Job Description
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USA TODAY Co., Inc. is a diversified media company with expansive reach at the national and local level dedicated to empowering and enriching communities. We seek to inspire, inform, and connect audiences as a sustainable, growth focused media and digital marketing solutions company. Through our trusted brands, including the USA TODAY NETWORK, comprised of the national publication, USA TODAY, and local media organizations, including our network of local properties, in the United States, and Newsquest, a wholly-owned subsidiary operating in the United Kingdom, we provide essential journalism, local content, and digital experiences to audiences and businesses. We deliver high-quality, trusted content with a commitment to balanced, unbiased journalism, where and when consumers want to engage. Our digital marketing solutions brand, LocaliQ, supports small and medium-sized businesses with innovative digital marketing products and solutions. USA TODAY Co. open roles are featured on various external job boards. When applying to a position at USA TODAY Co., you should be completing an application on USA TODAY Co. Careers via Dayforce. Job postings directing you to complete an application on other external sites may not be valid. If you are a California resident, you acknowledge that by applying for a job with us, this California Job Applicant Privacy Notice will apply to our collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information. To connect with us, visit www.usatodayco.com
Sales Associate – Marketing Solutions
• Sales Development | Prospecting | Pipeline Creation Role
• Company: LocaliQ, powered by the USA TODAY Network
Location: Fort Myers, Florida| Hybrid
About LocaliQ
At LocaliQ, part of USA TODAY Co., we help businesses grow by bringing together advanced marketing technology, trusted audience reach, and the expertise to turn it into results. In this role, you’ll work at the intersection of digital marketing and one of the most trusted media networks in the country—helping businesses connect with customers across the full marketing funnel.
You’ll partner with clients to understand their goals, build strategies that combine performance-driven digital solutions with the reach of the USA TODAY Network, and deliver measurable outcomes. This is an opportunity to be part of a team that doesn’t just sell products. We bring together the right mix of solutions to drive real business growth.
About the Role
Our Sales Associate role is an entry point into the LocaliQ sales career path for someone who is energized by prospecting, building pipeline, creating new sales opportunities, and learning how to grow into a future sales role.
In this role, you will focus on generating top-of-funnel sales activity, identifying new prospects, supporting open sales territories, and helping create qualified opportunities for the sales organization. You’ll partner closely with Sales Leaders, Account Executives, Media Specialists, Account Coordinators, and other business partners to help drive prospect engagement, secure qualified meetings, and support business development efforts that contribute to future revenue growth.
This role is designed for someone who wants to build strong sales fundamentals through daily prospecting, customer engagement, market research, Salesforce activity management, and structured coaching. You’ll gain hands-on experience in how LocaliQ supports businesses, develops prospects, and creates meaningful customer conversations that lead to long-term sales opportunities.
In your first 90 days, you’ll begin learning LocaliQ’s solutions, sales tools, prospecting approach, CRM expectations, and lead qualification process. You’ll build confidence in outbound outreach, customer communication, territory support, and opportunity handoff while developing the habits and skills needed for long-term growth in a sales career.
Why This Role Stands Out:
• Entry point into a sales career path with the opportunity to develop toward future Media Specialist or Account Executive roles.
• Hands-on experience building prospect pipelines, generating leads, and creating qualified sales opportunities.
• Opportunity to partner directly with Sales Leaders, Account Executives, Media Specialists, Account Coordinators, and business partners.
• Structured learning through coaching, training, role-playing, and professional development.
• Exposure to digital marketing solutions, customer engagement, CRM tools, and consultative sales processes.
• Opportunity to support open sales territories and contribute to pipeline health and future revenue growth.
• Hybrid/remote flexibility depending on market and business needs.
What You Will Do
• Build and maintain prospect lists using Salesforce, market research, industry resources, business intelligence tools, and other lead-generation sources.
• Conduct outbound prospecting through phone calls, email campaigns, social selling, referrals, and other outreach channels to identify potential customers and create sales opportunities.
