How to work as a manager on marketplaces: about the profession and career development

What to start with when working on marketplaces and what to do to grow successfully there — these are questions that most beginners ask themselves.

Today we will talk about the work of a manager on marketplaces. Who is this person and what do they do? Where to look for vacancies for this position and more 👉🏻 read in this article.

About the marketplace manager

A marketplace manager is a character in a “business movie” who helps sell products. They analyze the market and demand for products, communicate with customers, and do everything to ensure that the product sells well. The advantage is that this profession does not require extensive work experience, course certificates, or other niche skills.

What does a marketplace manager do?

Such specialists are very much in demand by businesses because they help owners save a lot of time.

Typically, a manager:

Works with product cards (creates and optimizes them);
Analyzes the market and competitors;
Works with customer support and processes reviews;
Manage shipping and logistics issues;
Set up advertising;
Etc.

The earnings of a marketplace manager directly depend on how many responsibilities they take on.

What does it take to become a marketplace manager?

Analytical skills and strategy building

ABC analysis;
Calculating the ROI of goods;
Working with analytical services;
Market research and analysis, identifying trends and determining demand.

Operational management

Working with FBO/FBS schemes;
Communicating with suppliers;
Resolving logistics issues and controlling product quantities;
Resolving misunderstandings with marketplaces.

Promotion

Setting up advertising;
Selecting keywords for SEO optimization;
A/B testing content and prices;
Working with external traffic channels.

Soft skills

Multitasking;
Adaptability to change, as the market evolves, algorithms change, and trends shift;
Attention to detail;
Business communication skills.

Career development: the path from junior to senior

No one wants to be a junior forever. You have to grow, right?

Everyone comes to the profession with different backgrounds. Some have been actively involved in marketing and have mastered all the necessary skills. Others are just trying their hand at it and trying to do something.

👶🏻 Junior:

Learns the basics of how marketplaces work;
Then practices and tries to put together something from what they’ve gathered (sets up cards, analyzes competitors, works with the advertising office);
Then moves on to the honorable position of intern or assistant manager 😉

He should be able to:

Work with Excel spreadsheets (we know that for some reason many people dislike this topic, so you can read about those ominous spreadsheets here);
Work with analytical services;
Understand at least a little bit about economic and logistical aspects;
Do basic copywriting and card design.

🧑🏻 Middle:

The kid has grown up and is no longer a junior (this usually takes 1-2 years). Once the specialist has mastered the basics, they begin to take on more responsibilities, including the sales cycle.

What they do:

Search for and purchase goods;
Communicate with suppliers;
Promote goods and set up advertising;
Analyze sales and generate reports.

The main task here is to develop deep analytical abilities, communication skills, and an understanding of how to manage logistics. The confused junior becomes a mid-level strategist 💪🏻.

👨🏻 Senior:

Now that’s a level up. After 3+ years of working on marketplaces, the once confused junior becomes a manager 🦾. Now he doesn’t just manage sales, he scales the business. He develops clear strategies to bring the brand to the top, manages the team, and engages in more professional promotion.

This is how we have conditionally depicted the approximate path from junior to senior. Of course, everyone’s development is individual. Some will be able to take off in a year, while others will tread water for 3 years. It all depends on you and your desire 💁🏻‍♀️.

Where can a marketplace manager find a job?

There are many sources for finding a job nowadays, but it is often possible to encounter scams and fake vacancies (especially those with the word “manager” in the title 🤫).\

Here is a selection of options where you can search for vacancies:

Job sites (Djinni, Happy Monday, Jobs DOU)
Social networks;
Telegram channels (there are many channels where good and verified vacancies are regularly posted).

Tip: Search everywhere and respond to many ads. Understand that it’s normal if nothing works out the first time. The basic practice is that 1 out of 100 vacancies will suit you, and that’s the one you’ll end up working at. The main thing is not to give up and keep searching 🕵️‍♀️

In summary

Marketplace manager is a good profession for those who want to try their hand at digital or those who already work in marketing but want something new. It’s great because it doesn’t require a lot of experience. Anyone can start and grow from a junior to a confident manager. 🙌🏻