Question

Question 1 a. Define example. the term with an "Marketing" (5 marks) b. Discuss the 4P elements in managing marketing mix successfully by a company of your choice.

Answer 1

a.) Marketing is the promotion of business products or services to a target audience. It is, in short, an action taken to bring attention to a business' offerings; they can be physical goods for sale or services offered. Common examples of marketing at work include television commercials, billboards on the side of the road, and magazine advertisements.

But not all businesses approach the need to market their goods and services the same way. In fact, there are a few different approaches to how marketing can be successful for an organization. These approaches are called marketing concepts, or a philosophy that determines what type of marketing tools are used by a company. Marketing concepts are driven by a clear objective that takes into account cost efficiency, social responsibilities, and effectiveness within a particular market.

b.) The 4Ps make up a typical marketing mix - Price, Product, Promotion and Place. However, nowadays, the marketing mix increasingly includes several other Ps like Packaging, Positioning, People and even Politics as vital mix elements.

Price: refers to the value that is put for a product. It depends on costs of production, segment targeted, ability of the market to pay, supply - demand and a host of other direct and indirect factors. There can be several types of pricing strategies, each tied in with an overall business plan. Pricing can also be used a demarcation, to differentiate and enhance the image of a product.

Product: refers to the item actually being sold. The product must deliver a minimum level of performance; otherwise even the best work on the other elements of the marketing mix won't do any good.

Place: refers to the point of sale. In every industry, catching the eye of the consumer and making it easy for her to buy it is the main aim of a good distribution or 'place' strategy. Retailers pay a premium for the right location. In fact, the mantra of a successful retail business is 'location, location, location'.

Promotion: this refers to all the activities undertaken to make the product or service known to the user and trade. This can include advertising, word of mouth, press reports, incentives, commissions and awards to the trade. It can also include consumer schemes, direct marketing, contests and prizes.