on The Vault. These guides provide valuable insight into the industry, helpful resources, and detailed information about specific careers.
Questions? Reach out!
