Last updated: January 2026
In this article: Uncover Insights | Think Like Executives | Improve Efficiency | Get Comfortable Presenting | Document Your Wins | Build Sales Relationships | Respond Quickly | Outwork Everyone | FAQs
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You’re a marketing coordinator approaching your second annual review. You’ve been getting great feedback, people like working with you, and you received the standard 3-4% raise at your one-year mark. This time, you’re hoping for more—a promotion, title change, and significant raise.
But the review comes and goes. Good feedback, another small increase, and the usual “great job, keep it up.” You’re left wondering: what’s it going to take?
Moving up requires more than doing your job well. If you’re not doing above-average work, actively improving your skills, and achieving visible results, you’ll likely remain in the same role longer than you’d like.
Here are eight strategies that can help you advance your marketing career faster.
1. Uncover Significant Insights
If you discover something from a marketing perspective that nobody else has found, you’ll immediately set yourself apart from colleagues who stick to day-to-day thinking.
This might mean:
- Discovering a new profitable audience segment
- Finding a landing page that isn’t converting and figuring out what would work better
- Identifying a tactic that increases social media engagement by 3x
Many people are too busy (or too lazy) to dig deep into the data and find something interesting. If you can uncover meaningful insights and bring them to leadership, they’ll take note of the initiative and critical thinking required to reach the next level.
2. Think Like the Executive Team
When you can walk into meetings with company leaders and speak knowledgeably about the business, you earn their trust—especially if you’re consistent. Too often, people at lower levels freeze up because they’re nervous or show up unprepared.
A few tips:
- Treat them as regular people. Don’t freeze up because they’re higher on the org chart. They’ll take you more seriously if you speak directly and confidently about your subject.
- Over-prepare. Put in extra preparation for meetings with executives who have decision-making power.
- Think big picture. Focus on the business overall, not just your area. When leadership discusses promotions, they’ll remember who demonstrated strategic thinking.
3. Make Things More Efficient
Save the company time, and leaders will look out for you. If you implement a new report, process, or tool that saves people time, you become an immediate asset.
When data takes forever to pull together, or processes run inefficiently, the business wastes time in the weeds instead of making decisions that actually move the needle.
As a marketing professional, go the extra mile and create something new—even if it’s outside your job description. Build something you can show your boss and say, “Here’s what I created and how it will save everyone time and effort.”
Write these things down. You’ll need them to support your case for a promotion.
4. Get Comfortable Presenting
The ability to sell yourself is crucial in most jobs, but presenting is especially important in marketing—whether to clients, vendors, or internal leadership.
People who can comfortably communicate information in meetings appear more knowledgeable and prepared. They’re often the ones who get promoted. Leaders look for future leaders with traits like confidence, charisma, the ability to inspire others, and overall preparedness.
If presenting doesn’t come naturally, practice. Volunteer to lead meetings, present campaign results, or pitch ideas. The more you do it, the more comfortable you’ll become.
5. Document Your Big Wins
It’s powerful to walk into a review with specific accomplishments and how they directly affected the business.
Did you make an optimization in a digital campaign that generated $200,000 in incremental sales? If you have proof written down, that’s leverage when asking for a promotion or raise.
Most people don’t do this—which is exactly why you should. Marketing can feel intangible because you can’t always correlate every decision with results. But from a digital standpoint, make sure your tracking is solid so you can connect your decisions to outcomes.
Keep a running list of:
- Campaign optimizations and their results
- Major projects you completed
- Process improvements you implemented
- Any other high-impact initiatives
6. Build Relationships with the Sales Team
The best marketers have strong relationships with sales. Keep an open line of communication with sales reps who interact directly with the marketing you’re putting out.
You can look at numbers all day, but you also need qualitative information to understand the real issues.
Example: Imagine a high-end furniture store where marketing targets people in their late teens and early twenties. Sales reps will deal with customers who walk in and leave quickly once they realize the cheapest sofa costs $3,000. As a marketer, taking the initiative to talk with sales reps and identify these issues creates trust and true collaboration.
That collaborative mindset will boost your career and reputation because you’re thinking like a leader.
7. Be Fast with Replies
Nothing is worse than sending emails or making calls and feeling like you’re talking to a brick wall. Leaders are trusted to be reliable and quick with follow-ups because, in times of crisis, they’re the ones people turn to.
If you want to advance your marketing career, master fast communication. You can’t keep marking emails as unread and accidentally forgetting about them.
Even if you can’t complete a task right away, reply with: “Confirming receipt. Focusing on a few urgent tasks right now, but I’m on it and will follow up shortly.”
A quick reply lets people know you’re paying attention and reliable. If you take forever to respond or often forget things, you’ll stay stuck in your position longer than you’d like.
Helpful habits:
- Put your mobile number in your email signature as an alternative contact
- Organize your inbox into subfolders to avoid missing things
- Put your work email on your phone so you’re always accessible
8. Be the Hardest Worker
The person with a reputation as a slacker won’t be the one getting promoted. Current leaders look for future leaders with certain qualities—and work ethic is near the top of the list.
Marketing is not an easy field. There are tons of nuances, and things are always changing. To keep up and stay ahead of everyone else, you have to outwork them. There’s no simple formula or shortcut. Put in consistent effort, and you will reach the next level.
Key Takeaways
Leaders in any company are looking for marketing people who:
- Communicate effectively
- Work efficiently and improve processes
- Make a measurable impact through hard work
- Think strategically about the business
- Are reliable and responsive
Start your journey to moving up in marketing—check out available opportunities on our job board.
FAQs About Advancing Your Marketing Career
How long should I stay in a marketing role before expecting a promotion?
Typically, 18-24 months is a reasonable timeframe to demonstrate results and earn a promotion. However, this varies by company size and culture. Focus on accomplishments rather than just time served—if you’ve delivered significant results in 12 months, that’s worth discussing with your manager.
What skills are most important for advancing in marketing?
The most valuable skills for career advancement include data analysis, strategic thinking, presentation skills, and cross-functional collaboration. Technical skills like marketing automation, analytics platforms, and digital advertising are also increasingly important at all levels.
Should I specialize or be a generalist to advance faster?
It depends on your goals. Specialists often command higher salaries in their niche, while generalists have more flexibility and are often better suited for leadership roles. Early in your career, gaining broad experience is usually beneficial. As you advance, developing deep expertise in one or two areas can set you apart.
How do I ask for a promotion in marketing?
Come prepared with documented accomplishments and their business impact. Schedule a dedicated meeting (not your regular review) to discuss your career path. Be specific about what you want and why you’ve earned it. If a promotion isn’t possible immediately, ask what you need to do to get there and establish a timeline.
Is it better to get promoted internally or switch companies?
Both paths work. Internal promotions often come with smaller salary increases but provide continuity and institutional knowledge. Switching companies typically results in larger salary jumps (10-20%+) and can accelerate your title progression. Many marketers alternate between the two strategies throughout their careers.
How important is networking for marketing career advancement?
Very important. Building relationships both inside and outside your company opens doors to opportunities, mentorship, and industry knowledge. Internally, relationships with leadership and cross-functional teams directly impact promotion decisions. Externally, a strong network can lead to job opportunities and professional development.
