Business Development Manager
About the role
The primary role of the advertising Business Development Representative (BDR) is to provide integrated marketing solutions to current and prospective advertising partners. The position serves as an ambassador for businesses to learn about local and mainstream marketing platforms, advising clients on the best use of their marketing budget, and helping partners capture a share of the $1.6 billion in retail sales and $3.6 billion in real estate sales generated annually in Eagle County. Vail Daily is a free, full‑color daily newspaper read by 90% of visitors, second‑homeowners, and locals (over 69K people over 7 days), with an e‑edition and the #1 local website vaildaily.com. The sales team operates as a full‑service digital marketing agency, offering services such as SEO, email database growth, e‑commerce development, programmatic display and streaming TV, custom content for blogs and social media, and a magazine portfolio including Vail Valley Magazine, Beaver Creek Magazine, EAT, and Vail Valley HOME. As part of the Swift Communications family, the role can work with advertisers across sister publications in Aspen, Summit, Steamboat, Winter Park, Glenwood, and Park City, UT.
Responsibilities
- Develop new leads and uncover new business potential through networking, attending community events, and communicating frequently with clients to influence high‑level decision makers
- Work within a CRM to grow and advance the pipeline of new business, including new and upsell opportunities
- Identify key customer targets and sales objectives to increase territory sales, volume, and profit
- Identify 10 net new inactive prospects weekly and make phone calls, stop‑ins, or emails (preferably stop‑ins)
- Maintain relationships and grow partnerships with existing key accounts
- Prepare sales call objectives in advance, anticipate likely objections, understand motivations, and establish a relationship as a trusted advisor
- Use client needs analysis to listen to and learn about customers, then develop and present custom marketing solutions considering trends and changing market conditions
- Present logical, well‑organized arguments, presentations, data, and concrete business examples to clients and prospects
- Become a true expert of the Vail market, unique marketing solutions, and services that provide the most value locally, differentiating from industry competitors
- Collaborate with the Sales Team (peers), Account Management, Marketing, and Creative Services to identify and maximize sales opportunities
- Attend weekly 1‑on‑1 meetings with the Ad Director, coming prepared with written documentation
- Process ad orders and adhere to deadlines
- Meet or exceed monthly and annual sales targets
- Review ad lists and AR and sign off before month‑end billings
- Obtain the Our Promise agreement signed or an email with a clear ad schedule, run dates, and prices confirmed by the client
- Other duties and projects as assigned
Requirements
- College degree or equivalent sales experience
- 3 to 5 years of sales and marketing experience
- Valid driver's license with a clean driving record
Skills
- Knowledge of marketing and advertising solutions, including print, mobile, and digital
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Strong negotiation and presentation skills
Benefits
- Medical, dental, vision, life insurance after 60 days of employment
- $500 Recreation Bonus after 6 months
- 401k Plan after 1 year
Pay
$45,000 - $55,000 base salary plus commissions based on sales achievement.
Schedule
- In‑office policy: Tuesday – Thursday
- Weekly sales meetings in person (exceptions must be cleared by the Ad Director)