Marketing in business is the activity of identifying customers and their needs, attracting them, creating, communicating, and delivering value to customers.
It involves understanding people’s needs, developing products or services that meet them, and positioning them to attract and retain customers.
Some key marketing objectives include:
- Creating and increasing brand awareness
- Generating leads and sales
- Enhancing customer loyalty
- Expanding market reach
- Maximising return on investment (ROI)
Why is Marketing in Business Important?
Marketing plays a vital role in any business, big or small.
Here’s why…
- Marketing attracts new customers.
- It helps you build brand awareness.
- It generates revenue by driving more sales and boosting profits.
- In this competitive space, a good marketing strategy will help your business stand out.
- It strengthens customer relationships and builds trust and loyalty.
Because of its importance in business, the marketing concept has evolved.
In the initial days, there was no structured promotion.
Transactions relied on personal relationships and direct exchange.
Slowly, businesses focused on mass production, believing customers valued availability and affordability.
And then came print, radio, and door-to-door sales. As an improvement, there was a massive shift from selling products to understanding customer needs and preferences.
Companies started focusing on social responsibility alongside profits. Now, internet, social media, and data-driven marketing transformed how businesses interact with consumers.
The Marketing Mix and the 4 Ps of Marketing
Marketing in business is all about getting the right product in front of the right people at the right price and in the right place. If any of these factors are off, sales will suffer.
That’s why businesses use the Marketing Mix. Marketing mix is a concept introduced by E. Jerome McCarthy in his book, “Basic Marketing: A Managerial Approach”.
This theory discusses how a business should mix all the 4 Ps of marketing to increase sales and profits.
Here are the 4 Ps of marketing:
- Product – What you sell.
- Price – How much it costs!
- Place – Where you sell it.
- Promotion – How you market it.
Let’s break each one down in the simplest way possible so you can apply it to your business.

- Product – What you sell
Your product is the solution you offer to customers. What you sell can be a physical product, a service, or even digital content.
When you are creating a product, make sure these 3 key factors are taken care of.
- Your product must solve a real problem or fulfill a need.
- Quality, packaging, features, and branding all matter.
- If your product is not useful or desirable, no amount of marketing will save it.
A local bakery sells cakes. If the cakes taste amazing, customers will keep coming back. If they’re dry or overpriced, people will go elsewhere.
- Price – How much it costs
Your pricing strategy can make or break sales. Pricing is about positioning your product correctly in the market.
Here’s how you can make sure that your pricing is right.
- Consider your costs, competitors, and target audience when setting a price.
- Price should reflect the value you offer, not just the product itself.
- Different pricing strategies work for different businesses (premium pricing, discounts, bundles, etc.). See what works for you the best and consider that.
Mercedes-Benz prices its cars high because it sells luxury, prestige, and quality. On the other hand, Maruti Suzuki offers affordable cars to attract budget-conscious buyers.
- Place – Where you sell it
You may have the perfect product at the perfect price, but if customers can’t find it, they can’t buy it.
The place refers to where and how you distribute your product. It can be online, retail stores, or through direct sales.
Understanding your customers will help you decide and optimise where you sell your products.
- Do customers buy online, in stores, or both?
- Can they find your product easily?
- Are you in the right location or using the right e-commerce platform?
Amazon makes online shopping easy, while Reliance Trends ensures its fashion products are available in malls.
- Promotion – How you market it
Promotion is how you get people to notice your product and convince them to buy it. This includes advertising, social media, influencers, SEO, and word-of-mouth marketing.
If no one knows your product exists, they won’t buy it, right?
Different products need different marketing strategies (some businesses rely on online ads, others on referrals).
Zomato’s witty social media posts attract engagement, while Coca-Cola runs big TV and digital campaigns to stay top-of-mind.

The 4 Ps explain how marketing works, but real growth needs more than theory.
In our 3-day in-person program, you’ll learn to implement strategies that improve profits, stabilize sales, and make every business function work.
The P.A.C.E Program is a practical way to fix what’s not working in your business by giving you the structure and clarity to grow step-by-step.
Types of Marketing Strategies & Examples
Marketing in business comes in many forms…
And each type helps businesses reach their audience in different ways. Here are some key types:
- Traditional Marketing
This is one of the oldest ways of marketing a business. It effectively reaches local audiences and is still relevant to many small businesses. today
This type of marketing promotes products using offline methods, such as TV ads, newspapers, radio, billboards, and flyers.
