Business Development Representative

Job Description:

Rakuten International is a division of Rakuten Group, Inc., a Japanese global technology leader in services that empower individuals, communities, businesses and society. Headquartered in San Mateo, California with more than 4,000 employees worldwide, the Rakuten International business portfolio includes market leaders in e-commerce, digital marketing, advertising, communications and entertainment. We create products and services that provide exceptional value by aligning members and the businesses that want to engage them in a shared community.

Rakuten Advertising provides advertising technology and consumer insights to the world's leading brands and retailers. Working with agencies and brands around the world, Rakuten Advertising unites technology, client strategy and consumer insights to deliver advertising experiences that drive increased brand awareness and marketing performance. With access to Rakuten's diverse media properties and audiences, combined with an award-winning performance network and proprietary consumer research, Rakuten Advertising creates the right conditions to reach new customers and sustain long-lasting loyalty.

Job Summary:

Rakuten Advertising is seeking a highly motivated, energetic, and dynamic Business Development Representative to join our growing team based in North America. As a BDR, you will play a crucial role in identifying and qualifying potential leads and prospects for our advertising solutions. You will be responsible for initiating and nurturing relationships with potential clients, setting appointments for the sales team, and be a key contributor to driving revenue growth for Rakuten Advertising. Ideal candidate will have the skillset to test and learn and optimize outputs based on data and market feedback.

Key Responsibilities:

Prospecting:

• Research, identify, and engage with prospective clients in the US and Canada markets, navigating organizational structures to connect with key decision-makers
• Use various lead generation tools and methods to discover new business opportunities
• Research potential leads and accounts to develop personalized outreach strategies
• Develop a deep understanding of Rakuten Advertising's products and services

• Proactively seek new business opportunities in the market
• Initiate outbound and inbound sales calls, emails, and other communication methods to engage with prospects
• Tailor messaging to effectively communicate the value of our advertising solutions
• Build and maintain strong relationships with leads through regular follow-ups

• Conduct in-depth conversations with prospects to assess their needs and requirements
• Qualify leads based on predetermined criteria to determine their readiness for the sales process.
• Deliver qualified opportunities against BDR team targets that align with strategic sales objectives

• Schedule qualified meetings for the sales team
• Ensure meetings are well-prepared for and meeting attendees are the right points of contact.

• Provide regular updates to management on the progress of leads and opportunities as well as provide collaborative feedback on messaging, market insights, product, and client needs
• Maintain sales data integrity through timely and accurate updates in Salesforce and other sales platforms

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills via phone and email
• Strong organizational skills
• Strong desire and ability to move up within the organization
• Demonstrated ability to perform in a dynamic environment
• Goal-oriented, team player, and able to work independently
• Knowledge of digital advertising, marketing, affiliate, or agency experience
• Familiarity with sales and marketing platforms such as Salesforce, Relevance AI, Gong, Salesloft, Surfe, Hubspot, Apollo.io, or Seamless AI

• 2+ years of experience in a business development/sales development role
• Bachelor's degree in sales, marketing, business, or related field