Top Brand Manager for Hire

To make successful hires for the role of brand manager, it's crucial to evaluate candidates effectively and avoid costly hiring mistakes. Time constraints may prevent you from thoroughly reviewing resumes or conducting lengthy interviews with unqualified candidates. Therefore, you must establish a procedure that enables you to identify and recruit the most suitable candidate.

In this guide, we present a comprehensive approach that involves testing candidates' marketing competencies, professional experience, and essential personal qualities at every stage of the recruitment process, ensuring that you make the optimal marketing hires for your team.

Why hire a Brand Manager?

1. Want your brand to be as hot as a jalapeño pepper? Hire a brand manager to add the right amount of sizzle and spice to your branding efforts.

2. Tired of your brand being as dull as a Monday morning meeting? Hire a brand manager to inject some personality and pizzazz into your brand and turn it into the life of the party.

Deciding between a Full-Time Vs Freelance Brand Manager

Companies that do not need a full-time employee to handle their branding and image can avail the services of freelance brand managers who are available both online and in person. Freelancers may also be an excellent choice for businesses that require temporary management. By hiring freelance employees for specific hours, employers can save money on payroll expenses and employee benefits.

On the other hand, larger businesses that necessitate full-time branding management may find it more economical to employ a full-time manager. Full-time employees have a more significant degree of responsibility for their work and usually have a lower hourly rate than freelancers. This can result in significant cost savings for the employer in the long run.

Criterias to judge a Brand Manager

There are several criteria that can be used to judge a brand manager's work. Here are a few -

• Brand awareness: A brand manager's primary responsibility is to ensure that the brand is well-known and recognized in the market. Therefore, one criterion to judge their work is to measure the brand's awareness and recognition among the target audience. In the portfolio, look for signs where customers are engaging and propagating the brand.

• Brand loyalty: Another important criterion is to measure brand loyalty among customers. A brand manager's work should aim to create a strong emotional connection between the brand and its customers, which can result in higher customer loyalty.

• Sales growth: One of the primary objectives of a brand manager is to increase sales of the product or service. Therefore, an effective way to judge their work is to measure the sales growth of the brand over a period of time.

• Customer engagement: A brand manager's work should also focus on engaging customers and building a strong relationship with them. This can be measured by metrics such as social media engagement, email open rates, and customer feedback.

• Competitor analysis: A brand manager should also be aware of the competitive landscape and work towards ensuring that the brand stands out from its competitors. This can be measured by conducting regular competitor analysis to understand the strengths and weaknesses of competing brands.

What are the different variants of Brand Manager?

• Product Brand Manager: A product brand manager is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to promote a specific product or product line. They work to ensure that the product's branding and messaging are consistent with the company's overall branding strategy.

• Digital Brand Manager: A digital brand manager focuses on developing and implementing strategies to promote a company's brand through digital channels, such as social media, online advertising, and content marketing. They work to ensure that the company's online presence is consistent with its overall branding strategy.

• Corporate Brand Manager: A corporate brand manager is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to promote a company's overall brand and image. They work to ensure that the company's branding and messaging are consistent across all departments and business units.

• Brand Marketing Manager: A brand marketing manager is responsible for developing and implementing marketing strategies to promote a company's brand and increase brand awareness. They work closely with other departments to ensure that marketing campaigns are consistent with the company's overall branding strategy.

Skills to look for in a Brand Manager

An ideal Brand Manager candidate should possess the following skills, attributes, and relevant work experience that demonstrate -

• Proficiency in analyzing and interpreting data

• Ability to collaborate effectively with all departments

• Possession of an MBA or similar marketing certifications

• A data-driven approach to decision-making

• Excellent vendor and client management skills

• A keen sense of intuition towards future trends

Final deliverables you can expect from a Brand Manager

The final deliverables you can expect from a brand manager's work will depend on the specific objectives and goals of the brand, as well as the scope of the brand manager's responsibilities. However, here are some common deliverables that a brand manager might produce -

• Brand Strategy: A brand manager's primary responsibility is to develop and execute a comprehensive brand strategy. The final deliverable from their work will be a clear and well-defined brand strategy that outlines the brand's positioning, messaging, target audience, competitive differentiation, and overall direction.

