Introduction to Making It In Marketing
Marketing is a growing field that touches every part of a company, from customer service to product design and everything in between. People often think marketing is just advertising or promotions—it's not!
Instead, marketing is a creative and strategic process where you create demand for a product or service through a series of coordinated activities, also known as a campaign. These activities can include running digital ads, co-hosting webinars, or posting regularly on social media.
However, it’s critical to understand the two types of marketing careers you can explore. Let’s briefly dive into how business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) marketing differ from each other.
B2C vs. B2B
B2C marketing (or consumer marketing) centers on businesses reaching out to everyday consumers, like you and me. Think restaurants, clothing stores, and airlines.
To reach consumers, B2C marketers follow techniques such as:
Creating catchy ads or memorable slogans
Using social media platforms, like Instagram and TikTok to run ads
Targeting specific demographics, such as age and location
Contrastingly, B2B marketing (or business marketing) is when businesses market solutions and products to other businesses looking to solve a specific problem. B2B solutions tend to be focused on increasing work efficiency with the use of technology.
For example, a bank may adopt a new cybersecurity solution to identify potential fraud for its customers. A data analytics company may purchase cloud storage to expand its operations and support more clients.
Types of Marketing
Marketing can take any shape — from online and print ads to live events and social influencers.
Here are some common types you may come across:
Traditional marketing includes offline activities, such as print ads or billboards.
Digital marketing includes online activities, like website design or targeted ads.
Influencer marketing involves outside collaboration with online influencers in a specific community—from fashion and food to software and data science.
Content marketing is a core strategy that involves creating and sharing educational or helpful industry-specific resources, like blog posts and eBooks.
Public relations (PR) focuses on publicized activities that shape how your company or brand is perceived by others. Think press releases and big-impact social campaigns.
Businesses typically use multiple marketing strategies depending on their industry. For example, digital marketing is a must in today’s world where people are always connected to their devices.
Takeaways
Not sure if marketing is a good fit? Read on to learn what type of marketing roles you’d excel in based on your personality and natural skills.
