Marketing can be incredibly confusing. Most people don’t really know what it is, they just know it can be the answer to their business prayers.
But simply implementing marketing into your business won’t result in success. You need to first understand what marketing is, and then have a plan of action.
So let’s start with what marketing is. And this is the simplest, most jargon-free, definition of marketing you’re ever likely to come across:
WHAT IS MARKETING?
If the circus is coming to town and you paint a sign saying ‘Circus Coming to the Showground Saturday’, that’s advertising.
If you put the sign on the back of an elephant and walk it into town, that’s promotion.
If the elephant walks through the mayor’s flower bed and the local newspaper writes a story about it, that’s publicity.
And if you get the mayor to laugh about it, that’s public relations.
If the town’s citizens go to the circus, you show them the many entertainment booths, explain how much fun they’ll have spending money at the booths, answer their questions and ultimately, they spend a lot at the circus, that’s sales.
And if you planned the whole thing, that’s marketing.
Other Marketing Definitions
Marketing is a series of activities and processes that a business or brand takes to promote their product or services to their ideal customer. These are the people most likely to buy what they’re selling.
Marketing encompasses research, strategy, advertising, social media engagement, and selling.
The point is to educate, inform, and move a prospect closer to a sale.
Why Your Business Needs Marketing?
It’s simple, really. If someone has never bought from you, how do they find out about your product or service?
Unless you’ve got a robust referral system in place they’re unlikely to have heard about your business.
And they’re most likely not going to buy from you.
So, if you want people to take a closer look at your business, and spend their precious dollars, you need marketing.
It’s what you do to attract your ideal customer.
Now you need a strategy to get them to like you and do business with you. We’ve got the perfect solution. You need direct response marketing. Click the link below for more information.
If you enjoyed this article, you may also enjoy our article on How to Create a Lead Magnet that Converts in 6-Steps. As a small business owner, it’s the smarter way to attract high-quality leads and you can automate much of it.
29 thoughts on “The Definition Of Marketing”
That sums it up nicely.
The first and finest piece of marketing on marketing I’ve ever read. My God, it gives me hope!
Great book, thanks Alan. Already one of my favorites in the library. Your book is spot on and full of what I like to call “meat and potatoes.”
I think this is the most brilliant explanation of marketing I’ve ever read!
And if your circus prides itself on leaving very little impact on the planet, and you call it “The Eco Circus” and your promotion hire walks the elephant AROUND the flower bed at the Mayors House, the Mayor thanks you, and the press does a story about THAT … and your Sales people point out that your bags of feed say “grown without pesticides” and the vendors fill up your reusable container or sell you one, and all your food waste gets composted on-site, and your slogan is “Walking the tight rope to sustainability!” and your logo and design carry through this sentiment in their communication tone….
That’s Branding.
I recently heard a similar definition referencing chat up approaches for students at university. Very amusing but not appropriate for business use! This version is excellent.. thank you!
Marketing is the way toward intriguing likely clients and customers with regards to your products and/or services.
It includes investigating, advancing, selling, and circulating your products or services.
The situation in marketing is drawing in and holding a developing base of fulfilled clients. Making and actualizing marketing plan will keep your marketing endeavors centered.