• Brand Guidelines: Brand guidelines are a set of rules and standards that dictate how the brand should be presented across all touchpoints, including visual identity, tone of voice, messaging, and more. A brand manager's work should include developing brand guidelines that ensure consistency and coherence across all marketing and communication channels.

• Marketing Campaigns: A brand manager is responsible for creating and executing marketing campaigns that promote the brand and its products or services. The final deliverables from their work might include marketing plans, creative briefs, advertising copy, and media plans.

• Customer Research: A brand manager should be responsible for conducting customer research to understand the target audience and their needs, wants, and preferences. The final deliverable from their work might include customer personas, market research reports, and insights about consumer behavior.

• Content Strategy: Content is an essential component of any brand's marketing strategy. A brand manager's work should include developing a content strategy that aligns with the brand's messaging and positioning. The final deliverables from their work might include content calendars, editorial plans, and content briefs.

• Performance Metrics: A brand manager's work should include setting performance metrics and KPIs to measure the success of the brand's marketing initiatives. The final deliverable from their work might include reports and dashboards that show the brand's progress towards its goals.

Overall, the final deliverables from a brand manager's work should enable the brand to communicate its message effectively, connect with its target audience, differentiate itself from competitors, and achieve its business objectives.

What not to expect from a Brand Manager?

While a brand manager is responsible for managing and promoting a brand, there are certain things that you should not expect them to do. Here are some examples -

• Sales: While a brand manager's work can contribute to sales growth, they are not responsible for direct sales or revenue generation. Their primary focus is on building and promoting the brand, rather than closing deals or generating revenue.

• Product Development: A brand manager's work should focus on promoting the brand and its existing products or services, rather than developing new products. While they may provide feedback and insights about product development, they are not responsible for creating or designing new products.

• Customer Service: While a brand manager's work should focus on creating positive customer experiences, they are not responsible for providing customer service or support. This is typically the responsibility of customer service representatives or a dedicated customer support team.

• Financial Management: While a brand manager's work can impact the financial performance of the brand, they are not responsible for financial management, budgeting, or accounting. These responsibilities typically fall under the purview of a finance or accounting team.

Common pitfalls while hiring a Brand Manager

Hiring a brand manager is a critical decision that can impact the success of your brand. Here are some common mistakes to avoid while hiring a brand manager -

• Focusing too much on experience: While experience is important, focusing solely on a candidate's experience may not be the best approach. Look for candidates who have the right skill set and a passion for your brand. Consider candidates who may have less experience but demonstrate a willingness to learn and grow.

• Ignoring soft skills: While technical skills are essential, soft skills such as communication, collaboration, and leadership are just as important. Look for candidates who have a balance of both technical and soft skills.

• Overlooking industry-specific knowledge: While general marketing and branding skills are essential, it's also important to look for candidates who have experience in your industry. Look for candidates who have a strong understanding of your industry's trends, challenges, and opportunities.

By avoiding these common mistakes and taking a strategic approach to hiring a brand manager, you can increase your chances of finding the right candidate who will help take your brand to the next level.

How much does a Brand Manager charge

The cost of hiring a brand manager can vary depending on several factors such as experience, location, industry, and the scope of the work. Generally, a brand manager can charge an hourly rate or a fixed fee for their services.

According to the website PayScale, the average salary for a brand manager in the United States is around $73,000 per year. However, this can vary widely depending on the size and type of the organization, the industry, and the level of experience of the brand manager.

Some brand managers may charge an hourly rate ranging from $50 to $200 per hour, while others may charge a fixed fee ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 for a branding project. It's essential to discuss the scope of work and the fees upfront to avoid any misunderstandings or surprises.

Ultimately, the cost of hiring a brand manager will depend on the complexity of the project, the experience of the brand manager, and the industry standards. It's important to do your research, get several quotes, and compare the services and fees of different brand managers before making a decision.

FAQs to ask a Brand Manager before hiring

Here are some topics to cover -

1. What metrics do you use to measure the success of a branding campaign? How do you analyze data to improve future campaigns?

2. Can you give an example of a time when you faced a difficult branding challenge and how you resolved it?

You can also ask them innovative questions just to test their caliber.

1. Pitch our company to me as if I were buying our product/service.

2. What is your definition of hard work?

3. What project would you consider your most significant career accomplishment to date?

By asking these types of questions, you can get a better understanding of a candidate's experience, skills, and thought process, which can help you make a more informed decision about whether they are the right fit for your brand.