What does the phrase marketing mix mean? What is the purpose of the marketing mix? The marketing mix is a process most organizations use to bring a product or service to market. The four Ps is a good way to define the marketing mix tool. The four Ps or four elements of the marketing mix are product, place, price, and promotion, which are used to satisfy consumers’ needs and the objectives of the organization. After a target market is selected, “…the firm must take steps to satisfy [the customers] needs” (Kerin, Hartley, & Rudelius, 2009 p. 13). The basic concept of the marketing mix is to focus on what customers want and to keep customers satisfied. Although the marketing mix is a unique way to market a product or service, satisfying the consumers’ needs and wants is every marketer’s main goal.
Aspects of the Marketing Mix
The best way to define a market is to recognize the needs and wants of consumers and then focus on meeting those needs and wants. In today’s advertising industry, marketers use the marketing mix as a tool to satisfy their target consumers. Furthermore, the marketing mix contains controllable variables that are carefully managed by the business to meet the needs of a targeted audience. “In other words, a company has control over what product it makes, what price it sells the product for, how it wishes to place (distribute) the product and how it wishes to promote it” (Food Export, 2011 para. 4). Therefore, a good way to understand the characteristics of the marketing mix is to identify its four special elements—the four Ps. The following is a diagram of the marketing mix formula (product, place, price, promotion) (See figure 1)
Figure 1: Four elements of the marketing mix (Style, 2010)
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...fective marketing tools to reach consumers” (Kerin et al., 2009 p. 13). Additionally, the main recommendation for the marketing mix concept is to stay focus and go beyond and above its goal to sell a product. In other words, from the consumers’ perspective, identify and meet the needs of a selected targeted market and from the company’s angle, meet financial and marketing objectives. “… [the four] elements [of the marketing mix] will potentially contribute to the success of the product…” (BusinessMate, 2010).
Assuredly, a customer is the most important subject in the marketing process. Above all, the perception of the marketing mix is vital in the marketing industry because the process will allow the organization to sustain customer satisfaction and maintain corporate success. Ultimately, the focal point in the marketing mix is to fulfill the customers’ needs.
Kotler and Keller (2014) develop on what product represents in the marketing mix, as the idea centers around its design, quality and packaging. Continuing with the Four P model, price should be considered when marketing a product. The price component asks one to determine the list price, discounts, allowances, and payment period of a product (Kotler & Keller, 2014). Finally, Kotler and Keller (2014) list promotion and place as the final two variables associated with the older Four Ps. Promotion deals with how a product is advertised and what type of sales force will be utilized, while place is associated with the channels and locations for which your product will be featured (Kotler & Keller,
The 4 Ps of the marketing mix are: Product, Promotion, Price, and Place. The marketing mix puts the right products, at the right price point, in the right place, at the right time. The following examines how Claire’s Chocolates optimizes its marketing mix (Yoo, Donthu, & Lee, 2000, 195-196).
A characteristic of the marketing concept is customer orientation. Business activities are mostly engaged to produce a satisfied customer. They are there to Stress on the desires and wishes of a customer this keeps businesses on track with their target market. The best marketing decisions are completed on the foundation of making a massive impact in the market and towards customers. The consumers/people
The marketing mix refers to the set of actions, or tactics, that a company uses to promote its brand of products in the market. Price, Product, Promotion and Place, are known as the 4Ps that make up a typical marketing mix. As marketing evolves, there are additional Ps that can also be included in the marketing mix, however, focusing on the 4 core Ps of the marketing mix, price, place, promotion and Product, taking an in-depth look at the aspects of Victoria’s Secret in general and in terms of the selected product. All the elements of the marketing mix influence each other. They contribute to the business plan for a company and if managed correctly, can give it a great success. In order to successfully master marketing mix, it needs understanding,
The marketing mix, which is basic to any organization, can be considered the ‘controllable’ variables that every business encounters. These controllable variables can be modified based on the uncontrollable variables (external factors found in Environmental Scan) that directly affect business operations. A company focuses on four elements in the marketing mix: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion, which are managed and coordinated through marketing programs in efforts to appeal to their target market. Marketers strive to understand what motivates consumers to purchase certain products. The marketing mix helps to break down some of these questions: What will consumers buy? How much will they spend? Where will they buy? And will they buy again?
