Blog | Staffing

What is a marketing assistant?

By Anna Taylor | Updated: 20 Jun, 2025

Marketing teams have a lot on their plates. From strategy and campaign execution to analytics and reporting, they have no choice but to juggle projects—trying to keep competing priorities moving simultaneously.  

This is where a marketing assistant comes in. 

A marketing assistant is the glue that holds the marketing function together. They manage the behind-the-scenes work that makes everything else possible: scheduling, research, content uploads, reporting, and so much more.  

Whether you're building your first marketing team or looking for support to help your current team scale, a marketing assistant (or even better, a marketing virtual assistant) can be a game-changing addition. 

Table of Contents

What Does a Marketing Assistant Do? 

A marketing assistant serves as the operational backbone of marketing teams, handling everything from administrative tasks to execution and project coordination. Think of them as the Swiss Army knife of marketing—versatile, reliable, and essential for day-to-day success. Marketing assistants wear many hats, seamlessly transitioning from managing schedules and preparing reports to coordinating campaigns and conducting research.  

These professionals bridge the gap between strategy and execution, ensuring that brilliant marketing ideas actually make it to market on time and within budget. They free up senior marketers to focus on high-level focus tasks like creative strategy, data analysis, and relationship building by taking ownership of the tactical elements that keep campaigns moving forward.  

Let's break down the key responsibilities. 

1. Marketing Administrative Work 

At its core, a marketing assistant functions like an executive or administrative assistant specifically for the marketing team. They're responsible for a wide range of administrative tasks that keep the department organized and efficient. These day-to-day operational tasks can include:  

  • Scheduling meetings and interviews  
  • Preparing decks and reports  
  • Taking meeting notes  
  • Managing expenses  
  • Updating documentation and marketing calendars 

They help your marketing team stay organized, on schedule, and focused on high-impact work. 

2. Marketing Execution 

While senior marketers focus on building comprehensive strategies and developing creative concepts, marketing assistants are often responsible for the crucial execution phase. 

That might include: 

  • Uploading blog posts to your CMS 
  • Scheduling email campaigns 
  • Publishing social content 
  • Coordinating deliverables across internal and external stakeholders

Marketing assistants become experts in your various marketing tools and platforms, serving as the hands-on operators who bring your strategies to life.

They ensure your marketing campaigns launch on time and on the right channels, with no loose ends. 

3. Vendor and Lead Communications 

Marketing assistants are often the first line of communication for both vendors and leads. They can manage: 

  • Website chat or chatbot tools 
  • Internal and external meeting scheduling 
  • Initial responses to form-fill leads 
  • Social media comment replies 
  • Vendor coordination and communication 

This communication role makes them invaluable connectors within the marketing ecosystem. 

4. Reporting 

Data drives modern marketing decisions, and marketing assistants play a crucial role in gathering, organizing, and presenting this information. They can tackle both routine weekly or monthly reporting and ad-hoc analysis requests from leadership. 

This might include pulling data and preparing reports from: 

  • Website analytics tools (like Google Analytics) 
  • Email platforms 
  • Ad platforms (Google Ads, LinkedIn, etc.) 
  • CRM and marketing automation platforms 
  • Project management tools

Marketing assistants become proficient in your various analytics platforms, learning to extract meaningful insights and present them in clear, actionable formats. They often create standardized reporting templates that save time and ensure consistency across different campaigns and time periods. 

If you use automation in your data analytics tools, your assistants can act as the robot’s backup support. They’ll clean data, identify outliers, confirm accuracy, do testing, and keep your reporting accurate and running efficiently. 

5. Marketing Project Management 

As marketing teams grow and coordinate increasingly complex omnichannel campaigns, project management becomes essential. While larger organizations might employ dedicated project managers, smaller or more budget-conscious teams often rely on their marketing assistants to keep projects moving forward efficiently. 

For lean teams without a dedicated project manager, the marketing assistant often steps into that role. They help keep campaigns on track by: 

  • Managing timelines and checklists 
  • Coordinating cross-functional tasks 
  • Following up with stakeholders 
  • Ensuring deadlines and budgets are met 

Their project management skills help prevent the chaos that can derail even the most well-planned marketing initiatives. 

6. Research 

Marketing assistants frequently serve as the research arm of marketing teams, conducting various types of analysis that inform strategic decisions. 

