I'm responsible for European marketing for a U.S. company that makes telecommunications products, specifically circuit boards that that can be added to a PC so it can connect to a phone system. Our customers usually buy our product, integrate it into a PC, write software and sell it as an automated voice system, such as voice mail.

Much of my job consists of marketing communications which means I try to get the word out about our products and what companies can do with them in several ways – through advertising, press relations, seminars, trade shows, web site, newsletters, etc. I am also responsible for creating co-operative marketing programs with our customers (sort of like the way Intel works with PC makers with its Intel Inside campaign).

For many of these things I work with outside consultants and agencies to help do the details – my job is to create the core messages and content for any of these endeavors and do the higher level management of making them happen. For example, we participate in several industry trade events. It's my job to do things like:

-select the company that will do the construction of the exhibition
-determine the set of products that are most important to display and feature
-determine what sorts of demonstrations we will have and work with engineers to get them built
-select partners and customers to join us in the exhibit

I have an assistant to help me with the logistical details like shipping materials to the exhibit hall, scheduling people to work the exhibit, travel and hotel arrangements, and advertising our booth within the trade event.

I write a weekly report to the managing director to keep him on top of what's happening. There is also an annual budgeting process that takes 2-3 days to complete.

I travel about 5 days per month on average for trade events, to speak at conferences, put on seminars, meet with the press or our local press consultants or meet with customers or partners to discuss co-operative marketing.