In this unit, we'll discover what marketing truly means beyond the ads and sales pitches you see every day.
Most people think marketing is just advertising or trying to sell things. But that's only scratching the surface of what marketing actually does.
Engagement Message
Name one activity, besides advertising, that you think counts as marketing.
Marketing is actually a customer-focused business philosophy. It starts with understanding what customers need and want, then figuring out how to deliver that value.
Think of it as putting the customer at the center of every business decision you make.
Engagement Message
In one sentence, how does a customer-focused approach differ from just selling?
Here's the key insight: successful marketing begins by identifying real customer problems and needs that aren't being met well by existing solutions.
It's like being a detective, investigating what customers truly struggle with or desire in their daily lives.
Engagement Message
Can you think of a product that solved a problem you didn't know you had?
Once marketers understand customer needs, they work to satisfy those needs profitably. This means creating solutions that both help customers AND make business sense.
It's not charity - it's finding the sweet spot where customer value and business success intersect.
Engagement Message
Why do you think profitability matters in this equation?
This process creates value for everyone involved. Customers get solutions that improve their lives, and businesses generate revenue by solving real problems.
When done right, marketing makes customers happy to pay because they're receiving genuine value in return.
Engagement Message
In one word, how would you now describe marketing?
