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6 Key Elements to Use in Your Ultimate Sales Presentation

The Sales Presentation is Step 4 of your Ultimate 10-Step Sales Presentation.

There is an old proverb that goes, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink!”

The same meaning is true for buyers. You can lead them to the right product or solution, but you can’t make them buy. Your job as a professional salesperson is to make the buyer “thirsty.” Show them why and how your product or solution is best. When you do that effectively, the buyer will buy.

Now, how do you make the buyer “thirsty?” The answer lies in how you craft your ultimate sales presentation.

In this article on crafting your ultimate sales presentation, we’ll examine:

  • Three steps essential to your presentation.
  • The sales presentation mix.
  • Using persuasive communication to persuade.
  • How to use visual aids to tell your story.
  • Creating drama in your presentation.
  • Using demonstrations to prove your point.
  • Get ready for Murphy’s Law!

3 Steps Essential to Your Presentation

There are three essential steps to almost every presentation.

  • You begin by discussing your product or idea. What are the features, advantages, and benefits of your product that will solve the buyer’s problem?
  • Next, you present your marketing plan. If you are selling to a reseller or wholesaler, you discuss how they can resell your product. If you are selling to an end-user, you discuss how they will use your product.
  • Finally, you need to explain your business proposition. Answer the questions: “What’s in it for your customer?” “How does the value of your product or idea outweigh its cost?”

Here’s a simple example to demonstrate those three steps. In this example, I am selling Sterling Vegetable Oil to an Executive Chef who buys through a foodservice wholesaler.

  • Product Features. Sterling Vegetable Oil is 100% premium Soybean oil. It is nearly colorless, and tasteless, and has been “winterized.”
  • Product Advantages. Sterling Vegetable Oil’s clarity and non-oily taste make it an excellent base for your signature dressings and marinades. The winterized formula means it will remain clear even when refrigerated, unlike most other oils that get cloudy when refrigerated.
  • Product Benefits. The clarity and taste of the oil mean the colors and taste of your spices will stand out in your recipe. Customers will see the bright colors of your ingredients and taste the flavor of your spices, not just oil. Additionally, you may find you can use less spice in your recipe and still have a great taste carry through in your dressing!
  • Marketing Plan. Sterling Vegetable Oil comes in 1-gallon bottles, 4 to a case. It is stocked by both your primary foodservice wholesalers. With weekly deliveries from both distributors, you don’t need to carry a large inventory. Since you can reorder weekly, you don’t have to worry about running out of stock.
  • Business Proposition. In the business proposition, I would discuss comparisons to competitive products, pricing, etc. I would also stress the value of using a premium oil in his signature dressings.

It’s important to note the features, advantages, and benefits are discussed when talking about the product. It is equally important to use the same feature, advantage, benefit technique when discussing the marketing plan and business proposition.

The Sales Presentation Mix

Every presentation is different, but every presentation shares six common elements. These six elements are known as the Sales Presentation Mix. The professional salesperson utilizes some combination of these elements (to a greater or lesser extent) in every presentation.

First, I’d like to introduce you to these six powerful elements. After a brief introduction, we’ll spend some time examining several elements of the sales presentation mix in more detail.

1. Persuasive Communication

Persuasive communication is critical to your success as a salesperson. You must be able to transmit your message to another person so they support your proposal. Plus, you also need to be able to persuade people to adopt your viewpoint.

2. Visual Aids

There is nothing worse than sitting across from a salesperson whose entire presentation is them talking. How boring is that?! So, as a professional salesperson, you must bring some interest to your presentation to capture the buyer’s attention and engage them. One way to do that is through visual aids.

Buyers see salespeople one after another, all day long. If you were a buyer, who would you look forward to seeing today? If you’re like me, the answer is someone who brings their presentation to life in some dramatic fashion. Someone who entertains me while they present.

That’s the power of adding a dramatic element to your presentation.

4. Demonstrations

Demonstrations are a great way to add drama to your presentation and engage your buyer. Good demonstrations are short, concise, and dramatically prove a point you are making in your presentation. The best demonstrations go one step further, getting the buyer into the act by inviting the buyer to participate in the demonstration.

5. Participation

Getting a buyer involved in your presentation increases their engagement and interest. So, finding ways to have a buyer participate in some way is important.

