What is the definition of marketing?

[erik l]

What is the definition of marketing? What are the benefits and drawbacks of incorporating marketing into the sales function of an organization? Do you think that marketing should be included as part of the sales organization within a company? Why or why not?

[erik l]

Marketing is a social process which satisfies consumers' wants. The term includes advertising, distribution and selling of a product or service. It is also concerned with anticipating the customers' future needs and wants, often through market research.

I think whether or not to incorporate marketing into the sales function of an organization depends on the industry. For example, if you are an office supply company, your sales will be directly effected by your marketing. You are only going to promote your products and market your organization to the clients you will most likely sell office supplies to.

However, in my industry, consulting engineering, our marketing staff (myself included) is responsible for basically just informing our clients of our capabilities and service lines. We also try to get our name out to new clients in and out of our defined markets. Specific "sales" is done by our technical team via submission of proposals and other means of aquiring work.

[RedThread]

Marketing is all the activies you to do attract new customers and resell to the customers you already have.

Anything more than that is making it too complicated.

Most companies have no idea how to market. They know how to do what they do, but no idea how to attract and retain customers.

[debs]

Marketing is defined in the dictionary as: "the business activity of presenting products or services in such a way as to make them desirable...or, the selling of products or services."
So, yes, indeed, marketing and sales go hand in hand.
Any sales team needs marketing along with it to work.
In other words, if the product you are selling is not being
advertised or marketed, how can you expect any sales?
How else can you expect customers to find out about your product if you are not going to market/advertise it?

[Doran P]

You've got it backward.

Sales and selling is not what your business is about.

You are in the "getting and Keeping Customers" business. Thats marketing.

not understanding the difference between those two approaches...may just cost you everything.

"Sales" is merely a function of marketing. Sales improves with good marketing in place both before and after the "sale"

You should develop a "marketing dept" first, and then place your sales people under the direction of their programs and processes.