A space marketer gets satellites into the sky by selling them and other
space-related technology to large companies.
Space marketers sell space products, such as Earth-imaging systems. These
are systems that translate raw data sent from satellites and display it as
computer-friendly pictures.
Space marketers write proposals to customers to tell them about new space
products.
"A proposal is an official document that sells and promotes our solution
to a customer and promises to provide it for a price," says space marketer
Michael DeSandolis. This document has to be convincing, easy to read and appealing.
A space marketer coordinates the efforts of other people, like writers,
graphic artists and video producers, who produce marketing material and proposals.
"Space marketers work for all sizes of companies, from small, five-person
firms producing some specific product to gigantic aerospace companies of 100,000
employees," says DeSandolis.
The majority of space marketers work for large aerospace corporations.
Some now work for freelance marketing agencies that sell their services back
to corporations. People freelance because companies have outsourced this work.
Work is always done in an office setting. "Offices can be located almost
anywhere, often in boring industrial parks near airports," says DeSandolis.
"Some of the more memorable locales are in Europe -- Versailles, just outside
London, on the beach of Cannes, in the hills overlooking Rome -- all still
offices, though."
Work hours vary since the market is global. Marketers have to work whenever
they're needed. "I have to get up early to talk to people in Europe," says
Brian Leadlay, a space marketer. "I stay late for others." Writing proposals
can also mean working extra hours.
Usually space marketers work five days per week. When international travel
is required, however, work extends into late nights and weekends.
This is not a physically strenuous job. "Just normal office work and travel
abroad," notes DeSandolis. A physically challenged person could do this job.
Space marketers must understand how products are made and how they work.
They must also be able to convince others to buy them. "Space marketers aren't
regular salespeople, because it's not regular people who buy satellites and
space equipment," says Linda Simpson, a marketing assistant for an aerospace
company. Rather, they are selling specialized products to large corporations.
"This job provides me with a view into a very high-technology field, which
I enjoy very much," says DeSandolis.
Selling usually means knowing the right people. "The space industry is
fairly small and rather elitist," says Leadlay. "You have to be known around
the district."
This makes it hard to get started in this career, with the result that
most space marketers are 35 or older. "It takes maturity to handle dealing
with large corporations and government agencies," adds Leadlay.
Space marketers usually work for different companies during their career.
"You have to be able to move to where the work is," says Leadlay. "With any
sort of ambition to advance in this industry, you will probably have to move
long distances or immigrate to a new country."
Space marketers must have lots of self-confidence.
One of the rewards of this field is that it allows people to see the newest
technologies for space. "It has let me be a part of mankind's ventures into
space," says DeSandolis.