Buyers want to be convinced that what you are telling them is the truth, whether they say it out loud or not. The easiest way to do that is through proof statements. Proof of your claims can be provided in several forms, including testimonials, guarantees, company research, outside research, and the customer’s own past experiences.

So, there you go. We have now finished the quick introduction to the six presentation mix elements. Now, let’s take a deeper dive into using persuasive communication, visual aids, adding drama, and conducting demonstrations.

Using Persuasive Communication to Persuade

As I said before, persuasive communication is critical to the success of every salesperson. You must be able to persuade people to adopt your viewpoint. If you can’t do that, your career as a salesperson will be short-lived!

There are libraries of books on the “how to’s” of persuasive communication. In this article, I can only give you a topline look at some of the most powerful elements of persuasive communication:

  • The SELL sequence,
  • How to use logic,
  • The power of suggestion, and
  • The importance of trust.

SELL Sequence

The SELL sequence is one of the most versatile and powerful tools in the persuasive communication arsenal. Every professional salesperson must master the use of the SELL sequence.

SELL is an acronym that stands for:

  • S how the feature,
  • E xplain the advantage,
  • L ead into the benefit, and
  • L et the customer talk!

You should use the SELL sequence when discussing any of the three stages (product, marketing plan, or business proposition) of your presentation.

For Example, I might ask an executive chef if the quality of the salad oil he uses in his signature dressings is important. I know he’ll say yes, of course, it is.

  • Then I’ll hold up a small vial of Sterling Salad Oil and explain one feature of Sterling is it is the purest, 100% Soybean Oil available on the market.
  • The advantage of Sterling’s purity is it is nearly colorless and tasteless.
  • The benefit of being colorless and tasteless to you, chef, is the color and taste of the ingredients in your signature salad dressings will stand out, not the flavor of the oil.
  • Then, I will let the customer talk by using a trial close. Knowing the taste of his signature dressings is important to him, I ask, “Is that important to you?”

The key to using a tool as powerful as the SELL sequence is to use the feature, advantage, benefit combination that is most important to the buyer first. Don’t start off by explaining something that isn’t that important to the buyer. Focus instead on the feature, advantage, and benefit that is most important to the buyer.

Another important tip in using the SELL sequence is to complete the sequence for each feature, advantage, and benefit before moving on to the next sequence. I’ve seen it over and over with less experienced salespeople. They are so excited they vomit out everything they know about a product in some random order that makes no sense and confuses the buyer.

Don’t be that salesperson! Be organized and follow your plan to talk about the most important thing first, then the next most important, and so on.

Logical Reasoning

Using logic as a persuasive communication tool is especially effective with analytical buyers. Analytical buyers appreciate the thought process that goes into the logical flow of establishing a premise followed by a conclusion.

A simple form of logical reasoning in a presentation calls for the salesperson to establish a major premise, then a minor premise, and finally, a conclusion.

For example. A major premise is, “Your trucking company wants to increase efficiency while reducing costs.” A minor premise is, “Brand X Trucks will increase efficiency while reducing your costs. And finally, the conclusion, “Therefore you should buy Brand X trucks from me.”

Another form of logical reasoning is called SCQA.

  • S ituation. Describe the current situation.
  • C omplication. What is the problem?
  • Q uestion . How can the problem be solved?
  • A nswer. Deliver your brilliant solution.

For example. You want to expand your trucking company business (situation) . However, you can’t afford to expand because profits are down (complication) . How can profits be increased to allow the business to expand (question) ? Buy my new high-efficiency trucks that get 50% better mileage than your current fleet of trucks (answer) .

These are just two of the many forms of logical reasoning that can be employed as part of a persuasive communication presentation. The important thing with these, or other logical reasoning tools, is that you adapt them to your buyer.

Suggestions Persuade

I don’t know about you, but usually, I don’t like being told what to do. If a salesperson tells me I need to do something in that “or else” tone of voice; my reaction is a hard “no!”

On the other hand, if a salesperson, respectfully suggests a course of action that will benefit me, then chances are good, I’ll take his or her suggestion.

That’s the power of persuasion through suggestion. You use suggestions to get the buyer’s attention, interest, desire, conviction, and action!

Here are six of the most common suggestion techniques you can deploy in your persuasive communication.

1. Suggestive Propositions

A suggestive proposition simply proposes the buyer should act now. It is particularly effective with buyers who procrastinate when making a decision.

For example, “Do you think it is beneficial for you to order before the price increase.?

