Marketing analysts are responsible for assisting companies in determining the strengths and weaknesses of their new products. By creating phone surveys and internet surveys, marketing analysts play an important role in helping companies understand their customers. The typical marketing analyst will work for a marketing research agency upon graduation from a college program. He or she may also work in the marketing department of a company. If you want to improve upon the ways in which companies try to reach out to their customers, then you will enjoy a career as a marketing analyst. You will be responsible for creating research studies that seek to understand whether customers actually enjoy using certain products or want to purchase them in the future. You may also conduct live interviews with people who have used a certain product in order to understand their likes and dislikes. Maybe you have wondered, “How do I become a marketing analyst?” If you want to become a marketing analyst, then here are some of the ways in which you can improve your chances for a successful career.

What’s it like to be a marketing analyst?

When you become a marketing analyst, you will have the opportunity to manage the data collection process for a company. It will be your task to oversee or conduct phone surveys and live interviews with people. You may have to spend time in developing a research strategy for a company. A company will usually come to you with a marketing problem that it needs fixed, and it will be your task to identify the ways in which the company can improve upon the ways it markets the product to individuals. You may have to give a presentation to the head of a marketing department in order to help him or her understand how the business needs to adapt to more sophisticated marketing methods. Your research may show that current communication methods of a business are not adequate in reaching out to new customers.

Education Requirements

When you want to become a marketing analyst, you should try to obtain a four-year degree in marketing or communications. You should try to learn as much as you can about a college program before your enrollment. Make sure that the courses you will be taking focus upon marketing surveys and strategies. You may also want to take a couple of courses in finance or accounting. These types of courses can expose you to business terminology that will be helpful in your career when you work with businesses. You should also seek to gain internship experience with a marketing research agency during your time in college. An internship experience will give you the opportunity to learn what it takes to create a marketing survey. You will also get the opportunity to work in a corporate atmosphere and understand the daily demands that marketing analysts face.

Salary & How to Get a Job

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the starting salary for a marketing analyst is about $60,000 a year. When you want to get a job as a marketing analyst, it is best to start your career by obtaining an internship in the marketing industry. Having an internship in the marketing industry will give you the opportunity to develop connections with a marketing agency or corporation. You may then be offered employment upon your graduation from college. Also, you should ensure that you have strong math and writing skills. It will be essential for you to analyze large amounts of data on a regular basis within this type of career.

References:
1. http://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/market-research-analysts.htm
2. http://www.ehow.com/about_6528979_definition-marketing-research-analyst.html