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Definition of Marketing

Our starting point for learning about marketing is to begin with the basics and that starts with defining marketing. Since marketing has been an important part of business for a long time we could consult one of the many hundreds of books written on the subject to locate a definition. Or, as is more the custom today, we could search the Internet to see how marketing is defined. Whether we search print or electronic form we will find that marketing is defined in many different ways.

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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27 Comments

  1. shex makes this comment

    May 12, 2011

    Nice definition, thanks so much.

  2. KHANAL makes this comment

    November 23, 2010

    This makes easy to understand and learn marketing.

  3. Amr makes this comment

    October 20, 2010

    Nice tutorial, thanks a lot.

  4. kashif makes this comment

    October 19, 2010

    Very nicely defined. I understand it very well now.

  5. imran makes this comment

    August 20, 2010

    Definition of marketing is to create and than fulfill the need of the customer.

  6. ASSELEF makes this comment

    August 13, 2010

    Marketing is the task of creating promoting and delivering goods and services to consumers and businesses. Nice definition.

  7. Colin makes this comment

    July 23, 2010

    The definition should also include the following: "Marketing should therefore drive the overall corporate strategy of any customer-centric organisation."

  8. mohamed makes this comment

    June 16, 2010

    Easy definition, which is explaining customer's and marketer's duties.

  9. aman makes this comment

    April 05, 2010

    Thanks for such a nice definition, as I'm a beginner it will surely help me.

  10. sindhu makes this comment

    April 03, 2010

    Any interpersonal or inter-organizational relationship involving an exchange is termed marketing. Any how nice definition.

  11. sherry makes this comment

    March 26, 2010

    Thank you, this is a very insightful definition especially for beginners.

  12. Eliazar makes this comment

    February 25, 2010

    Noted good definition.

  13. Muzunze makes this comment

    February 08, 2010

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

  14. Farhat makes this comment

    January 24, 2010

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

  15. Collins makes this comment

    January 16, 2010

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

  16. Sherl makes this comment

    November 27, 2009

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

  17. Ilana 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.

  18. Hiba makes this comment

    October 18, 2009

    Good brief definition!

  19. 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.

  20. stanley makes this comment

    October 08, 2009

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

  21. Paul Christ - KnowThis.com 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.

  22. 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.

  23. pal makes this comment

    October 02, 2009

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

  24. Edward 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!!

  25. Mizan makes this comment

    September 28, 2009

    realistic definition

  26. zafeer makes this comment

    September 05, 2009

    Nice definition

  27. nandu makes this comment

    August 20, 2009

    thank you very much.

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