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Sales promotion manager skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted experts

Adry S. Clark Ph.D.,

Andrea Dixon Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical sales promotion manager skills. We ranked the top skills for sales promotion managers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 23.2% of sales promotion manager resumes contained product knowledge as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a sales promotion manager needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 sales promotion manager skills for your resume and career

1. Product Knowledge

Product knowledge is the skill of having better information and knowledge about the product you are selling. Product knowledge is essential for the employees of the companies so they can communicate and inform the customers about the product. Having great product knowledge is essential for a better sales pitch and to give the customer a better and complete idea of the product that will influence him to buy the product eventually.

Here's how sales promotion managers use product knowledge:

Provided product demonstrations and informed over 50K customers on product knowledge and benefits of fuses in the electrical industry.
Designed a sales team-training program, which enhanced overall product knowledge.

2. Sales Promotions

Here's how sales promotion managers use sales promotions:

Coordinated and assisted dealers with local sales and marketing programs designed to support and localized national sales promotions.
Coordinated sales promotion initiatives adding value to overall company objectives.

3. Trade Shows

Here's how sales promotion managers use trade shows:

Managed communications and new product planning, advertising, trade shows, trade publicity, sales promotion and field sales support.
Managed advertising promotion for eight trade shows in five countries, including the leading information technology events in Canada and Mexico.

4. Promotional Materials

Promotional material is any document or article - written, printed, graphic, electronic, audio, or video presentation, distributed or made available in whole or in part on behalf of a product, cause, idea, person, or business for promotion, advertisement, announcement or direction. Promotional materials are used to make a business stand out from its competitors and to engage the target audience.

Here's how sales promotion managers use promotional materials:

Developed on-site attendee, exhibitor and media products research and incorporated that research into sales support and promotional materials.
Directed outside agencies/Art Directors in producing promotional materials, and coordinated presentation development and graphic design.

5. POS

POS is an abbreviation of "Point of Sale" which is the time and place where a customer completes a transaction. It can either be a physical shop that consists of POS terminals or a virtual shop. A POS system helps simplify the retail functions and track important sales data.

Here's how sales promotion managers use pos:

Partnered with agencies to build programming for key selling seasons, including customized POS, and geographical plans.
Ensured all POS and cash reporting was correct before, during, and after store hours of operation.

6. Promotional Campaigns

Here's how sales promotion managers use promotional campaigns:

Planned and implemented promotional campaigns for major gospel/contemporary Christian label launched in 1996.
Developed multiple company promotional campaigns.

7. Product Line

Product line is a collection of similar or related products that may be under a single brand manufactured by the same company. It may include different varieties of a specific product of a brand which comes in different categories. In other cases, the product line may differ in some characteristics despite being from the same manufacturer.

Here's how sales promotion managers use product line:

Managed sales and accounts, and participated proactively in the development of a new, $1,500,000 product line, Motions.
Coordinated the showroom set-up market week when customers came in to preview new product lines.

8. Press Releases

Here's how sales promotion managers use press releases:

Press releases were published in 35 publications and company products were featured on two magazine covers.
Worked the grassroots trades nationwide: wrote and placed promotional places/press releases nationwide.

9. Promotional Events

A promotional event is a specialized marketing event to gain public attention towards a certain product. Promotional events include product demonstrations, marketing policies, special events like consumer rewards and discounts. The goal of a promotional event is to raise public awareness of a product or a brand.

Here's how sales promotion managers use promotional events:

Managed sales and promotional operations, organized promotional events and executed branding strategies yielding profits exceeding projected goals.
Coordinated and managed promotional events for this growing production company specializing in distribution events for liquor and spirits.

10. Graphic Design

Graphic design is the art of making visual content to communicate messages. Designers apply different page layout methods and visual hierarchy by using letters and pictures to meet the need of end-users. Most companies use graphic design to sell their product or services and to convey complicated information by using infographics.

Here's how sales promotion managers use graphic design:

Directed the activities of outside agencies, copy, photography, graphic design, POP display and printing sources.
Coordinated and oversaw photography, graphic design and A/V productions.

11. Sales Support

Sales support refers to a variety of functions that help sales reps focus on selling and closing deals. Sales support performs a variety of tasks that result in faster sales cycles, lower costs, and higher revenue. Sales support tasks include interviewing and tracking sales leads, matching offers to sales packages, monitoring sales and sales team performance, collecting sales data, providing training and customer service, and managing customers.

Here's how sales promotion managers use sales support:

Led sales support functions to drive revenue growth and achieve budget expectations, successfully coordinating sales and promotion program execution.
Designed new processing flow to minimize call time, debug system, and trained 50-60 sales support representatives quarterly.

12. Event Planning

Here's how sales promotion managers use event planning:

Developed and executed all business and consumer communications, event planning and strategic marketing re- search.
Headed new item introductions, facilitated identification of promotion and cross-merchandising opportunities, guided promotions, and provided event planning.

