MARKETING EXPLAINED: Understanding The Differences Between Marketing, PR and Sales
The following article is adapted from a Reader’s Digest story called, Promoting Issues and Ideas. It illustrates the differences between Marketing, PR and Sales, and how they are all so very important to create an overall business strategy.
~~~~~~
If the circus is coming to town and you paint a sign saying, "The Circus is coming to the Maine Fairgrounds Sunday, October 03, 2019," that's Advertising.
If you put the sign on the back of an elephant and walk him through town, that's a Promotion.
If the elephant walks through the town manager’s flower bed, that's Publicity.
If you can get her to laugh about it, that's Public Relations.
If you planned the whole thing, that's Marketing!
That definition of marketing is one of our favorites. When we set out to develop a marketing plan we keep this simple definition in mind and try to see if each element is included. By looking at each area, advertising, promotion, publicity, and public relations, We can make sure that each campaign is comprehensively and thoroughly planned.
To advertise is to call public attention to your business by emphasizing desirable services and qualities with the intention of arousing customer desire. There are many ways to advertise, so it is to your advantage to investigate each type of media available and determine which will work best. The most used form of advertising is a written ad. Your ads should answer the question: “What’s in it for me?”
Promotion keeps your products or services in the minds of your target market. Promotion will stimulate demand for your services and involves ongoing advertising and publicity.
Publicity is something designed to attract public interest. It can’t always be controlled, especially if you or your company do something that is newsworthy. However, submitting press releases periodically to outline new company benefits, services, and structuring is a good idea and can generate a lot of interest. A continued presence in the media is invaluable.
Public Relations is the business of telling the public about your business in a positive way so that they have better understanding of you and/or your company. Public relations activities include helping the public to understand the organization and its products and ensure that the company has a strong public image. It goes hand in hand with advertising and promotion. Your public relations persona can be enhanced by hosting or participating in public and “virtual” tradeshows, networking events, and fund raisers.
These different marketing activities are designed to attract customers. YOUR customers. And get them to attend the ''circus''.
You are helping people get what they want. These marketing elements that we use, such as flyers, print ads, television and radio ads, business cards, press releases and other promotional items are just helping you to inform your customers that they can get what they want from your business.
When your potential or current customer attends the ''circus'' or contacts you to find out more about your products and your services, and they are impressed with your balancing act, and end up spending, that’s Sales!
Advantage Media Consulting (AMC)
Comments
Post a Comment