Launching an Advertising Career in a Now Now Now World.

Sony and Ericsson are teaming up to offer mobile television. Apple's beloved iPod is about to get a cellular makeover. Video game consoles duke it out for supremacy in the entertainment world. And Skype (the world's favorite VoIP software) will no longer require a computer. If you're looking to launch an advertising career in today's now now now world, train your sights on personal mobile technology. After all, this is where all the consumers are looking.

What You'll Need for an Advertising Career

In the 21st century, advertising will be a far cry from the campy radio spots that your grandparents may have grown up with. Our attention spans are almost nonexistent in today's high-powered IT world. Most of us lack the cinematic endurance to watch epics like Gone with the Wind. We flit from fad to fad in nanoseconds. In order to launch a successful advertising career in this type of environment, you must know how to successfully exploit technology and harness it for immediate impact.

This means that in addition to studying Web copy, marketing, public relations, accounting, and business administration, you will also need to develop fluency in information technology. Telecommunications, computer science, graphic design, computer programming, and networking are all relevant to today's advertising field.

Selecting an Advertising Program

If you're serious about launching an advertising career, make sure you research programs that offer extensive coursework in non-advertising disciplines; namely the IT-dependent areas mentioned above. Snazzy ideas, creative Web copy, and in-depth market research won't take you very far if you lack the technical prowess to reach consumers tuning in on their Skype phones, iPods, and video game consoles.

When it comes to advertising, the message truly is the medium.

Sources
IT Wire Australia
Jakarta Post
The Register
The Star