Charlotte Says
  • Welcome
  • About
  • Work with me
  • Services
    • Social Media
    • Branding
    • Marketing
  • Prices
  • Contact us
  • Blog
  • Welcome
  • About
  • Work with me
  • Services
  • Prices
  • Contact us
  • Blog
Charlotte Says
Subscribe
Charlotte Says
  • Welcome
  • About
  • Work with me
  • Services
    • Social Media
    • Branding
    • Marketing
  • Prices
  • Contact us
  • Blog
  • Marketing
  • Marketing in London

What is Marketing Anyway ?

  • Posted on 1st January 20196th February 2019
  • 744 views
  • 3 minute read
  • charlotte
Marketing in London
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0

When asked what I (Charlotte) do, I used to launch into great detail about my marketing specialism and I often used some jargon and industry buzz words when doing so. This was out of habit – a hang-up from my time working within marketing and branding departments. There, everyone knew what I was talking about and I was simply speaking “our language.” But, once I started working with SMEs, start-ups and other small businesses with people that are not from the industry, it became clear that my explanation didn’t actually mean very much, as I was often met with blank stares or awkward overwhelmed expressions. Their response actually did me a favour though, as I realised I needed to reflect on my explanation of what I do and stop trotting out the same old stuff I had been saying for a while. Anyway, my explanation didn’t really do my role justice as I do so much more than “marketing”…but what is marketing anyway? It is high time I put in writing what marketing means to me.

The dictionary says this: “[mass noun] The action or business of promoting and selling products or services, including market research and advertising.”

However, I personally do not think this definition tells us much about what marketing is and many other marketers agree. It is now widely accepted that marketing is the discipline of helping a brand communicate effectively with its audience so that the ideal customer(s) get to know, like and trust the brand. And then buy from the brand.

Marketing happens all the time because marketing is any contact that your business has with anyone who isn’t a part of your business. When your receptionist answers the phone to a potential client? That is marketing. When he answers the phone to a supplier or a partner – that is marketing too! The supplier or business partner is probably a consumer and has friends and connections that may be your ideal customer.

When you email customers, Tweet, welcome clients into your place of business, text reminders or go to networking meetings – that is all marketing.

 

point of sale marketing

 

But marketing isn’t simply a case of putting out a few posts on social media, posters put up by your cash register or firing out some email campaigns. To carry out effective marketing you need to know what your brand is inside and out – if your brand were a person what would they be like? What is important and why does your brand exist? What problem or need does your brand address and who would want to buy from you? Why? Plus, you need to know your ideal customer very well in order to be able to actually start the marketing strategy.

This is all the ground work that many small businesses have not yet even considered but the need for this information becomes very apparent when you want to take your business to the next level. This is why I offer branding services and discovery sessions to get the answers to these important questions first, before embarking on marketing!

Once you thoroughly know your brand, competitor landscape and ideal customer, you need to think about where your ideal customer spends time and plan a marketing strategy that both reaches and engages them. But, again, it isn’t that simple, you want to reach the target audience but you need to talk to them in the right places and in the right way to cut through the noise. Plus, you need to communicate in a way that is in alignment to your brand and feels authentic, engaging and relatable.

So what is marketing? I believe marketing is fostering the perfect environment for sales to happen. To do it well, you first need to know your business, your audience and the space your business is competing in. This is what I help you do, from the first stage through to the end game of encouraging customers to buy again and recommend others buy from you again.

 

Total
0
Shares
Like 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
charlotte

Related Topics
  • marketing
  • sales
  • social media
You May Also Like
View Post
  • Branding
  • Design
  • Marketing
  • Marketing in London

Don’t Dismiss Product Samples for Your Small Business

  • Posted on 14th June 201811th February 2019
  • charlotte
View Post
  • Marketing
  • social media

What is Experiential Marketing and Can Small Businesses Do it?

  • Posted on 28th March 201811th February 2019
  • charlotte
Christmas scrabble
View Post
  • Marketing

Clients are for Life, not just for Christmas

  • Posted on 14th December 20176th February 2019
  • charlotte
offline marketing
View Post
  • Marketing
  • Marketing in London

What is Offline Marketing?