The LEGO Group organization is famous due to its flagship product – colourful plastic bricks that can be interlocked to form a variety of figures, and then disconnected again. These binding bricks originated in a wooden form when the company was first established in Billund, Denmark by Kirk Kristiansen in 1932 (The LEGO Group, 2012), and today’s well known plastic version was introduced in 1958 (Rosenberg). The company’s head office is located in Billund to this day, and The LEGO Group remains privately owned by Kristiansen’s family (The LEGO Group, 2012). They currently sell toys and teaching materials in over 130 countries worldwide.
I found the main goal of the article to explain the concept of marketing. As the author implies, the concept of the marketing mix is a great tool to give an answer to the question “what is marketing”. It is a great introduction of the elements of marketing as a whole, with visual charts that sum the different marketing forces. Marketing is not about doing or not doing, its mainly about doing the right things for your operation with consideration of the resources that are available. This also sheds light over the fact that managing functions of marketing must be oriented to the market and with consideration of the marketing changes make a marketing mix that fits the resources of the firm.
As we all know, marketing is a necessary part of our daily life. Not only are products and services marketed, but we market ourselves as part of everyday business. I spent time this week speaking with a close friend of mind who is a Store Manager for H&R Block discussing the 4-Ps and how they pertain to his organization. It was very interesting to see how different industries market their products and services. Does the thought of receiving your tax return immediately grasp your attention? Well it has definitely helped H&R Block in boosting their ability to attract customers. It seems as thought immediate gratification is a promotion marketing tool that many companies are now using. After briefly describing the 4 P's of marketing we will review how H&R Block utilizes all of the steps in their marketing mix.
Segmentation, targeting and positioning are interrelated activities which are important to achieving a successful Marketing Mix. Discuss these concepts in theory and give practical examples of how they can be applied to one industry of your choice
Marketing is a process of determining a consumer’s needs, devising a product or service to satisfy those needs, and trying to focus customers on the goods and services you are offering. Marketing is extremely important, and a fundamental building block for business growth. A marketing team is given the task of creating customer awareness through a variety of different marketing techniques. If a business does not pay close attention to their consumer demographic and needs, they will eventually fail over time. Two important aspects of marketing include acquiring new customers, and the preservation and growth of relationships with current customers. Marketing has always been viewed as a creative outlet, which encompassed advertising, distribution, and the selling of goods and services. Marketing staff will also try to anticipate what customers will want in the future, often being accomplished with market research. In summation, a good marketing plan should be able to create a favorable proposition or series of benefits that a customer can value through goods or services. The marketing mix is normally described as the strategic positioning of a product or service in the marketplace, using the specification of the four Ps. During the early 1960’s, Professor E. Jerome McCarthy of Harvard Business School stated that a marketing mix contains four elements. The four key points are product, pricing, promotion, and placement. It is recognized that all these aspects must be present to ensure a successful business model within a given industry. We will now take a thorough look at the four marketing mix points.
When a business aims to be as successful as possible in selling its products and services, it must examine in detail whether or not the products will be attractive and necessary; if the price is optimal; if the product is being distributed in the best locations; and finally, how interest and awareness can be created for the products. In order for a business to target all of these elements at the right people at the right time, it must employ the right type of marketing mix: Product, Price, Place and Promotion.
Market opportunities for breakfast cereals is vast, some segments of the market have been neglected, most notably that of the over-50’s. Insightful presentations were given at the “Older, Richer, Wiser” Conference that would suggest the over 50’s market segment is targetable.
To create a successful marketing mix you must have all of the following aspects: the right product for your target market, sold to your target market at the appropriate price,in the right place and time, while using the most fitting promotion. ( Marketing Theory 1995.) The product, price, place, and promotion all are of uttermost importance in a business, since all businesses must complete all of these activities, including advertising agencies and research firms, everybody in the business world should understand the marketing mix.
“In 1960, McCarthy expanded what Neil Borden had previously coined the Marketing Mix [1] (now often associated with the "4 Ps") as 4 controllable variables the company puts together to satisfy a target market: product, price, place and promotion.[2]”
Too often, a marketing function is misunderstood, because many people do not understand what is meant by ‘Marketing’.