How can you improve your media planning and buying career?

1 Update your skills

Media planning and buying is constantly evolving, so you need to update your skills regularly. You can do this by taking online courses, attending webinars, reading blogs and newsletters, and joining professional associations. You can also learn from your peers and mentors by asking for feedback, participating in forums, and joining networking events. By updating your skills, you can demonstrate your value, creativity, and adaptability to your clients and employers.

2 Understand your audience

One of the most important aspects of media planning and buying is understanding your audience. You need to know who they are, what they want, how they behave, and where they consume media. You can use various tools and methods to collect and analyze data, such as surveys, focus groups, analytics, social listening, and segmentation. You can also use personas, customer journeys, and empathy maps to create more engaging and relevant media plans. By understanding your audience, you can deliver more effective and efficient media solutions.

3 Embrace new media

Media planning and buying is not limited to traditional channels, such as TV, radio, print, and outdoor. You also need to embrace new media, such as digital, social, mobile, video, podcast, and influencer marketing. You need to be familiar with the features, benefits, and challenges of each media type, and how they can complement each other. You also need to be aware of the emerging trends, platforms, and formats that can offer new opportunities and solutions. By embracing new media, you can expand your reach, engagement, and impact.

4 Optimize your performance

Media planning and buying is not a one-time activity, but a continuous process. You need to optimize your performance by measuring, evaluating, and adjusting your media plans and campaigns. You can use various metrics and indicators, such as reach, frequency, impressions, clicks, conversions, ROI, and CPM. You can also use tools and software, such as dashboards, reports, and optimization engines. You can also solicit feedback from your clients, partners, and stakeholders. By optimizing your performance, you can improve your results, efficiency, and profitability.

5 Showcase your work

Media planning and buying is a creative and strategic field, so you need to showcase your work to potential clients and employers. You can do this by creating a portfolio, a resume, a website, or a blog that highlights your achievements, skills, and expertise. You can also use social media, online platforms, and awards to promote your work and build your reputation. You can also use testimonials, case studies, and referrals to demonstrate your value and impact. By showcasing your work, you can attract more opportunities and recognition.

6 Seek new challenges

Media planning and buying is a competitive and demanding career, so you need to seek new challenges to grow and advance. You can do this by taking on more responsibilities, roles, or projects that challenge your skills, knowledge, and creativity. You can also pursue new markets, niches, or sectors that offer new potential and demand. You can also seek new mentors, partners, or collaborators that can inspire you and support you. By seeking new challenges, you can enhance your career satisfaction, development, and prospects.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?