Marketing assistants are often tapped for all kinds of research projects, including: 

  • Competitor research 
  • Market and industry research 
  • SEO keyword research 
  • Vendor comparisons 
  • Channel performance benchmarks 

Their research capabilities help marketing teams make informed decisions based on solid data rather than assumptions. 

7. Social Media Management 

While marketing assistants may not develop social media strategy, they often handle the day-to-day execution that keeps social channels active and engaging.  

That can include: 

  • Drafting and scheduling posts 
  • Coordinating with designers and copywriters 
  • Managing the social calendar 
  • Monitoring engagement and flagging important interactions 
  • Answering FAQs 

This role involves understanding each platform's unique requirements, optimal image sizes, and engagement best practices. Social media assistants often become the guardians of brand voice on social media, ensuring consistency across all posts while adapting content for different platform audiences. 

With clear guidance, marketing assistants can help keep your social media engine running consistently and smoothly. 

Marketing Assistant Job Description 

Here's a sample marketing assistant job description that illustrates how these roles are typically structured. Keep in mind that this is just one example—actual job descriptions vary significantly based on company size, industry, and specific needs. Large teams may have a marketing assistant for each small team (like social media, website, PR, etc.), while smaller teams may have a single assistant who helps the whole department.  

Position: Marketing Assistant 
Department: Marketing 
Reports to: Marketing Manager/Director 
Location: Remote or Hybrid 
Type: Full-time or part-time

Key Responsibilities: 

  • Support the marketing team with administrative and project coordination tasks 
  • Schedule meetings, manage calendars, and coordinate team logistics 
  • Upload content to website and social media platforms 
  • Prepare reports using Google Analytics, HubSpot, and other marketing tools 
  • Assist in managing email marketing campaigns and updating contact lists 
  • Research competitors, keywords, and marketing trends 
  • Communicate with vendors, partners, and prospects 

Required Skills: 

  • Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, or related field preferred 
  • 1-2 years of marketing experience preferred 
  • Experience with social media platforms and scheduling tools 
  • Familiarity with tools like Google Workspace and Microsoft Office 
  • Strong attention to detail and time management skills 
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills 
  • Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
 

NIce to Have: 

  • Familiarity with design tools like Canva or Adobe Creative Suite 
  • Experience with CRM systems and marketing automation tools like Hubspot and Mailchimp 
  • Knowledge of SEO and content marketing principles 
  • Previous experience in project management 
  • Understanding of digital marketing metrics and analytics 

Remember, this job description represents just one approach to structuring a marketing assistant role. Companies often customize these positions based on their specific needs, team structure, and growth stage. 

Marketing Assistant vs. Marketing Virtual Assistant 

A traditional marketing assistant is usually a full-time or part-time employee based in your office or local market. A marketing virtual assistant, on the other hand, is a remote team member who handles marketing support tasks from anywhere. 

Many companies are turning to marketing VAs because they offer: 

  • Lower overhead – No need for office space, equipment, or benefits packages 
  • Greater flexibility – Scale hours up or down depending on business needs 
  • Broader talent pool – Access to highly skilled professionals without geographic limits 
  • Built-in backup – Especially with providers like Prialto, who offer managed VA services with redundancy

For a deeper dive into the benefits, check out our posts on outsourcing vs. hiring and reducing overhead with virtual assistants. 

The Prialto Difference 

Prialto's virtual assistant services deliver superior ROI compared to traditional marketing assistant hiring through: 

  • Immediate productivity - Pre-trained professionals familiar with marketing tools start contributing from day one
  • True cost savings - No benefits, training, or turnover costs compared to traditional hiring
  • Built-in continuity - Team-based model provides seamless backup coverage when your primary assistant is unavailable
  • Flexible scaling - Easily add specialized skills like social media management without recruiting delays
  • Current expertise - Access to latest marketing tools and trends through ongoing professional development

Ready to Get Marketing Support? 

A marketing assistant can be the operational backbone of your team—handling everything from admin and execution to reporting and research. And with a marketing virtual assistant, you can get all of that support, plus the flexibility and cost-savings that come with outsourcing. 

Ready to explore how a marketing virtual assistant can reduce your overhead while boosting your marketing effectiveness? Schedule a consultation call today.