A New Breed of Account Manager
Account Managers have been around as long as advertising agencies have existed. If a client wants to advertise their product or service, there must be someone to advise, educate, communicate, listen, produce, and yes, hold their hand.
Account managers can be found in all industries, but their responsibilities remain consistent; creating presentations for new clients, helping clients achieve their goals, maintaining a respectable relationship between the company and the client, and giving the client the best service possible. Since 1812 when the first advertising agency is said to have been established, Account Managers have been doing just that.
Easy enough, right? Perhaps if you are a “people” person with adequate social skills, capable of working under pressure, well organized, self-motivated, and able to successfully communicate at various levels – this may be your cup of coffee. However, in the last decade or so, a relatively new industry has formed in conjunction with the World Wide Web; Interactive. Considered untraditional to most, Interactive Agencies offer a mix of web design and development, software development, and online marketing, including SEO and SEM.
So, does the role of Account Manager change? Yes and no. Keeping our clients caffeinated, and acting as the liaison between the client and the production team, are number one priorities for traditional and non-traditional AM’s. However, as Interactive Account Managers, it’s crucial to stay abreast of the latest technology. Because our industry is constantly changing, we strive to educate our clients on cutting-edge trends and innovative strategies. Interactive AM’s are also involved in every piece of the process. Whether it be developing a website or setting up an online marketing campaign, we carry the project from beginning to beautiful.
Client Service Professionals, such as ourselves, want our clients to have an online presence as experts in their field. We oversee the project process, ensuring our clients are set apart from the competition. Some food for thought – or crème for your latte – Success is to Internet as Account Manager is to Client. We manage and implement every phase of the project and must come to know our clients’ industries virtually as much as they do. We are needed and when you need us, don’t worry; we hold hands.
