Advertising media planner
Advertising media planners decide which media channels are best to advertise their client's products and services.
Also known as: Communications planner, media strategist
- Starter salary£24,000 a year
- Experienced£50,000 a year
- Typical hours37 to 40 a week
What you'll do
As an advertising media planner, you could:
- work with clients to learn what they want to achieve
- carry out research to understand the target audience
- create a media plan of how, when and where to advertise
- identify the most suitable media and platforms to use for campaigns
- present plans and costs to clients
- analyse data to spot market trends and adapt plans
- monitor campaign performance and create reports for account managers
- work closely with media buyers and the wider creative team
Working environment
You could work in an office or at a client's business.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- knowledge of media production and communication
- the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to use your initiative
- to be flexible and open to change
- customer service skills
- the ability to sell products and services
- excellent verbal communication skills
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
How to become a advertising media planner
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- a graduate trainee scheme
University
You could study for a foundation degree or degree in a subject, like:
- advertising and marketing
- statistics or operational research
- communication and media studies
- business or management
- psychology
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- at least 1 A level, or equivalent, for a foundation degree
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
Apprenticeship
You could apply to do an Advertising Media Executive Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship with an agency.
This can take up to 2 years to complete and is a mix of on-the-job training and study.
Entry requirements
Employers will set their own entry requirements.
Work
You could start as an admin assistant or assistant planner with an agency team.
From there, you could become a media planner through on-the-job training and promotion.
Volunteering
Work experience could give you a better understanding of the role. You would also make contacts who might be of help when you look for paid work in advertising. You could try:
- volunteering
- internships
- temporary jobs
Social media sites like LinkedIn can be a useful way to make contact with agencies about potential opportunities.
Employers will be keen to hear about any experience in media, marketing, data analysis or sales.
Other routes
If you have a degree, you can apply for a place on a graduate training scheme with an advertising agency.
Career path and progression
With experience, you could:
- specialise in a particular field, such as digital advertising
- become a senior media planner or account manager
- move into market research and data analysis
Career tips
Some employers combine the roles of media planner with media buyer , which means you could get a wide range of experience before specialising in the role you prefer.
Professional and industry bodies
You could join the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) for professional development opportunities and to make industry contacts.
Guides for this industry
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