What is the definition of marketing and where does advertising fit within that definition? Marketing refers to the processes involved in communicating a product or service to customers or consumers. These communication processes can be used to sell, purchase, distribute or even promote a product or service to various markets. Simply put, marketing is the communication between an organisation and its customers. Its aim is to delivering some value to the customers so they purchase or sell goods and/or services. Advertising, however is one of many tools used in marketing to reach and inform consumers. Of the four P’s in the marketing mix, advertising falls under ‘promotion’. Some other marketing tools are public relations, sales promotions, directing marketing and personal selling. There are various types of advertisements, among them political, public service, retail and directory. Advertising must be strategic as well as creative. …show more content…
Do companies create consumer demand or simply try to meet customers’ needs? I believe advertising shapes as well as mirrors society. A case in point, advertisements can shape society's perception of ‘beauty." For instance, in magazines and movies, quite often young girls strive to look-like and emulate the digitally enhanced images of women in magazines. As such, some critics argue that advertising abuses its influence on children and teenagers in particular, amongst others. On the other hand, I believe some companies create consumer demand with the unsuspecting target group falling for it. This can sometimes manifest itself in people purchasing products and using services with the belief that it will make them popular, beautiful or even wealthy. In western-society, it appears that it is more attractive for a woman to have a thin and slim figure than other other body shape. Hence, there are many advertisements geared towards losing weight and keeping in