  • Posted on 1st June 201711th February 2019
  • charlotte
Post it notes - Say yes
View Post
  • Marketing
  • Marketing in London
  • Uncategorised

Marketing and the Power of No

  • Posted on 18th April 201711th February 2019
  • charlotte
View Post
  • Marketing
  • social media

Importance of Blogging

  • Posted on 12th January 20176th February 2019
  • charlotte
View Post
  • Design
  • Marketing

The Essentials: Leaflets and Direct Mailers

  • Posted on 24th September 201611th February 2019
  • charlotte
menu design brand
View Post
  • Branding
  • Design
  • Marketing in London

Menus do’s and don’ts

  • Posted on 26th August 201611th February 2019
  • charlotte
Recent Posts
  • Marketing
  • Social Media
  • Branding
  • What is Marketing Anyway ?
  • Instagram and Tagging, Are You Doing It ?
Archives
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • October 2018
  • June 2018
  • March 2018
  • December 2017
  • October 2017
  • June 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • January 2017
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
Categories
  • Branding
  • Design
  • Events
  • Homepage
  • Marketing
  • Marketing in London
  • social media
  • Thoughts
  • Uncategorised
Meta
  • Log in
  • Entries RSS
  • Comments RSS
  • WordPress.org
Throwback to Thursday - I cast my vote in the morning and then ventured across to #lutonhoo for our work Christmas do. 🎄 Sadly I missed the Clay Pigeon Shooting 🐦 but whilst I waited for the team to reconvene, I wandered around and took in the roaring fires and beautiful Christmas trees with a large glass of Gin. 🍸Perfect. Christmas Carols on tonight and I’m starting to feel all Christmassy. #christmas #treegoals #itsbeginningtolookalotlikechristmas #tistheseason #merrychristmas #merryandbright #oldfashioned 18 9
Yes it’s raining outside ☔️ and schools are closed (well some are) and it would be much nicer to stay in all day snuggled up with the twinkling ✨ Christmas tree, watching an old movie 🍿 BUT personally I believe it is so important to exercise our right to vote. It is a privilege and if you’re considering not voting, purely because it’s cold and wet outside, that shows you can afford that luxury, so please consider those without that luxury, for whom policy changes are life changing. Read all policies and vote for the people that closest reflect where you want to get to for the whole of our society. AND please do your research. 🙏🏻 💕 I’ve voted and took my boy with me and have been explaining politics for a few months so he understands the process. He is curious and cares a lot and so do many of his friends. This gives me hope for a future generation that are politically engaged and have integrity and empathy and compassion at their heart. ❣ #pollingstation #yourvotematters #votevotevote 26 1
Today is a duvet day kind of day.😴 Trying to take it easy. 🌸Still feeling not 100% but enjoying some time with this little beauty. 👑 She’s been in our lives only a short time but she is already so important to us. Our amazing therapy dog 🐶 #cavaliersofinstagram #cavaliercorner #familyblogger 24 4
Throw back to last week at @theroyaloperahouse 🌸with my mum at the friend’s performance of Coppelia. It was absolutely glorious - better than I remember it being (last time I saw it was around 10-years ago!) and so nice to enjoy it with my mum. My usual bag is more contemporary ballet and this is very accessible, but cast was fantastic and this is funny and beautiful! 👌🏻💕I highly recommend going for a festive treat 🎄We mooched around the gift shop afterwards (first picture is the stunning costume designs and mood boards on display) - I could have bought everything. 😍Was a lovely break offering some visual delights as a break from the humdrum everyday and greyness of the past few weeks. #inspiration #ballet #balletdancer #royaloperahouse #coppelia #costumedesign #moodboards 26 9
Life isn’t always glamorous, so it really bugs me that in these squares and on social media platforms, we perpetuate the lies that it is and it should be. ☹️🤨 This is me sat on the kitchen floor, having just been cleaning up coffee I had spilt ☕️ I was feeling so clumsy and overwhelmed and I thought it was exhaustion. I just sank on to the floor (making time for a selfie too 🤦‍♀️)At that moment I felt sorry for myself, but then my son came in to check I was ok and gave me a cuddle 💕and I was reminded how blessed I am. Anyway, it turns out I have a problem caused by the virus I had that’s affecting my balance and hearing, so I am feeling a little less daft and overwhelmed now I know why. 💡 And NHS were fab this time and I have some medication that should help 🌸#charlottesays #authenticity #doitforthegram 28 16
Can’t believe it isn’t December yet. 🎄 I am one of those annoying people that love Christmas and wish away the days until I am allowed to put up decorations and get excited. 🙋🏼‍♀️Anyone else? #december #holidaysarecoming #hygge #christmasdecor #eveningsin #thursdaynight 21 4

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.

Charlotte Says
Powered by GDPR plugin

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

Privacy and Cookie Policy

More information about our Privacy and Cookie Policy