2. Prestige Suggestions

The prestige suggestion appeals to the aspirational desire of the buyer. The buyer visualizes the prestige of a famous product or person associated with your suggestion applying to them.

For example, “Would you like to be like nine of the top ten manufacturers in your field who use Brand X?”

3. Autosuggestion

The autosuggestion technique asks the buyer to imagine themselves using or benefiting from the product. Almost every television commercial uses some form of autosuggestion.

For example, “Imagine how you will look when you lose that last 20-bs. You will be the envy of all your friends in the gym with your new physique!”

4. Direct Suggestions

Salespeople use the direct suggestion technique frequently because it is so effective. With the direct suggestion, you simply suggest what the buyer should do next.

For example, “Based on your recent sales volume, I suggest you purchase 20-cases of Brand Z.”

5. Indirect Suggestions

The indirect suggestion is also used to recommend a course of action. Often the indirect suggestion is used to assume the buyer will buy but give them a choice in how much or when to buy.

For example, “Do you think 50 cases of Brand Z will be enough for your next promotion, or would 75-cases be better?” Or, “Would you like delivery as soon as next week or would you prefer to take delivery at the end of the month?”

6. Counter Suggestions

The counter-suggestion is my least favorite technique. The idea is you make a suggestion counter to what you know the buyer wants.

For example, “Are you sure you really want the quality of these 1,000 count Island Cotton sheets?”

When you know a customer wants a specific product, the counter-suggestion can get them to defend their purchase decision. That is why I am not much of a fan of this technique. It tends to put the buyer in a defensive position, and that can easily backfire on the salesperson.

Build Trust

Trust is what I call a “hidden” element of persuasive communication. If the buyer trusts you, he or she is more likely to believe what you say. If the buyer doesn’t have a trusting relationship with you, they may take what you say with a grain of salt or disbelieve what you tell them.

For that reason, I always tell young salespeople for long-term success, be honest in all ways with everyone.

When I was a brand-new sales representative, I called on small independent grocery stores. I had trouble breaking through and selling a group of my customers. I kept calling on them every two weeks and finally got an order from one customer. Then two weeks later, I got an order from another customer in this group, and then another. Suddenly, I was flush with orders!

It turned out all these independent grocery store owners were part of a group, and they all talked to each other. The first owner ordered from me because I had quoted exactly the same prices and promotional offers to every one of my customers. Eventually, he had come to trust me. Why? Well, because I delivered exactly as I said I would, word got around, and the rest of the group ordered from me because they now trusted me.

If I hadn’t been honest with every one of the owners, I never would have gotten the first order. If I hadn’t delivered exactly as I said, I would never have gotten the other owners to order.

So, you always need to be honest with everyone all the time if you want to build trust. Trust that derives from honesty is a valuable tool in your persuasive communication.

How to Use Visual Aids to Tell Your Story

A visual aid is any physical item you use in your presentation to illustrate a key point. A visual aid leverages sight to reinforce the point being articulated. So, you appeal to two senses, hearing and sight, linked to make your point. Often visual aids are used to emphasize features, advantages, and benefits of the solution you are presenting.

Some of the common visual aids I’ve used over the years include

  • Samples of the product itself.
  • Photographs of the product.
  • Testimonials from current users of the product.
  • Product brochures and catalogs.
  • Sample advertisements.
  • Flip charts and posters.
  • Printed presentations, including charts, graphs, and feature, advantage, benefit summaries.

I’m sure you can think of other visual tools you might use. The key to using a visual element is to use elements that support the point you are making in the presentation. You’ll just confuse the buyer if what you say doesn’t match what you show them in the visual!

Creating Drama in Your Presentation

Think about how you would feel if you were a buyer listening to one salesperson after another all day long, every day, day-after-day. How engaged would you be if the salesperson simply sat across the desk talking through a presentation, flipping through pieces of paper?

Or, would you be more engaged if they found a way to present their product in some striking, entertaining, or extravagant way?

I remember one sales rep that spoke about the quality of Iams Canned Dog Food to a buyer. He showed the buyer the can, then popped the top off the can, grabbed a spoon from his bag, and ate a big spoonful of Iams. He did this to make the point with the buyer that Iams is so pure it is fit for human consumption.

If you gagged a little bit just now, you know how I felt as he pulled this surprise move with his buyer.

I guarantee you that moment of drama engaged the buyer in the presentation. And I suspect, the buyer talked about this crazy salesperson eating dog food the rest of the week!

