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Definition of Marketing

Some definitions focus on marketing in terms of what it means to an organization, such as being the key functional area for generating revenue, while other definitions lean more toward defining marketing in terms of its most visible tasks, such as advertising and creating new products.

There probably is no one best way to define marketing, however, whatever definition is used should have an orientation that focuses on the key to marketing success – customers.

For the purpose of this tutorial we will define marketing as follows:

Marketing consists of the strategies and tactics used to identify, create and maintain satisfying relationships with customers that result in value for both the customer and the marketer.

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16 Comments

  1. Eliazar makes this comment

    February 25, 2010

    Noted good definition.

  2. Muzunze Allan makes this comment

    February 08, 2010

    Marketing simply means identifying customer needs and wants thereby offering products with desired attribures.

  3. Farhat hayat makes this comment

    January 24, 2010

    Brief and easy definition.Anyone can understand and gets a some concept about marketing.

  4. Collins I makes this comment

    January 16, 2010

    With this definition, Marketing simply means satisfying the customers and the marketers. Excellent definition.

  5. Sherl makes this comment

    November 27, 2009

    Marketing learning start here!!! Thank you !!!

  6. Ilana Teles makes this comment

    November 02, 2009

    I like Kotler's definition: "The process by which companies create value for customers and build strong customer relationships in order to capture value from customers in return." Value could be money, idea, support of a cause, etc. Any definition of marketing can also be applied to a non-profit organization.

  7. Hiba makes this comment

    October 18, 2009

    Good brief definition!

  8. PaulC makes this comment

    October 11, 2009

    Obviously the value part is already included, not quite sure about the free exchange part and how that fits in.

  9. stanley makes this comment

    October 08, 2009

    Marketing definition should include something of value... free exchange.

  10. PaulC makes this comment

    October 05, 2009

    Marketing is not restricted to for-profits. It is just as important in not-for-profit organizations and in governments. The tactics and some of the tools used may be different the definition of marketing still holds.

  11. sagee makes this comment

    October 03, 2009

    My question is, does marketing exist solely to increase profit? If this is the case, then marketing in nonprofit organizations can be said to be useless.

  12. pal makes this comment

    October 02, 2009

    It covers all the parts that should be explained and yet comprehensive.

  13. Edward Rhodes makes this comment

    September 30, 2009

    My core concern with the above type definition of Marketing is that it ignores a very important issue which should be intrinsic in any effort to define this "Discipline".The philosophy or way of thinking,in my opinion,should be a key feature of any attempt of defining "this body of thought"we refer to as .....Marketing!!

  14. Mizan makes this comment

    September 28, 2009

    realistic definition

  15. zafeer makes this comment

    September 05, 2009

    Nice definition

  16. nandu makes this comment

    August 20, 2009

    thank you very much.

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