How to Become a Media Planner

About Media Planner

Media Planners are also referred to as brand strategists, market researchers, brand planners, and specialists. The main job of the media planners is to analyze, interpret, handling the advertising data of their clients in improving their advertising campaigns efficiently. These media planners make use of mathematical formulas to determine and analyze which marketing campaign will be fruitful for them. Students who want to make it big in the field of media planning should hold a bachelor's or master's degree in market research, math, business, or a related field to grab lucrative job offers. Media Planning Profession is estimated to grow more in the future creating enough job opportunities and competition among the young talents.

Eligibility to become Media Planner

Here are the eligibility requirements for Media Planner along with the experience required, skills, certification, etc.

Types of Job Roles Media Planner

Mentioned below are the job roles available for students in Media Planning. 

• Marketing planner: $60,000
• Media strategist: $53,849
• Communications planner: $48,574

The major job role of a Media Planner is to:

• To stay updated with the latest media trends and new technological developments.
• To analyze the key strengths and weaknesses of several media sources.
• To determine the long and short-term effects of different media sources.

Employment Sector/Industry for Media Planner

• The major task of media planners is analyzing the target markets and searching for effective platforms to reach out to potential customers.
• Constantly keeping an eye on competitors and having creative abilities while working on the ad campaigns.
• Media planners design a plan keeping in mind the advertising goals and client's requirements.
• Must possess good negotiation skills with media planners to avail better prices for their impression.
• They should be adaptable in making subsequent clients changes and must regularly identify new trends and standards in the market.
• To keep track of progress through updating spreadsheets regularly.

Pay Scale/Salary of Media Planner

A salary of a media planner varies based on the level of experience, education, area of expertise, certifications, and other factors. The salary of a media planner can range from INR 4 LPA to INR 8 LPA.

Books & Study Material to Become Media Planner

• Media Planning & Buying Principles & Practice In The Indian Context - by A. Menon
• The Indian Media Business  (English, Paperback, Kohli-Khandekar Vanita)
• The 22 Immutable Laws Of Marketing  (English, Paperback, Ries Al)

Pros of becoming a Media Planner

• Flexibility
• Widespread coverage
• Offers penetration
• Reader involvement
• Geographic and language selectivity
• High repetitive value and quick response
• Cheap media with high frequency

Cons of becoming a Media Planner

• Lack of sufficient information.
• Difficulty in drafting the communication message.
• Measuring effectiveness and optimization.
• Limited selectivity about lifestyles
• Regularly updated with latest trends.
• Clients Budget restrictions.
• Hard to reach illiterate and poor people
• Selecting a suitable platform for an ad campaign.