That’s what adding drama does for a presentation. It takes what might be a routine presentation and makes it stand out in the mind of the buyer!

Using Demonstrations to Prove Your Point

Another way to create drama in your presentation is to use demonstrations. Demonstrations are one of my favorite tools as a sales representative because the demonstration proves the point I am making in the presentation.

I have found that employing more of our senses when making a presentation always makes the story you are telling more powerful. Most salespeople talk all the way through their presentations. However, talking only employs the hearing sense, and we all know we tend to forget most of what we hear.

On the other hand, if what we hear is reinforced by a demonstration that dramatically makes the same point, we are much more likely to believe the point and to remember it. So, if you can use a demonstration to engage sight, touch, taste, and smell besides hearing your presentation will be far more memorable and convincing.

I was presenting at a convention of restaurant owners about the importance of using high-quality dish soap to clean their dishes and utensils. Does that sound like a snooze fest or what?!

The topic itself is important since a restaurant’s rating from the health department is based in part on how clean all those dishes and utensils are. But most restaurant owners think soap is soap, so who cares?!

I knew I had a great story to tell because institutional Joy Dishwashing liquid is far superior to just about everything else on the market. It is a little more expensive per gallon, but it is so much more effective you can use less and still end up with sparkling clean dishes.

So, to keep my audience from tuning out, or worse, falling asleep, I conducted a demonstration to prove my point.

I filled two beakers with some water, put in equal amounts of dirty oil, and shook them up.

Then I put ten drops of a competitor’s dish soap in one beaker, and five drops of Joy in the other beaker. I shook them both up, and the results were dramatic.

The competitor’s product still had oil floating on the water and no suds. The Joy beaker had all the oil trapped in the suds and lots of suds remaining.

That demonstration proved my point far more effectively than anything I could have said! The only thing I would do differently is getting an audience member to participate by doing the demonstration as I talked him or her through it.

Demonstration Checklist

As I said, I love doing demonstrations, but to be convincing, you must spend some time planning your demonstration. Here are five things to think through as you plan your next demonstration.

  • Will the demonstration reinforce my presentation?
  • What is my objective with this demonstration?
  • Have I planned how I will conduct the demonstration?
  • Have I rehearsed every element of the presentation, so I know it will flow smoothly and achieve my objective?
  • Is there anything that can go wrong with this demonstration, and if so, how will I recover?

Remember, the whole reason for doing a demonstration is to increase the effectiveness of your presentation. You need to do three things.

  • Capture the buyer’s attention and interest.
  • Engage them through participation in the demonstration.
  • Reinforce the features, advantages, and benefits of your product as a solution to the buyer’s problem.

One final note on demonstrations. You spend all this time and energy, creating and conducting this demonstration. Take advantage of the powerful conclusion to your demonstration by incorporating a trial close. In my Joy Dishwashing example above, a trial close might be something as simple as saying, “Do you all agree that Joy has done a better job of trapping the grease than the competitive product even though I used half as much Joy?” (We’ll talk more about the trial close and how to use them in your presentation in the near future.)

Get Ready for Murphy’s Law!

I suspect you are aware of the adage known as Murphy’s Law. Murphy’s Law states, “anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.”

You’re my friend, so let me assure you Murphy is alive and well, and his law is still in place!

As a professional salesperson, you might as well get used to the idea that things will go wrong when you are giving a presentation. However, I’m sure that you understand that I can’t possibly cover everything that can go wrong (that would be another book). Although, I know that there are two of the most common things that can and will go wrong at some point in your sales career.

Interruptions

You will be just about ready to close on a major point, and the phone will ring, or the boss will stick his or her head in the door and interrupt your presentation. What do you do? If the discussion is personal (like a spouse is on the phone) motion you will step outside to give the buyer privacy.

Meanwhile, wait and gather your thoughts. Quickly think about exactly where you left off in your presentation. Also, while you are waiting, decide how you will reengage the buyer when you resume.

Once you are ready to resume your presentation, give the buyer a moment to clear their head and focus their attention back on you and the business at hand.

Next, I like to restate the last point I made to help get the buyer’s attention back on track. In the Sterling Oil presentation, I mentioned before; I might say something like, “As I was saying, Sterling Oil is nearly clear and tasteless, which means the color, and the taste of your spices really stand out. Does that sound good to you?”

