MARKETING IN:
AGENCY & MEDIA
Marketing agencies are the behind-the-scenes powerhouses of modern business. Highly skilled teams built to deliver strategic insight, creative firepower, and operational precision at pace.
Where in-house teams often juggle multiple priorities across departments, agencies bring focused expertise, scalable support, and fresh external perspective.
Whether it’s a campaign launch, content rollout, or crisis response, agencies step in to handle what in-house teams can’t take on alone, often with greater depth, objectivity, and efficiency.​
AGENCY
WHAT TO EXPECT
Working in an agency means managing competing priorities, multiple client accounts, and shifting deadlines. The pace can be intense and the workload varied. Successful agency marketers understand how to brief others clearly, record their time accurately, and keep multiple streams of work moving forward simultaneously. Time sensitivity is often a factor. Projects may need to align with product launches, news cycles, or fixed events. Deadlines are rarely flexible. Client-side contacts usually have some marketing knowledge and often a specific interest in the agency’s specialism, such as digital, PR, content, or creative. Communication must be clear, confident, and backed by rationale.
MARKETING IN THE AGENCY SECTOR
Agencies often face outdated perceptions, seen simply as outsourced help rather than as partners in growth. The most effective agency relationships are built on trust, shared goals, and a clear understanding of value. At their best, agencies are not just an extension of the team. They are concentrated units of expertise, built to deliver insight, execution, and measurable outcomes with precision and speed. Clients usually turn to agencies for one of three reasons: Capacity - when in-house teams are stretched Capability - when a specific skillset is missing Clarity - when external perspective is needed to challenge thinking or spark innovation Strong agencies combine strategic oversight with creative and technical delivery, often working under high pressure and with tight turnaround times. Marketers here are expected to be commercially aware, responsive, and fluent across multiple channels. They must manage both relationships and results. Many clients rely on agencies not just for content or campaigns, but for insight, objectivity, and pace. That responsibility makes agency marketing roles demanding, but also highly respected for the depth and breadth of experience they offer.
ADVANTAGES OF WORKING IN THE SECTOR
Agencies offer excellent exposure to a wide range of brands, sectors, and campaign types. The variety helps marketers build resilience, adaptability, and a broad understanding of different marketing channels. Fast learners and confident communicators often do well. It is a strong environment for those who enjoy collaboration, creative thinking, and fast-paced delivery. Career progression is often linked to client management, project leadership, and the ability to grow accounts profitably. It also expands your professional network, giving you regular exposure to senior decision-makers, creative collaborators, and industry specialists, often at a much faster pace than in-house roles allow.
SALARY INFO
Agency salaries tend to start lower than in-house roles but can rise quickly with experience and performance: Account Executive / Marketing Executive: £24,000 – £30,000 Account Manager / Digital Marketer: £32,000 – £42,000 Account Director / Senior Strategist: £45,000 – £60,000 Client Services Director / Head of Department: £65,000+ Bonuses may be linked to account growth or agency profit. In smaller agencies, salary progression can be quicker, but may also depend on the agency's client base and financial health.
WHAT MAKES A GREAT MARKETER IN AGENCY?
Top agency marketers are organised, commercially aware, and emotionally intelligent. They are strong communicators who can clarify briefs, handle feedback without friction, and keep clients engaged and informed. The best understand how to protect time and margin, while still delivering high-quality, creative work. They build trust internally and externally, and are often the linchpin between strategy, delivery, and commercial success.
MARKETING JOBS IN AGENCY
Product Marketing
Bridging the gap between product, sales, and the market. Own messaging, positioning, feature launches, and often competitor intelligence.
Growth Marketing
Uses experimentation and data to drive acquisition, conversion, and often retention. Always testing.
Content Marketing
Create articles, guides, videos, and thought leadership to attract, nurture, and convert leads — and support product education.
Lifecycle CRM / Email Marketing
Own the post-signup or lead nurturing journey, onboarding, re-engagement, upsell, and renewal flows.
Brand Marketing & Comms
Shaping the perception of the business, sometimes includes PR, creative, design, tone of voice, and leadership visibility.
Demand Generation
Demand Generation, Create demand through targeted campaigns — working closely with Sales to generate qualified leads. ABM (account-based marketing)
Community & Advocacy Marketing (emerging)
Build trust and engagement via customer success stories, reviews, and customer-led content.
Big Title
Thinking about hiring in agency?
