Know-How Exchange : Career/Training

Bonuses are a way to vary an employees compensation to provide incentive to the employee so they do something that the company wants. Would them adding a bonus to you make you do more of what they were trying to get you to do? For marketing, the bonus would often be based on total results of the company (unlike sales or business development, where the bonus is based on sales they close). A bonus plan for sales or biz dev usually involves them getting less base pay, and more of their money based on bonus or commission. Would you be willing to trade some base pay for a bonus? If your reach a target, you get the same dollars as before. If you exceed the target, you get more money. If you miss the target, you get less. Adds some risk to you, but incentive to do better (the goal of the bonus).

Truthfully, and bluntly, you asking for a bonus seems to me that you don't think you are being paid enough. Or you don't think it is fair that they have this incentive pay and you don't. Incentive pay is generally set by above to adjust behavior, not pushed on from below (the boss may wonder that if you know of a behavior you can improve, why are you demanding money to improve it? You are already being paid).

Think through why you are asking this. If you really think you are underpaid, ask for a straight up raise (and be ready to prove the value you provide to justify the raise, and also be ready to end up without a job or jumping ship should they not agree). If you think that you need incentive pay and are ready to risk some of your base in exchange for some reward, go after it (but be prepared to show why this would benefit the company).

Great advice above.

Generally, Marketing bonuses are based on accomplishing agreed marketing objectives, not on sales results (which are largely in the control of sales people).

That said, if you feel your base salary is fair, then why raise the issue of the bonus? And if it isn't fair, how can you justify a higher salary to your management, whether it's called a bonus or a raise?

Probably not without some kind of performance record or promise. And really, unless you can offer a proven plan to your boss, you're probably asking the wrong people: what WE think isn't the point. What matters more is the value your skill set brings to the company. How do your actions directly help increase profits?

No.

If the business were to launch some kind of profit sharing program, it's unlikely they would make it exclusive to just one department (marketing). There are many ways to design profit sharing, including some merit based criteria.

I agree with telemoxie, "no" to a bonus just for marketing. Go the salary increase route instead.