Technical Fails

Technology is often a vital element in our presentations today. Sadly, technology has a way of breaking down and not working right when we need it the most. I try to protect myself from technology failures ruining a presentation by having duplicate systems.

I don’t like to rely on internet downloads when I am in someone else’s’ office. So, I make sure that I have downloaded the videos, presentations, and everything else I need on my computer hard drive. Often, I will make another backup of all those important files on a second device like a thumb drive.

If my computer won’t run, I always have paper copies of my presentation so I can go old school if needed.

The point is, be prepared. Interruptions will happen. Technology will fail. Don’t get upset. Don’t let your frustration show. Just smile and get back on track as fast as you can and close that sale!

The Ultimate 10-Step Sales Presentation Series

Step4: The Presentation is the fifth in a series of articles, which have been created to teach you how to craft and deliver the Ultimate Sales Presentation in 10-Steps.

If you missed a prior article in this series or you want to review one again, you’ll find them here:

  • Kick-Off: The Ultimate 10-Step Sales Presentation
  • Step 1: Customer Prospecting
  • Step 2: Pre-Approach Planning
  • Step 3: The Approach
  • Step 4: The Presentation – Part 1
  • Step 4: Key elements of the Sales Presentation Mix to Use in Your Presentation (you’re here)
  • Steps 5-10: Coming soon. A new article releases every two weeks.

If you want to make sure you don’t miss one of these articles, you can sign up to receive the series here .

Join the Conversation

As always, questions and comments are welcome. What questions do you have about the Sales Presentation Mix elements of the Ultimate 10-Step Presentation model?

I’d love your help. This blog is read primarily because of people like you who share it with friends. Would you be kind enough to share it by pressing the share button?

Category: Salespeople

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How to Leverage the Trial Close in Your Ultimate Sales Presentation

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Marketing mix presentation: A comprehensive guide

This comprehensive guide covers all four Ps of marketing: product, price, place, and promotion.

Raja Bothra

Building presentations

team preparing marketing mix presentation

Hey there, marketing enthusiast!

If you're looking to master the art of creating an impactful marketing mix presentation, you're in the right place.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll dive deep into the world of marketing mix presentations, exploring what they are, why they matter, and how to craft one that stands out.

So, grab your favorite beverage, settle in, and let's get started on this exciting journey.

What is a marketing mix presentation?

Let's kick things off by understanding the core concept: the marketing mix. The marketing mix refers to the essential elements that a company uses to influence consumer perception and drive their product or service's success in the market. These elements are typically categorized into the famous 4Ps of marketing: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion .

Marketing mix explained

  • Product : This is the heart of your marketing mix. It involves the actual product or service you're offering. It's essential to understand what your customers need and want so you can tailor your offering to meet those needs.
  • Price : Determining the right price for your product is crucial. You need to consider what you're trying to achieve with your pricing strategy. Are you aiming for affordability, premium status, or somewhere in between?
  • Place : Also known as distribution, this aspect focuses on how and where customers can access your product. Consider your distribution channels and what works best for your target market.
  • Promotion : Promotion is all about getting the word out there. It includes advertising, sales promotions, and other strategies to create awareness and interest in your product.

Why is marketing mix presentation important?

Now that we've got the basics down, let's talk about why creating a compelling marketing mix presentation is crucial for your business.

Marketing plan : A marketing mix presentation is an integral part of your overall marketing plan . It outlines how you'll use the 4Ps to achieve your business goals.

Target market : By carefully considering your marketing mix, you can better understand and reach your target market , ensuring your product or service resonates with the right audience.

Promotion strategy : Your presentation will play a vital role in defining your promotion strategy . It helps you decide how to advertise, whether through print advertising, display ads, or digital strategies.

Sales promotion : Effective use of the marketing mix can also lead to successful sales promotions , which can be a game-changer for your business.

Market research : A well-structured presentation should reflect the results of your market research , which informs your product and pricing decisions.

What to include in a marketing mix presentation?

Now that you understand the significance of a marketing mix presentation, let's break down what components you should include in it.

