Number of times, ill-conceived notions and perceptions minimizes the meaning of the word "marketing" to a shadow of it’s true self. According to many, marketing is a series of tactics or gimmicks. On the other hand, some define marketing as pyramid programs and the like. Moreover, some treat the words "marketing" and "sales" or "marketing" and "advertising as synonymous. But the fact of the matter is none of these adequately convey the definition of marketing.

Along with all of the new terminology, new techniques, and new twists the world wide web has come up with, there is no denying that it has also opened opportunities for misguided notions about the definition of marketing. While the above mentioned definitions describe different facets or definitions of related terms, they do not convey the much broader mechanism that is truly marketing. A closer look at some dictionary and trade definitions of marketing one can get a better feel for what marketing is truly about:

American Marketing Association Definition

According to them, marketing can be defined as the process of planning and executing the conception, pricing, promotion, and distribution of ideas, goods, and services to create exchanges that satisfy individual and organizational objectives.

American Heritage Dictionary's Definition of Marketing

According to them, marketing can be termed as the commercial functions involved in transferring goods from producer to consumer.

Merriam Webster's Marketing Definition

According to them, marketing is the process or technique of promoting, selling, and distributing a product or service. In addition, they also termed it as an aggregate of functions involved in moving goods from producer to consumer.

Marketing Definition from MSN Encarta Dictionary

According to them, the marketing can be defined as the business activity of presenting products or services to potential customers in such a way as to make them eager to buy. They go on saying that marketing includes factors like pricing and packaging of the product and the creation of demand by advertising and sales campaigns. It is worth taking a look at phrasing: "The process," "functions involved," "process or technique," "an aggregate," "the business activity." In theory, these all get to the heart of the definition of marketing.

According to experts, as a process, there are certain foundations of marketing that will never become obsolete. There is bound to have products, services, and ideas to sell at some price. Moreover, one will deliver its good to the customers via some means of distribution. Promotional activities and advertisement campaign will always be there. These are the basics. These basics still exist and as a matter of fact always will.

What has changed significantly is the business environment. At present, companies compete with more efficient technologies. Also, customers have better access to their cost options and they communicate to each other in ways not conceivable in the pre-Internet age.

If experts are to be believed, in some industries, the Internet has lowered the cost of entry so that entrepreneur -- many times from a home office -- have entered into the fray. As a matter of fact the changes in competitive environment are numerous. What have also changed with the competitive environment are marketing strategies and the marketing programs which are available at the moment to implement those strategies.

All these changes have no effect on the basic marketing definition. For instance, superior marketing is and always has been analysis, then action. Theoretically speaking, it is strategy development, then logical and thought-out tactical implementation. Moreover, it is the route to customer satisfaction and increasing profit.

The steps to successful small business marketing and implementation include:

1) Analyzing your customers and the business environment in order to 2) Find key opportunities to better and more profitably meet customer needs, 3) Figuring out how to respond on those opportunities, and then 4) Implementation of your plan.

Always remember the fact that the process doesn't have to be cumbersome. It is worth noting that five-year plans and novel-length documents are not required. The logic of the action is what is pivotal. If experts are to be believed, by applying the basic marketing process, rather than a tactic here and a technique there, your chances of success skyrocket.

Number of marketing consultants is of the view that businesses are in business to get customers. Though at first instance, it sounds true but it’s not true. As a matter of fact sometimes it is better to make more money off the customers you currently have and have a small number of customers that pay a lot of money. In this scenario you do not want new customers because it comes with training and educating those new customers and it can cost ample amount of money to go out in market and get those customers.

There is no denying the fact that businesses are in business to make money and a blanket statement that says they are in business to provide jobs or to get more customers is simply not so. It is worth noting that anyone who proclaims this as the reason that they are in business is kidding them selves. If you kid yourself as to what is your main objective in business then you will not perform at the optimal level to make money, which is and should remain the primary and main goal for small business owner.

When it comes to attracting customers and growing a successful small business, wise professionals think about marketing as if it were a marathon, never a 50-yard dash!" Here's the deal: If you're willing to invest any amount of time or financial resources into promoting your products or services, consider adopting "Marathon Marketing Mindset."

A Marathon Marketing Mindset entails committing yourself to engaging in daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly marketing activities. This mindset, combined with consistent course of action ensures that you'll not only attract tons of new clients, but that you will also avoid the dreaded feast or famine roller coaster that so many professionals find themselves on a monthly basis.

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