Multimedia Account Executive (Advertising Sales)
LINK Media publishes LINK nky — covering Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties — and Cincinnati CityBeat, the region's arts and culture alt-weekly. We're a small, in-market company where the person selling the ad can walk over and talk to the person writing the story. We're building something fast and need someone who finds that energizing.
About the role
We're looking for an Advertising Account Executive to sell print, digital, social, and event sponsorships across both publications. This role involves daily calls and meetings to close business, networking across NKY and Cincinnati, and collaborating with production and accounting to ensure ads run on time and are invoiced correctly. You’ll provide consultative service to retain advertisers and bring creative sponsorship ideas to the table.
Compensation
Months 1–9: A straight base salary of $45,000 – $50,000, depending on experience. You're learning two markets and building a book.
Month 10 forward: 20% commission against a non-recoverable draw. The draw acts as a guaranteed monthly floor—if your commission falls short, you keep the draw and never pay it back. If you exceed it, you keep the full commission with no cap. Anticipated first-year earnings: $60,000 – $75,000. Top performers exceed this range.
Everything is negotiable for the right candidate, especially if you bring a book of business or a decade of market relationships. Full benefits begin after a probationary period.
Responsibilities
- Sell print, digital, social, and event sponsorships daily—actual closed business, not just relationship-building
- Network across NKY and Cincinnati to find new prospects and introduce LINK nky and CityBeat
- Communicate clearly with production and accounting to ensure ads run on time and are invoiced correctly
- Provide consultative service to retain advertisers and sponsors
- Pitch creative sponsorship packages for our content areas and events
- Maintain honest, ethical treatment of teammates, advertisers, and sponsors
Requirements
- B2B sales experience or formal sales training
- Proposal creation experience—you can build a pitch, not just deliver one
- Creativity to craft packages where a rate card doesn’t exist
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Comfort with a CRM and the discipline to keep it updated
- A driver’s license and a car—this is not a remote or Zoom job
No degree is required, though one in business or marketing may be helpful.
Benefits
- Full medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
- PTO and paid holidays
- All necessary equipment provided
- Training and support on LINK’s internal style and culture
- Direct access to leadership in a small, collaborative environment
Your First Year
- Months 1–3: Learn products, markets, and rate cards. Shadow existing accounts, build your prospect list, and close your first deals.
- Months 4–9: Own your book—handle your own meetings, proposals, and renewals to build a pipeline for commission.
- Month 10 forward: Commission structure begins. Pitch and own sponsorship concepts for print special issues, events, and newsletters.
Mission and Guiding Principles
Mission: LINK Media strengthens vibrant communities through independent, sustainable local journalism.
Guiding Principles:
- Solutions-Focused: We dig deeper to inform our audience about how our community might solve its biggest issues.
- Unapologetic Community Fans: We believe in our community’s potential and play an active role in its advancement.
- Inclusive: We explore issues affecting all readers and amplify diverse voices across economic, political, geographic, and other spectrums.
- Good Stewards: We responsibly manage resources to maintain a sustainable business model for long-term community service.
- Independent: We do not endorse or publish our own opinions on community issues. Instead, we provide robust debate through clearly marked outside viewpoints.