  • Product or service overview : Start by introducing your product or service. Explain its unique features, benefits, and how it addresses customer needs.
  • Pricing strategy : Detail your pricing strategy, including factors like cost analysis, competitor pricing, and the value your product provides.
  • Distribution channels : Discuss the channels through which customers can access your product. Whether it's through physical stores, online platforms, or a combination, outline your distribution strategy.
  • Promotional activities : Explain how you plan to promote your product. Will you use traditional methods like print advertising or go for modern digital strategies ? Be specific.
  • Market research insights : Share the findings from your market research that informed your product and pricing decisions. This adds credibility to your presentation.
  • Target audience : Describe your target audience in detail. Who are they, and why will they be interested in your product?
  • Competitive analysis : Include a section on your competitors. What sets you apart, and how will you outshine them?

How to structure a marketing mix presentation

Now that you know what to include, let's talk about structuring your presentation effectively. Here's a suggested format:

1. Title slide

  • Start with an attention-grabbing title, such as "Unveiling the Perfect Marketing Mix: Your Roadmap to Success."
  • Include your company logo and your name as the presenter.

2. Introduction

  • Briefly introduce yourself and your company.
  • Explain the purpose of your presentation.

Product or service

  • Present a detailed overview.
  • Highlight unique selling points.
  • Discuss your pricing strategy.
  • Show how it aligns with your target audience's expectations.

Place (distribution)

  • Outline your distribution channels.
  • Explain how they cater to your target customers.
  • Share your promotional activities.
  • Mention any professionally designed materials or strategies.

4. Market research and target audience

  • Present insights from your market research.
  • Define your target audience clearly.

5. Competitive analysis

  • Analyze your competitors.
  • Showcase your strengths and opportunities.

6. Conclusion

  • Summarize the key points of your presentation.
  • Invite questions from the audience.

7. Q&A session

  • Engage with your audience and address their queries.

Do's and don'ts on a marketing mix presentation

As you craft your marketing mix presentation, keep these do's and don'ts in mind:

  • Do be clear : Ensure your presentation is concise and easy to understand.
  • Do use visuals : Incorporate diagrams and visuals to enhance comprehension.
  • Do tailor to your audience : Customize your presentation to suit your audience's knowledge and interests.
  • Do practice : Rehearse your presentation to boost confidence.

Don'ts

  • Don't overload with information : Avoid overwhelming your audience with too much data.
  • Don't ignore market research : Always base your decisions on solid market research.
  • Don't be vague : Provide concrete details and examples.
  • Don't rush : Speak at a comfortable pace, and don't rush through slides.

Summarizing key takeaways

  • Understanding the 4Ps : The foundation of a successful marketing mix presentation lies in comprehending the 4Ps: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion . These elements form the building blocks of your marketing strategy.
  • Market research matters : Market research is the bedrock upon which you should base your decisions. Informed choices about your product, pricing, and target audience lead to more effective marketing.
  • Tailor to your audience : Customize your presentation to suit your audience's needs and preferences. A well-tailored presentation is more likely to resonate and drive engagement.
  • Clarity is key : Keep your presentation concise and straightforward. Avoid overwhelming your audience with excessive data or jargon.
  • Visual appeal : Visuals, such as diagrams and graphics, can enhance understanding and engagement. Use them wisely to illustrate key points.
  • Practice makes perfect : Rehearse your presentation to build confidence and ensure a smooth delivery. Practice helps you convey your message effectively.
  • Balance promotion strategies : When discussing promotion, consider a mix of traditional and digital strategies to reach a wider audience.
  • Value proposition : Highlight your product or service's unique value proposition to differentiate yourself from competitors.
  • Competitive analysis : Analyze your competitors to identify opportunities and areas where you can excel.

With these key takeaways in mind, you'll be well-equipped to create a compelling marketing mix presentation that captures your audience's attention, drives your marketing efforts, and ultimately leads to business success.

1. What is the marketing mix concept, and how can I create a presentation using powerpoint templates?

The marketing mix concept, often referred to as the 4 P's of marketing (product, price, place, and promotion), is a fundamental framework for marketers. To present it effectively, you can utilize powerpoint ppt templates to craft engaging presentation slides that showcase each element.

2. How does segmentation play a role in marketing mix presentations?

Segmentation is a critical aspect of marketing strategy. In a marketing mix powerpoint presentation, you can discuss how segmenting your target audience helps tailor the 4 P's to meet customers' specific needs and preferences.

3. What are the 7Ps of marketing, and can a marketing mix template assist in their visualization?

The 7Ps of marketing expand on the traditional 4 Ps by including people, process, and physical evidence. To illustrate these comprehensively, consider using a marketing mix powerpoint template that allows for customizable content and presentation slides.