• Secure qualified customer meetings and discovery conversations for Account Executives and sales teams.
• Develop and execute daily prospecting plans designed to achieve activity, meeting, and opportunity creation goals.
• Support open sales territories and transitional account assignments through prospecting, business development, and customer outreach.
• Maintain accurate prospect, activity, opportunity, and pipeline information in Salesforce and other sales systems.
• Research prospects, industries, customer needs, and competitive information to support sales strategy and customer engagement.
• Conduct basic qualification and needs assessment conversations to determine customer fit and opportunity potential.
• Ensure qualified opportunities are documented and transitioned effectively to Account Executives for continued sales engagement.
• Collaborate with Account Executives, Sales Managers, Account Coordinators, Client Solutions, vertical specialists, and other internal partners to support territory growth and customer acquisition efforts.
• Represent LocaliQ professionally while building relationships with prospective customers and business decision-makers.
• Actively participate in coaching, training, role-playing, and professional development activities designed to prepare you for future sales advancement opportunities.
Qualifications
• 1+ years of customer service, account support, administrative, sales support, operations, or related experience preferred.
• Associate degree preferred; a comparable combination of education, experience, and/or training may be considered.
• Experience working in a deadline-driven environment preferred.
• Experience using CRM systems such as Salesforce preferred.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, and follow-through.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Strong customer service orientation and professional communication skills.
• Process-driven, accountable, and comfortable following established sales and lead management processes.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to learn new systems and processes quickly.
• Ability to adapt to change and support organizational transformation initiatives.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, email, Salesforce, and other sales or business systems.
• Valid driver’s license and vehicle insurance
Who Thrives Here
High performers in this role are curious, organized, resilient, and highly accountable. They enjoy connecting with people, asking thoughtful questions, learning new tools and processes, and building strong daily sales habits. They are comfortable with outbound outreach, motivated by activity and progress, and able to stay focused in a deadline-driven environment. They are also strong collaborators who communicate clearly, follow through on details, and take ownership of how their work contributes to the broader sales organization. This is a great opportunity for someone who wants to build a foundation in sales, learn from experienced leaders, and grow into future opportunities within LocaliQ.
Benefits
We believe high performance should be recognized and supported through compensation, development, and real opportunity to grow your skills.
• High-performance culture with recognition and Career progression opportunities
• Flexibility in a hybrid work environment
• Comprehensive health, dental & vision coverage options and more
• PTO & paid holidays
• 401(k) with company match
• Structured onboarding to help you build confidence quickly
• Ongoing coaching from experienced leaders
• Access to industry-leading tools, resources, and marketing expertise
This is an opportunity to build your sales career from the ground up while contributing to meaningful pipeline growth, customer engagement, and future revenue opportunities. If you’re motivated, coachable, organized, and ready to learn the fundamentals of business development and digital marketing sales, we encourage you to apply.
#LI-SD1 #LI-Hybrid
USA TODAY Co., Inc. is a proud equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a diverse workforce. As such, we will consider all qualified applicants for employment and do not discriminate in connection with employment decisions on the basis of an applicant or employee’s race, color, national origin, ethnicity, ancestry, citizenship status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, marital status, personal appearance (including height and weight), sexual orientation, family responsibilities, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy status (including childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), education, genetic characteristics or information, political affiliation, military or veteran status or other classifications protected by applicable federal, state and local laws in the jurisdictions where USA TODAY Co. employs employees. In addition, USA TODAY Co., Inc. will provide applicants who require a reasonable accommodation, as a result of an applicant’s disability or religion, to complete this employment application and/or any other process in connection with an individuals’ application for employment with USA TODAY Co., Inc. Applicants who require such accommodation should contact USA TODAY Co., Inc.’s Recruitment Department at Recruit@usatodayco.com. Applicants must be authorized to work in the applicable location. Applications from outside these regions will be removed from our system after submission.
