What is the Definition of Marketing?
A recent "Linked In" discussion, addressing the definition of 'marketing', generated over more than 2,600 heated replies debating the difference between sales and marketing. Even executives with a "Marketing Manager" title seemed confused... so what is marketing?
The Definition of Marketing
Marketing
is the activity, set of institutions, and processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging
offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large.
- American Marketing Association Board of Directors (October 2007)
.... or more simply, "The management of exchange" - School of Marketing, UNSW (Mar 1982)
Why is there confusion over the definition of Marketing?
Even extremely capable sales & marketing executives don't understand the varying functions within marketing management, that there are four levels of marketing.
The same mistake is made by some very talented CEO's who misunderstand marketing to be fluff and showmanship.
One of the world's most successful companies, has senior executives that don't understand the definition of marketing: They follow the marketing strategy laid down by head office because they know 'the company always gets it right'.
Understanding the Definition of Marketing, means recognising four levels of marketing function...

Many people, working in professional marketing capacities, don't really understand the word marketing, but do not need to, in order to do a great job.
Administrative Marketing people and Operational Marketing Managers keep your daily business humming. With years on hands-on experience, their routine marketing management activities are key to smooth operational marketing performance.
These gems do NOT need to know the definition of marketing, because they operationally manage a limited field, such as sales, advertising, promotions, print collateral, merchandising, packaging, etc.
But, to catapult a business into new heights of performance, Managerial Marketing & Corporate (strategic) marketing experts DO know how to find new realms of possibility.
The dangerous ground occurs when great marketing people are expected to operate beyond their field of expertise or competency, sometimes not knowing how much they don't know.
Advanced understanding of sophisticated brand management strategies, marketing models, and marketing methods builds and maintains sustainable competitive advantage.
When you use the marketing input of highly trained marketing experts, at the highest level of management, improved marketing management flows down into all levels of marketing activity... increasing your business efficiency and return on equity.
If you find this definition of Marketing helpful, why not give us a call about how the Science of Marketing can slingshot sales into a whole new universe of possibilities and give your business a significant lift in revenue and sales, not with some short-term 'band-aids', but with the sustainable competitive advantage only enjoyed by those that apply refined marketing.
is NOT a DIY activity
The 8 P's of Marketing
Ask anyone who has studied 'marketing' and you'll usually find a basic definition is management of the "marketing mix" of PRICE, PROMOTION, PRODUCT & PLACE.

More sophisticated marketing experts include PEOPLE and PROCESSES as the 5th and 6th P's of Marketing.
The 7th "P", PHYSICAL EVIDENCE, was originally identified to deal specifically with marketing of services. For example, where no real way of judging the quality of the product exists, perceptual reinforcement comes to play in buying decisions, such as an expensive and well-designed foyer might be the crucial consistent factor in buyers' decision making in selecting an advertising agency, an accounting firm, or a legal practice.
However, the principle can be extended to all industries... in FMCG we promote "Packaging" as the 7th "P"... the perception it creates being so significant in point-of-purchase evaluation. In some industries, the 7th "P" is better thought of in terms of "Positioning".
As for the 8th "P", larger companies have accepted significance of POLITICS... politely coined "Organisational Behaviour" in some circles... if you can't play the politics, even the best marketing plan can be "white-anted" by destructive 'political' agenda.
No marketing plan can work without an internal marketing component that addresses ALL stakeholders... which is why the 8th "P" of Marketing is the lynchpin.
Online Marketing
Online Marketing refers to marketing communications over digital networks.
For on-line needs - look to give reflective imagery on your web site to match the positioning of your product... cheap product should have basic design attributes ... premium product should be displayed with creative excellence, serious products a serious theme, fun products with good humour and cheer, etc.
Call for help with your marketing
02 9904 5355
11 Roles of Marketing, sent to us anonymously, is great 'food for thought"...
The role of marketing is being elevated as we become recognized revenue contributors and key business leaders. As we embrace this new found affluence these are 11 vital concepts needed to ensure this stature.
1. Marketing is now more science then art delivering business outcomes and showing return on investment.
2. Valuable marketing assets are imperative to nurture and educate prospects along their own buying cycle.
3. Sales needs marketing to increase qualified leads and marketing needs sales to drive sales growth.
4. Segmentation along with automation is a key to customer personalization.
5. Include industry influencers, enthusiasts, thought leaders and innovators, advocates, bloggers in the marketing plan.
6. A CMOs main job is to proactively listen to become the CLO Chief Listening Officer... to think like a customer.
7. Marketers skills must keep pace with changing digital marketing tools, technologies, platforms, conversations, networks, strategies and tactics, etc.
8. People now have publishing control to participate in content creation providing the ability to profoundly impact decisions of their peers.
9. Marketing departments must evolve from broadcasting messages to people inspired conversations fulfilling precious insights and entrusted meaningful influence.
10. Organizational structures must reflect real time proactive engagement because marketing is always in play.
11. Empathic listening and authenticity is the 'E ticket' to a sincere and prosperous relationship with people who trust and are loyally engaged to a brand. A company can ignore implementing these ideas only for a short time before the marketplace will ignore them. Expectations have been raised to continue the trek to the promise land of a brand truly bonded with their customers. By earning the prestige to guide behaviour and dialogue into rewarding long-term connections with people.
