What are the responsibilities of a marketing manager?

I'm looking at careers in marketing, and I'd love to know what a marketing manager does. Do they work on creative campaigns, analyze market data, or something else? Any info would be great as I'm planning my college major.

In essence, a marketing manager's role encompasses the development and implementation of the strategic marketing plans for an organization. This guides the organization's marketing efforts, with the ultimate goal of customer satisfaction and business profitability.

Here are some of the common responsibilities:

1. Market Research: They analyze market trends and competitor strategies. They might conduct primary research through surveys or interviews or secondary research by studying industry reports and other publications. This knowledge guides the development of marketing strategies and ensures they are attuned to the current market dynamics.

2. Campaign Development: They coordinate with creative teams to develop advertising campaigns that align with the company's brand image and target audience. This involves brainstorming campaign themes, overseeing the production of creative material, and coordinating the launch across various platforms.

3. Product Development: They work with the product development team to set pricing strategies and ensure product features align with consumer needs and wants. They also monitor the product lifecycle and suggest modifications based on changing consumer trends.

4. Budget Management: Marketing managers are often responsible for setting and managing the marketing budget. They have to make strategic decisions about where to invest the budget to generate the best return on investment.

5. Analytics and Reporting: After campaigns are executed, the marketing manager analyzes their performance using various quantitative and qualitative metrics. The insights gleaned from this analysis are used to adjust future marketing plans.

6. Team Leadership: They often oversee a team of marketing professionals, assigning tasks, gauging performance, and providing feedback for improvement.

As you consider your future in marketing, know that different roles cater to different aspects of marketing. While a marketing manager's role often leans more strategic and managerial, positions like a marketing analyst will focus more on data analysis, and a creative director leans more towards the creative aspects of campaigns. Therefore, in choosing your college major, consider your strengths and interests. You could consider majors like Marketing, Business Administration, Advertising, or Communications, depending on what resonates best with your career goals.