13. Customer Relations

Here's how sales promotion managers use customer relations:

Interviewed and selected new-hires for Customer Relations Representatives.
Managed customer relationships in seven-state sales territory.

14. Facebook

Here's how sales promotion managers use facebook:

Created and Develop a framework of integrated digital solutions to drive traffic, buzz volume and increase communities on Facebook.
Developed and maintained the company website Oversaw the company advertising through various social media outlets such as Myspace and Facebook.

15. Creative Development

Here's how sales promotion managers use creative development:

Supervised the creative development and promotion for Avon's skin care, hair care and toiletries business.
Oversee the design, creative development and production of value added packaging initiatives.

What skills help Sales Promotion Managers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on sales promotion manager resumes?

Adry S. Clark Ph.D.

Director, Western Oregon University

The skills that stand out on resumes fall into two categories: 1) Skills required to do the job and 2) Skills almost all employers look for. The most important aspect of resumes is to make sure it reflects exactly what the employer needs. Study the job description, identify key skills, and have them reflected on your resume. Think about transferrable skills, not the specific roles you've had.

Most employers look for skills such as communication (written/oral), flexibility, proactivity, problem-solving, project management, and technical. Make sure to cultivate those skills in whatever role you have, and have examples that demonstrate those skills.

What soft skills should all sales promotion managers possess?

Andrea Dixon Ph.D.

Executive Director, Center for Professional Selling, Frank and Floy Smith Holloway Endowed Professorship in Marketing, President, University Sales Center Alliance 2019-2021, Baylor University

Since sales professionals have a lot of information available to them today via customer relationship management (CRM) systems, the sales manager's "supervisory" role is less important (especially for experienced sellers). Consequently, the sales manager needs to be more of a coach and enabler of high performance. Having confidence balanced with humility allows the sales manager to engage more effectively with their salespeople.
One of the critical soft skills for sales managers going forward will be the ability to connect members of the sales team to others in the organization - in other words, the sales manager of the future needs to have strong skills in network building for others. Sellers have access to data which helps them build success.
They also need access to the right people to turn to when they need specific expertise or assistance.

What hard/technical skills are most important for sales promotion managers?

Andrea Dixon Ph.D.

Executive Director, Center for Professional Selling, Frank and Floy Smith Holloway Endowed Professorship in Marketing, President, University Sales Center Alliance 2019-2021, Baylor University

One of the growing technical skill requirements for sales managers is in the area of data analytics. Our performance and customer systems provide a myriad of data, and the role of the sales manager is to be a sense-maker of that mound of data. What are the implications for changes in strategy or behavior evident in last quarter's activity? How can the sales manager help a specific seller "see" where the data suggest new approaches?

What sales promotion manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Kerri Orders

Assistant Professor of Business, Aquinas College

In terms of a gap year, I recommend that international business students acquire tangible skills, relevant experience and/or certifications which will enhance their success in their desired area of interest. For example, a gap year could consist of gaining technical or digital training overseas, which would also further the students' cultural intelligence and language proficiency. These types of enriching gap year experiences will assist students to distinguish themselves in a highly competitive market. Furthermore, students should focus on broadening and maintaining their global network during a gap year in order to be ready for the job market once the gap year is concluded.

What type of skills will young sales promotion managers need?

Michael Mikitka

Executive Vice President, MHI – Material Handling Industry

Courses and internships are essential. While the required depth of knowledge may vary from one position to another, employers are generally looking for candidates with strong "people-related" skills, those who are willing to continue to learn, and those with the ability to be flexible and adapt.

By "people-related" skills, I mean the abilities associated with effective communication (listen and express ideas and direction) and the skills related to working independently and a team.

As for the interest to continually learn... from a technology, data, and equipment perspective, today's supply chain looks very different than it did 10-years ago. The willingness and ability to continually learn are essential for anyone in a leadership role.

As for flexibility and adapting...supply chain/logistics is as much about responding to disruption and demand as it is planning for it. There is a predictable demand (i.e., seasonal...everyone knows when back-to-school shopping begins). Then there is the unpredictable demand (i.e., power-outages, wildfires, pandemic) that impact market and the ability to operate. Candidates that express flexibility and problem-solving skills will be much sought-after.

Do you want to know more?

List of sales promotion manager skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a sales promotion manager resume and required skills for a sales promotion manager to have include:

Product Knowledge
Sales Promotions
Trade Shows
Promotional Materials
POS
Promotional Campaigns
Product Line
Press Releases
Promotional Events
Graphic Design
Sales Support
Event Planning
Customer Relations
Facebook
Creative Development

ROI
Business Development
Inventory Control
Sales Associates
Gross Profit
Training Programs
Sales Presentations
Promotional Efforts
PowerPoint
Promotional Concepts
Sales Volume
Business Relationships
Sales Revenue
Product Sales
Client Relationships

Product Development
Sales Strategies
Sales Growth
Incentive Programs
Sales Performance
Corporate Accounts
Web Site
Promotional Programs
Sales People
Travel Arrangements
Corporate Sponsors
Retail Store
Promotional Strategies

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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