What does a Media Buyer do?
Media buyers often work for advertising agencies and individual companies to purchase advertising space in various mediums including print, outdoor, broadcast, and online outlets. They negotiate with advertising sales agents and representatives to acquire the most cost-efficient and budget-conscious advertising space for their companies, and they also negotiate sponsorships and product placement.
Media buyers develop and foster ongoing relationships with their clients to better understand their needs, wants, and budgets and to research available possibilities that match their clients’ budgets and price points. Using research data and considering factors including trends that support the most effective advertising strategy within a client's budget, media buyers negotiate with sales agents and consult with clients. While some media buyers have a specialty, most can provide iInsight across the entire media spectrum. Media buyers need a bachelor’s degree with a focus on advertising, marketing, or sales.
- Build relationships and maintain ongoing communications with media representatives.
- Collaborate with team members in creating full-funnel integrated marketing campaigns across all channels.
- Communicate directly with clients on performance, optimization and projects.
- Traffic and execute audience extension and other campaigns spanning multiple media channels.
- Manage paid social media ad budgets, making adjustments to ensure KPIs are hitting goals.
- Assist in the performance maximization of campaigns across existing and emerging social platforms.
- Responsible for overseeing all campaign tracking set-up and implementation before launch of a campaign, with support from other teams.
- Ensure strict adherence to client budgets while meeting client objectives.
- Deliver campaign performance projections and analysis with eye towards future implications.
- Maintain all aspects of the media plan, including establishing media objectives and strategies, develop recommendations, tracking media expenditures to ensure budget compliance, negotiation/buying, implementation and optimization.
- Create and submit briefs to provide creative insights and feedback based on business needs.
- Build recurring and ad hoc client reports and internal account analysis that are both performance and creative development-driven.
- Bachelor's Degree in business administration.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office, especially Excel.
- Experienced with Google Analytics and AdWords.
- Basic understanding of retargeting techniques.
- Strong multitasking and problem-solving abilities.
How much does a Media Buyer make?
Base Pay
Additional Pay
$84,989
/ yrMedia Buyer Career Path
Learn how to become a Media Buyer, what skills and education you need to succeed, and what level of pay to expect at each step on your career path.
Years of Experience Distribution
Media Buyer Insights
PMP Marketing Group“I started after college and the team was willing and happy to teach me what I needed to know.”
Icon Media Direct“Its a great department to grow in but be prepared to have work/life balance issues.”
Sagora Senior Living “Love working with my team everyday and getting to do what we do for our communities each week!”
Carat“salary is not the best but good”
“Team work and the enviroment is extremly good”
ICON International“There is absolutely no communication if there is an issue how you are doing your job.”
Spigot“If you have the opportunity to work here I would highly recommend you take it.”
Truly Beauty“Clear feedback from my manager has helped me to meet and exceed expectations.”
Frequently asked questions about the roles and responsibilities of a Media Buyer
- Purchasing Agent
- Purchasing Analyst
- Buyer
- Media Coordinator