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Marketing

Selling the dream! The 4Ps of Marketing. Learn how businesses create value and connect with customers to build successful brands!

1. What is Marketing? ๐ŸŽฏ

Marketing is the process of creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have VALUE for customers.

Marketing is NOT just selling or advertising - it's about understanding customer needs and creating value to satisfy them profitably.

Needs vs Wants vs Demands

  • Needs: Basic requirements (food, shelter, clothing)
  • Wants: Specific satisfiers shaped by culture (Jollibee, iPhone)
  • Demands: Wants backed by purchasing power

Marketing Concepts Evolution

  • 1. Production Concept (availability)
  • 2. Product Concept (quality)
  • 3. Selling Concept (push sales)
  • 4. Marketing Concept (customer needs)
  • 5. Societal Concept (society welfare)

2. The Marketing Mix - 4Ps ๐Ÿ›๏ธ

Product + Price + Place + Promotion

The controllable elements that create the marketing strategy

1. Product ๐Ÿ“ฆ

What you sell - goods, services, or ideas

  • โ€ข Features and benefits
  • โ€ข Quality and design
  • โ€ข Branding and packaging
  • โ€ข Product life cycle
  • โ€ข Warranties and services

2. Price ๐Ÿ’ฐ

What customers pay for value

  • โ€ข List price and discounts
  • โ€ข Payment terms
  • โ€ข Credit options
  • โ€ข Price vs perceived value
  • โ€ข Competitive pricing

3. Place (Distribution) ๐Ÿ“

How product reaches customer

  • โ€ข Distribution channels
  • โ€ข Location and coverage
  • โ€ข Inventory management
  • โ€ข Logistics and transportation
  • โ€ข Online vs physical stores

4. Promotion ๐Ÿ“ฃ

How you communicate value

  • โ€ข Advertising
  • โ€ข Sales promotion
  • โ€ข Personal selling
  • โ€ข Public relations
  • โ€ข Social media marketing

3. Market Segmentation, Targeting, and Positioning (STP) ๐ŸŽฏ

STP is the strategic approach to identify and reach the most valuable customers.

S - Segmentation

Dividing the market into distinct groups:

Geographic

Region, city size, climate

Demographic

Age, gender, income

Psychographic

Lifestyle, values, personality

Behavioral

Usage, loyalty, benefits

T - Targeting

Selecting which segments to serve:

  • โ€ข Undifferentiated: Same marketing for all (mass marketing)
  • โ€ข Differentiated: Different marketing for different segments
  • โ€ข Concentrated/Niche: Focus on one specific segment
  • โ€ข Micromarketing: Tailored to individuals

P - Positioning

Creating a distinct image in customers' minds:

Positioning Statement: For [target segment], [brand] is the [category] that [point of difference] because [reason to believe].

Example: "For busy professionals, Jollibee delivers fast, delicious Filipino comfort food because of our efficient service and authentic recipes."

4. Consumer Behavior ๐Ÿง 

Understanding WHY consumers make purchasing decisions.

Consumer Decision-Making Process:

1. Need Recognition โ†’ 2. Information Search โ†’ 3. Evaluation โ†’ 4. Purchase โ†’ 5. Post-Purchase

Factors Influencing Consumer Behavior

  • โ€ข Cultural: Culture, subculture, social class
  • โ€ข Social: Family, reference groups, roles
  • โ€ข Personal: Age, occupation, lifestyle
  • โ€ข Psychological: Motivation, perception, beliefs

Types of Buying Behavior

  • โ€ข Complex: High involvement, significant differences
  • โ€ข Dissonance-reducing: High involvement, few differences
  • โ€ข Habitual: Low involvement, few differences
  • โ€ข Variety-seeking: Low involvement, significant differences

5. Product Life Cycle (PLC) ๐Ÿ“ˆ

Every product goes through stages from birth to decline.

Stage Sales Profits Marketing Focus
Introduction Low Negative/Low Awareness, trial
Growth Rapid increase Rising Market share, differentiation
Maturity Peak/Stable Peak then decline Defend share, loyalty
Decline Declining Declining Harvest or divest

6. Pricing Strategies ๐Ÿ’ต

Different approaches to setting prices based on objectives.

New Product Pricing

  • Skimming: High initial price, lower over time (iPhones)
  • Penetration: Low price to gain market share fast

Product Mix Pricing

  • Bundle: Multiple products at lower combined price
  • Optional: Base product + optional accessories

Psychological Pricing

  • Odd pricing: โ‚ฑ99.99 instead of โ‚ฑ100
  • Prestige: High price = quality perception

Promotional Pricing

  • Loss leader: Below cost to attract customers
  • Special event: Holiday sales, clearance

7. Digital Marketing and Social Media ๐Ÿ“ฑ

Modern marketing channels that reach customers where they spend time.

Digital Marketing Channels:

Search Engine

SEO, Google Ads

Social Media

Facebook, TikTok, Instagram

Email Marketing

Newsletters, promotions

Content Marketing

Blogs, videos, podcasts

Influencer Marketing

Vloggers, celebrities

Affiliate Marketing

Commission-based referrals

Key Digital Marketing Metrics:

  • โ€ข Reach: Number of people who see your content
  • โ€ข Engagement: Likes, comments, shares
  • โ€ข Conversion Rate: % who take desired action
  • โ€ข ROI: Return on marketing investment

๐Ÿ“ Practice Questions

1. What are the 4Ps of the Marketing Mix?

Show Answer

Product, Price, Place, and Promotion

2. Which pricing strategy starts with a high price and lowers it over time?

Show Answer

Price Skimming - used for new, innovative products to maximize profit from early adopters

3. What stage of the Product Life Cycle has peak sales but declining profits?

Show Answer

Maturity Stage - sales are stable/peak, but profits decline due to competition

4. What does STP stand for in marketing strategy?

Show Answer

Segmentation, Targeting, and Positioning

๐Ÿ’ก Marketing Exam Tips

  • โœ“ Memorize 4Ps: Product, Price, Place, Promotion
  • โœ“ Know STP: Segmentation (divide) โ†’ Targeting (choose) โ†’ Positioning (differentiate)
  • โœ“ PLC stages: Introduction โ†’ Growth โ†’ Maturity โ†’ Decline
  • โœ“ Needs vs Wants: Needs are basic; Wants are shaped by culture
  • โœ“ Skimming vs Penetration: High initial vs Low initial pricing
  • โœ“ Consumer decision process: 5 stages from need recognition to post-purchase