Account Manager

What is an Account Manager and what do they do?

An Account Manager is a professional responsible for managing relationships with a company's existing customers or clients. Sometimes this role is referred to as a "farmer" instead of a "hunter".  In some sales roles people will want you to be a "sales hunter", expecting you to chase new business or cold call. Whereas in a "farmer" role, there is no new business chasing, rather you are managing the accounts that your business already have a relationship with.

Their main role is to ensure that the customers' needs and expectations are met and to foster long-term relationships with them.

To achieve this, an Account Manager typically performs tasks such as:

• Developing a deep understanding of the customers' businesses and needs.
• Acting as the primary point of contact between the customers and the company, handling inquiries and addressing any concerns or issues.
• Providing product or service demonstrations and training to customers to help them maximize the value of their investment.
• Collaborating with other departments within the company, such as sales, marketing, and customer support, to ensure that the customers' needs are met.
• Developing and implementing strategies to retain existing customers and identify opportunities for upselling or cross-selling.
• Reporting on customer satisfaction, sales, and other key performance indicators (KPIs) to management.

Overall, an Account Manager is a critical link between a company and its customers, working to ensure that the customers' needs are met and that they remain loyal to the company over the long term.