Marketing Agent Job Description: Roles, Responsibilities and Skills
A clear and accurate marketing agent job description helps employers attract suitable candidates and assists job seekers to understand what the role entails. In South Africa and globally, marketing agents are typically responsible for promoting products or services, generating leads, and supporting broader marketing and sales strategies.
According to career guidance from Indeed and Learn.org, marketing agents (often called marketing representatives, marketing associates or sales agents) act as a link between a company and its customers, focusing on outreach, promotion, and relationship management to drive revenue growth and brand awareness (Indeed – What does a marketing representative do?; Learn.org – Marketing Agent Career).
Overview of the Marketing Agent Role
A marketing agent typically works within a company’s marketing or sales function to promote offerings, identify potential customers and support campaigns. Betterteam describes marketing agents (or marketing associates) as professionals who assist with implementing marketing strategies, promoting products and services, and coordinating promotional activities under the direction of senior marketing staff (Betterteam – Marketing Associate Job Description).
In many organisations, the role overlaps with that of a marketing representative or sales and marketing representative, where key focus areas include lead generation, customer communication, and executing elements of marketing campaigns (Indeed – Marketing representative job description).
Typical employment settings include:
- Corporate marketing departments
- Advertising and media agencies
- Real estate, insurance, and financial services firms
- Retail and e‑commerce businesses
As noted by Learn.org, marketing agents may specialise in particular industries (such as real estate or insurance) but generally share common responsibilities around promoting offerings and securing new clients (Learn.org – Marketing Agent Career).
Key Responsibilities in a Marketing Agent Job Description
Although duties vary by organisation and sector, common responsibilities of a marketing agent include:
1. Promoting Products and Services
Marketing agents are directly involved in promoting products or services to potential and existing customers. Indeed explains that marketing representatives often present products, demonstrate value, and explain features and benefits to prospects as part of the selling process (Indeed – What does a marketing representative do?).
Typical promotional tasks may include:
- Making outbound calls or conducting in‑person visits to prospects
- Presenting marketing materials and product information
- Explaining pricing, features, and promotional offers
- Supporting the rollout of new product launches
2. Lead Generation and Client Acquisition
A core component of many marketing agent job descriptions is finding and converting new business. Learn.org notes that marketing agents identify prospective clients, reach out to them through various channels and follow up to secure new accounts (Learn.org – Marketing Agent Career).
Lead-related activities may include:
- Researching potential markets, segments, or territories
- Building and maintaining a list of leads and prospects
- Contacting leads via phone, email, social media, or in person
- Qualifying prospects and scheduling meetings or presentations
In some sectors, such as real estate or insurance, agents may also be involved in preparing proposals or quotes as part of client acquisition.
3. Supporting Marketing Campaigns
Marketing agents often support a company’s broader marketing campaigns. Betterteam states that marketing associates help coordinate marketing initiatives, prepare promotional materials, and contribute to campaign execution (Betterteam – Marketing Associate Job Description).
This support can involve:
- Assisting with the implementation of digital and traditional campaigns
- Distributing marketing collateral (brochures, flyers, email content)
- Coordinating events, trade shows, or promotional activations
- Collecting feedback and performance data from campaigns
4. Customer Relationship Management
Relationship-building and customer service are key to sustaining sales. According to Indeed’s overview of marketing representatives, these professionals are often responsible for maintaining relationships with existing clients, responding to queries, and ensuring ongoing satisfaction with the company’s products or services (Indeed – What does a marketing representative do?).
Typical relationship tasks include:
- Following up with clients after sales or campaigns
- Handling basic customer queries or directing complex issues to relevant teams
- Gathering feedback on products, services, or promotions
- Identifying opportunities for upselling or cross‑selling
5. Market Research and Reporting
Many employers expect marketing agents to contribute to basic market research and reporting. Betterteam highlights that marketing associates may analyse market trends, track marketing metrics, and prepare reports for management (Betterteam – Marketing Associate Job Description).
Common duties here include:
- Collecting and summarising data about competitors, pricing, or consumer behaviour
- Monitoring campaign performance indicators such as response rates or leads generated
- Preparing simple reports or updates for marketing or sales managers
Skills, Requirements and Qualifications
Educational Background
Entry-level marketing agent roles typically require at least a high school certificate, while many employers prefer a tertiary qualification. Learn.org reports that many marketing agents hold a bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, communications, or a related field, especially for more competitive positions (Learn.org – Marketing Agent Career).
In South Africa, numerous universities and colleges offer marketing and business-related qualifications that prepare candidates for such roles, as outlined by institutions like the University of South Africa (UNISA) in its marketing and business management curricula (UNISA – Department of Marketing and Retail).
Core Skills and Competencies
Across sectors, several core skills frequently appear in a marketing agent job description:
- Communication skills: Strong written and verbal communication are essential for presenting offerings and engaging clients. Indeed emphasises effective communication as a core requirement for marketing representatives (Indeed – Marketing representative job description).
- Sales and persuasion: Because the role often includes selling, marketing agents need persuasion, negotiation, and closing skills (Learn.org – Marketing Agent Career).
- Customer service orientation: A client-focused approach and the ability to respond professionally to queries or complaints are important for maintaining relationships (Indeed – What does a marketing representative do?).
- Organisational skills: Managing leads, follow-ups, and campaign tasks requires good time management and organisation, as noted by Betterteam in its marketing associate profile (Betterteam – Marketing Associate Job Description).
- Basic marketing and digital literacy: Familiarity with marketing principles, social media, email marketing tools, and office software is frequently requested (Indeed – Marketing representative job description).
Experience Requirements
Experience expectations vary:
- Entry-level roles may accept candidates with limited experience but strong communication skills and an interest in marketing; some employers provide on-the-job training.
- More advanced or specialised roles may require prior experience in sales, customer service, or specific industries. Learn.org notes that experience in sales or marketing can be a significant advantage for marketing agent positions (Learn.org – Marketing Agent Career).
Work Environment and Employment Conditions
Marketing agents may work:
- In office-based environments as part of marketing or sales teams
- In the field, visiting clients or participating in events and activations
- In hybrid or remote settings, particularly for roles focused on digital outreach and phone or online communication
As described in Indeed’s role overview, marketing representatives often work toward sales or lead-generation targets and may receive performance-related incentives in addition to base pay (Indeed – What does a marketing representative do?).
Conclusion
A well-defined marketing agent job description typically covers promotional duties, lead generation, campaign support, customer relationship management, and basic market research. Sources such as Indeed, Betterteam, and Learn.org consistently highlight strong communication, sales ability, customer focus, and organisational skills as key requirements for success in this role (Indeed – Marketing representative job description; Betterteam – Marketing Associate Job Description; Learn.org – Marketing Agent Career).
Whether used by South African employers crafting vacancies or by job seekers exploring career options, a clear description of responsibilities, skills and qualifications helps align expectations and supports better hiring and career decisions in the marketing field.