4. How does product life cycle impact marketing mix decisions, especially pricing strategy and placement (position)?

The product life cycle has a direct influence on your marketing mix. It affects pricing strategy and how price, discount decisions will inform your placement. In your presentation, highlight how your pricing strategy adapts at different stages of the product life cycle.

5. How can marketing communication and digital marketing be integrated into the marketing mix presentation effectively?

Marketing communication and digital marketing including; email marketing, content marketing, search engine marketing, and other marketing channels are vital tools in the marketer's arsenal. In your presentation, demonstrate how these channels of distribution and marketing tools can increase customer engagement and help you identify opportunities for successful product-led marketing.

Create your marketing mix presentation with prezent

When it comes to marketing strategies, the marketing mix is a foundational concept that plays a pivotal role in the success of any business. With Prezent, crafting a compelling marketing mix presentation has never been easier. Our platform empowers you to showcase your marketing strategy with precision and impact, ensuring that your audience understands the core elements that drive your brand's success.

Prezent's user-friendly presentation builder allows you to seamlessly integrate the four key components of the marketing mix: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. Whether you're introducing a new product, optimizing pricing strategies, identifying target market locations, or highlighting your promotional efforts, Prezent provides a canvas where you can visually represent each element with clarity. Our brand-approved design ensures that your marketing mix presentation aligns perfectly with your corporate identity, reinforcing your brand's credibility and consistency.

Furthermore, Prezent's real-time sharing and collaboration features make it easy to engage your team in refining and fine-tuning your marketing mix presentation. Whether you're working with colleagues within your organization or collaborating with external partners, Prezent fosters a collaborative environment where ideas can flow freely, resulting in a more comprehensive and impactful marketing strategy presentation. So, if you're looking to elevate your marketing mix game and impress your stakeholders, look no further than Prezent – your trusted partner in effective business communication.

So, why wait? Sign up for our free trial or book a demo !

Start creating your marketing mix presentation today and set your business on the path to success!

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13.1 The Promotion Mix and Its Elements

Learning outcomes.

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

  • 1 Define the promotion mix and explain its importance.
  • 2 List and describe the elements of the promotion mix.

What Is the Promotion Mix?

We are all consumers, and we have all been the target of promotional campaigns. To connect with consumers of a target market, companies conduct extensive market research so that they may better understand the consumer. When companies understand the consumer, they can better structure a message to appeal to the consumer and also find the best channels for reaching the customer.

The created messages aim to get consumers’ attention. Sometimes they create awareness of a new event, a new product, a new idea, or a place to visit. Sometimes they are asking consumers to make a purchase. Marketing promotion is all around us.

According to the marketing firm Yankelovich Inc. , the average digitally connected person is exposed to around 5,000 ads per day. 4 Among the biggest promotional spenders in the United States is Disney . 5 Disney produces ads for everything from its movies and toys to its vacation clubs and theme parks. While we should be flattered that these companies are thinking of us and trying to figure out how to reach us and what messages they should send, many consumers are busy trying to figure out how to shut out the messages.

When you sit down to watch television, you are typically exposed to ads that a company believes that you will respond to based on the research it has done about the audience watching the show you tuned in to watch. During your time scrolling through your news feed on Facebook , you are being served ads that correspond to your Internet search history and even products you may have mentioned while your phone was on and your news feed open. Digital advertising relies heavily on algorithms of your search history and site visits.

As recipients of these marketing messages, many consumers believe that marketing is only advertising or sales. However, advertising and sales are simply two options in a marketer’s arsenal of communication tools used to connect with the target market. Developing a marketing communications strategy is something marketers should only do after they have developed the rest of the marketing mix.

In fact, marketers have a wide variety of strategies to use from the overall promotional mix (see Figure 13.2 ). Most companies choose to use a combination of the promotional mix methods to create an integrated marketing communication message that reaches the customer in many different ways. When the messaging is integrated, the consumer receives the same message no matter which method of promotion is chosen. If the consumer is watching the news and hears a story about the company or product, public relations has impacted them. If they then scroll through their social media accounts at the end of the day and they see an ad for the same product, advertising has impacted them. When they sort through their email and have a message from the company, they have received a direct marketing communication.

No longer does promotion need to rely heavily on just one method of marketing communication. Marketers can be much more targeted and more cost-effective in the promotional methods they choose. Using a combination of methods to send the same message allows the marketer to be more strategic in their messaging and in their budgeting.