- Digital Marketing
Everything has become digital, and so does marketing. This is effective in reaching a global audience.
Digital marketing involves marketing through online channels such as websites, social media, SEO, email marketing, and paid ads.
When you search for whatever you want to buy, the first website that shows up is Amazon.
This is because they have excelled in SEO and PPC advertising strategies.
- Content Marketing
CONTENT is KING! And we cannot just ignore this truth.
Content marketing creates and shares valuable, engaging, entertaining content and visuals to attract and retain customers.
It involves creating valuable blogs, videos, infographics, and e-books to attract and educate customers.
Have you seen HubSpot’s website? Many good brands use content marketing (blogs, e-books, and free courses) to educate their audience and attract customers.
- Influencer Marketing
This type of marketing is effective in gaining trusted customers.
You must collaborate with social media influencers and celebrities to promote your product or brand.
Along with your repeat audience, it attracts a different set of new audiences.
H&M’s posts or clothes are shared by many influencers across platforms like YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and many others. Do you know why?
They use influencer marketing to market their latest collections.
- Social Media Marketing
The name explains itself. It uses platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. You can engage your audiences and build brand awareness through these social media platforms.
- Email Marketing
It’s also one of the oldest ways of marketing and one of the most effective ways.
Here’s where businesses send personalised emails to prospects and customers to nurture relationships and boost sales.
- Affiliate Marketing
This type of marketing is performance-based.
Businesses will pay commissions to individuals or companies that refer customers through special links.
It’s compelling to drive more traffic through referral links.
- Direct Marketing
This approach is where businesses reach customers through direct messaging and one-to-one conversations.
It communicates directly with customers through emails, SMS, phone calls, or direct mail.
Did you know? According to reports, the use of SMS marketing is increasing. In 2024, 80% of businesses will use SMS marketing. |
Pizza is our second favourite; first is you!
It’s so witty, right? Zomato sends these quick messages to engage the audience and promote its food delivery service. Even its tweets and Instagram posts are engaging.
- Event Marketing
Event marketing hosts or sponsors events, such as trade shows, webinars, or live demonstrations, to engage potential customers and showcase products or services.
- Guerrilla Marketing
Guerrilla marketing is one of the unique and interesting ways to market your business.
It is a low-cost, highly creative marketing strategy that uses unconventional and surprising tactics…
For example, viral stunts, street art, or flash mobs create buzz and capture attention.
Every brand that successfully grows has a well-planned marketing strategy.
The Best-Known Always Beats the Best.
– Rajiv Talreja
A marketing strategy is a plan of action.
It is a well-planned approach that determines how a product or service should be promoted, how and how to attract customers, and how to increase sales using different marketing techniques, such as advertising, content, and social media.
What is a Marketing Process
The marketing process is a step-by-step approach businesses use to attract customers, create value, and drive sales.
It helps companies understand their audience, develop strategies, and promote their products effectively.
5 Steps of the Marketing Process
The marketing process has five crucial steps because the other cannot happen without it.
- Research – Understand the market, competitors, and customer needs.
- Strategy – Define target customers and positioning.
- Creation – Develop products, branding, and messaging.
- Promotion – Use ads, social media, and content to reach people.
- Analysis – Track results and improve strategies.
What is a Marketing Plan
A marketing plan is a structured strategy that outlines how a business should do its marketing.
The outline of how a business will attract, engage, and convert customers. It includes goals, target audience, marketing channels, and action steps.
Marketing Channels & Marketing Funnel
A marketing channel is a medium of communication that businesses use to connect with their audience and promote their products and services.
These channels can be direct (selling without intermediaries) or indirect (using third parties like retailers and affiliates).
A marketing funnel represents the customer journey from awareness to purchase.
It helps businesses attract, nurture, and convert leads while optimising marketing efforts at each stage.
How Can You Measure Marketing Performance
You can measure marketing performance in various ways, and this helps businesses understand what’s working, what’s not, and how to improve.
It involves tracking key metrics, analysing data, and optimising strategies for better results.
Steps to Measure Marketing Performance
- Set clear objectives (brand awareness, leads, sales, engagement).
- Monitor relevant metrics.
