Sales Manager Wanted: More About the Job
We are looking for a Sales Manager (full-time; see job posting) to support our agency in selling its services. Read this article to take a closer look at the job and decide whether you would like to apply.
About svaerm
One useful way to describe our agency’s positioning is with the metaphor of a “T-shaped agency.”
The horizontal bar of the letter “T” stands for the breadth of our service portfolio. As an online marketing agency, we offer SEO, content marketing, web design, WordPress development, website relaunches, social media, video production, podcasts, and much more. Together with our sister agency Mai Communications, which specializes in strategic and creative communications, we can provide all the online and offline services of a full-service agency.
The vertical bar of the “T” stands for the depth of our expertise in specific areas. One of our core strengths is creating SEO content that is precisely aligned with the search intent and information needs of target audiences, making it visible online. Another USP is our dedicated expertise as a website relaunch agency.
Our focus is on quality and a high degree of customization – not high-volume business, standardized packages, or competing on the lowest price. This is also reflected in our identity as a “boutique” agency: We work with only a small number of carefully selected clients, allowing us to support them in a highly personal, focused, and customized way.
Our Product
Although our services cover both breadth and depth, most projects share a common denominator: Our “product” is online visibility.
We find the intersection between the requirements of our clients, their target groups, and online platforms. That is exactly where our work begins: We help supply and demand find each other online in a targeted way.
This is how we generate relevant leads and business inquiries for clients from various industries, especially in B2B and in the marketing of products that require detailed explanation.
Why This Job Was Created
svaerm’s in-house team currently consists of:
- Online marketing managers and project managers
- Online marketing specialist teams (e.g., SEO, social media)
- Editorial and copywriting
- Creative team
- Programmers and developers
So far, many of our client relationships have started through word of mouth and through the quality of our work, which speaks for itself. In addition, we use SEO content marketing to generate inbound inquiries.
The next step is to grow and further professionalize our sales: with a dedicated Sales Manager who centrally coordinates our sales activities and systematically follows up on inbound inquiries. We also want to improve how we address non-specialist decision-makers with a business background.
What You’ll Do
- Build and structure sales activities for online marketing services
- Scale our sales activities in collaboration with the marketing team
- Manage inbound inquiries
- Research and prequalify business clients (outbound)
- Schedule expert calls and consultation calls
- Identify individual needs and prepare rebriefings
- Prepare customized project proposals based on client requirements
- Analysis and reporting
- Develop new sales initiatives
- Contribute your own ideas and initiatives to sales
- Coordinate with clients, service providers, and colleagues
Your Responsibility and Authority
You will be responsible for building our Sales department in close coordination with the managing directors. You will build on our existing sales strategy and continue to develop it.
You will prepare project estimates together with our project management team and report directly to the managing directors. You will collaborate with our marketing team and coordinate cross-departmental priorities and activities.
You will consult with the managing directors on the sales budget, with the prospect of expanding your budget and team responsibility in the future.
Our Sales Strategy
Our sales approach to date has been based on SEO content in the form of landing pages and blog posts that rank organically in search engines and generate online visibility and leads. AI chatbots also pick up our content and write about our services.
In addition, descriptions of past agency projects and client reviews create social proof that helps convert leads.
Note: In the past, we tried working with external cold-calling providers. After several test pilots failed to deliver results, we discontinued this form of cold calling.
How We Measure Success
Sales success depends on the number and budgets of closed deals.
Opportunities and Challenges
| Opportunities | Challenges |
| + Great product with a unique approach and USP | – Product requires explanation |
| + Success stories from past projects and case studies | – Advisory-intensive support for clients who are sometimes outside the field |
| + High degree of customization promises major value for clients | – Lack of quality awareness: bad, cheap providers win out (adverse selection) |
| + Inbound marketing is increasingly gaining ground over outbound | – Some marketing budgets are low, decision processes are slow, and risk tolerance is limited |
| + AI chatbots are a growing additional channel for online visibility | – Some assume AI replaces agencies or lowers costs |
How the Application Process Works
Open our job posting and apply as described.
Our managing directors review your application, requests any missing documents if needed, and invites you to an interview onsite or via video call.
After that, we will inform you about next steps, such as another interview or a trial workday.
Questions and Answers
What language skills are required?
Our clients speak German and English. You therefore need native-level proficiency in one of the two languages and at least business-fluent proficiency in the other.
How is the role compensated?
Your compensation depends on the value you bring to the agency. Our managing directors consider various factors, such as your qualifications, the scope of your professional experience, and your industry expertise.
Is remote work possible?
Please discuss this question with our managing directors. At svaerm, all working models are generally possible by agreement. What matters to us is sales success and intrinsic motivation, not your physical location.
Is there on-the-job training or professional development?
Your colleagues will be happy to help you familiarize yourself with our agency and internal workflows. However, you should bring your own sales expertise.
Where needed and where there is interest, we support you with online courses, access to industry conferences, and similar opportunities.
What should I include in my application?
Please include relevant certificates, transcripts, and references from school, university, and previous roles. If you have samples of past work, feel free to attach those as well.
If you have any questions, you can always reach out to us by email or phone.