- Use marketing analytics tools like Google Analytics, social media insights, and CRM software.
- CoIdentify trends and patterns.
- Optimise your strategies and campaigns based on insights.
Benefits & Limitations of Marketing in Business
Like the two sides of a coin, everything has its benefits and drawbacks. Let’s explore the advantages of marketing in business and also its limitations.
Benefits & Limitations of Marketing in Business
Like the two sides of a coin, everything has its benefits and drawbacks. Let’s explore the advantages of marketing in business and also its limitations.
Benefits of Marketing | Limitations of Marketing |
Increases brand awareness | High marketing costs |
Attracts and retains customers | Requires continuous effort |
Boosts sales and revenue | Results take time |
Builds customer trust and loyalty | Can be affected by competition |
Provides business growth opportunities | Not all strategies work |
Marketing Trends & Future
Marketing is evolving, and with that, businesses are evolving, too. Here are some of the recent trends.
- AI is Helping in Personalised Marketing
Sending the right message to the right people at the right time is possible through AI.
It helps in recommending products, emails, and ads based on their interests. This makes marketing more personal and effective, leading to higher sales.
- Voice Search is Taking Over
With voice assistants like Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant, more people search by talking instead of typing.
This means businesses need to optimise their content for natural, conversational questions.
- No More Boring Content, More Interactive Content
People want more than just ads. They want to experience products before buying.
Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and interactive quizzes help customers make better choices while keeping them engaged.
- Selling on Social Media Platforms
Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok now let businesses sell products directly inside the app.
This makes shopping easier and faster since customers don’t have to leave the platform to buy.
- Customers Prefer Responsible Brands
More people today care about sustainability and ethical business practices.
Brands that show they care about the environment and social causes build stronger trust and loyalty.
Marketing trends come and go, but growth belongs to businesses that know how to adapt.
This 3-day program shows you how to align your goals, refine your model, and scale with confidence, no matter the trend.
Marketing Terms Every Business Owner Should Know
There are many marketing terms every business owner should know, but you must be aware of the one that matters most to your business.
Here are the essentials…
- Target Audience -The people who most likely to buy your product.
- Lead Generation – Attracting potential customers.
- Conversion Rate – The percentage of people who take action (buy, click, sign up).
- SEO – Search Engine Optimization helps you in getting your website to rank higher on Google.
- PPC (Pay-Per-Click) – Paid online ads where you pay for every click.
- Content Marketing – Creating blogs, videos, or social media posts to attract customers.
- Call to Action (CTA) – A CTA is a prompt, like “Buy Now” or “Sign Up”, that encourages action.
- Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) – The total revenue a customer brings over time.
Conclusion
Marketing is essential to every business because it helps in business growth.
Though some marketing strategies and techniques require money, you should invest in those to build your brand, engage customers, and drive sales.
A strong strategy, proper channels, and consistent efforts can make all the difference.
FAQs About Marketing in Business
- What is the role of a marketer?
A marketer creates demand, drives engagement, and builds customer relationships.
- What will a marketer do?
If you are looking to build a marketing team in your business, here are the responsibilities of a marketer.
- Conduct market research and competitor analysis.
- Develop and execute marketing campaigns.
- Manage social media, email, and advertising efforts.
- Track performance metrics and optimise your marketing strategies.
- Enhance customer engagement and brand storytelling.
- How do you handle hate comments on social media platforms?
Stay calm and respond professionally. Engage only when necessary, as many people who spread hate are just doing it to seek attention.
Focus on building a positive brand reputation.
- How can one stay up-to-date with recent marketing trends?
Read your industry-related blogs, attend webinars, network with experts, and track competitors’ marketing strategies regularly.
Staying updated will not help. You must implement each individually to determine which works best for your business.
- What is a CTA, and why is it important?
CTA is the call to action.
A strong CTA guides users toward action to sign up, buy, or engage, boosting conversions.
- When to invest in marketing services?
When your team’s efforts aren’t driving results, the first step is to analyse where the gap is.
Is it because your team lacks relevant skills? If so, you can develop them through a learning plan.
You can invest in marketing services when you need expert marketing strategies for faster growth.
- What is the significant difference between B2B and B2C marketing?
B2B focuses on logic, relationships, and long sales cycles, while B2C is emotional, fast-paced, and customer-driven.