The best products are nothing until the consumer knows about them. Without good promotion, the best products are just secrets. We all have things we want to say, and on any given day we make phone calls, create Instagram posts, upload TikTok videos, send emails, shoot off text messages, and talk face-to-face with people. And just like us, marketers also have things to say. Usually, they want to tell consumers about their new brand extension of Reese’s, a trade-in allowance for a new Toyota Camry that just hit the car lot, or even a buy-one-get-one-free promotion for your Starbucks latte. How marketers decide to say and send the message is the promotion mix.

The promotion mix is the set of strategies marketers use to communicate with their customers. With combined strategies, the promotion mix creates a powerful method of connecting with the customer and conveying all the other marketing mix elements for a holistic marketing approach. The promotion mix allows marketers to reach customers in many different ways, ensuring that the message is seen, heard, and understood. After determining and defining the target market, creating a good product, selecting a pricing strategy and optimal price, and deciding on the distribution method, the marketer is ready to communicate with the customer.

Messages sent by multiple methods provide a better opportunity for consumers to see and hear the message and make the connection back to the company. When a message is only sent by one method, the potential for interference, noise, and avoidance is more likely to occur. Marketers use a multichannel approach to send an integrated message.

Promotion Mix Defined

The full set of strategies that combine to make up the promotion mix include advertising, sales promotion, personal selling, public relations, direct marketing, and Internet/digital marketing. Each of these methods is intended to produce different results when used. Combining the elements creates an overall integrated message designed to reach consumers at various points in their path to purchase. Marketers call this integrated messaging integrated marketing communications.

The Importance of the Promotion Mix

Of all the marketing mix variables, the promotion mix can be further divided into different message channels that allow for connection and communication with the customer. When the promotion connects with the customer, it is the moment when all the marketing activities come together. When the messaging and method of delivery reach the customer and create the desired result, the marketing has achieved its purpose.

The strategies in the promotion mix provide the marketer with an arsenal of methods to achieve their marketing objectives, such as increasing sales or introducing a new product. However, consumers are bombarded with marketing messages throughout the day, and these are combined with the business of everyday life events like news, music, work, chores, family, and friends. With this busy pace and activity, the consumer is very difficult to reach. For the busy consumer, one communication method alone is not likely to cut through the clutter and noise to reach them and make an impact. Marketers must combine the various communication elements to connect with the customer and meet the communication objective.

Elements of the Promotion Mix

When analyzed individually, each of the promotional mix elements is powerful. They each have a part to play in the overall success of a company. When combined and carefully executed, they create powerful brands with legions of loyal fans and followers—the consumers. What do each of these promotional mix elements do, and how do they contribute to the whole process of connecting with the consumer?

  • Advertising

Advertising is a multibillion-dollar industry. According to Statista, in 2020 alone, worldwide advertising spending reached $586 billion. 6 Advertising is paid, nonpersonal communication from an identified source that allows for creative messaging about all aspects of a product, service, idea, person, or place. Consumers are able to quickly point to advertising as a form of promotion. It is perhaps the element of the promotional mix that we are most familiar with and the one we have been most exposed to throughout every phase of our lives.

From our very first commercial showing how much fun it is to build with LEGO to imagery of a toddler walking the Disney streets with a costumed princess and Cinderella’s castle in the foreground, we know what advertising looks like. And while advertising can take many forms, it is important to note that advertising consists of carefully designed messaging from the company to the consumer. Advertising is meant to produce a response in the viewer. And advertising is all about what the company wants to tell us.

Advertising can be the pop-up window while we are doing a Google search. It can be the Chick-fil-A billboard we pass every day on our way to work. Advertising can be the trailer we watch before our movie starts. And advertising can be the fun Doritos spots we look forward to during the annual Super Bowl.

While advertising can be a costly means of communication with the customer, it is relatively inexpensive based on the number of people reached. When NBC priced the 2021 Super Bowl at $6 million for a 30-second spot, with a record 96 million viewers, the price averaged out to around $0.06 per person reached. 7

Advertising is effective based on the frequency with which it is usually viewed. And because of the media, the advertising message can usually be repeated many times, depending on the budget. Due to its repeatability, production costs have a better return on investment (ROI) the more an ad is used, and the recall of the ad increases significantly.

Sales Promotion

Most consumers love a sales promotion . It creates a feeling of excitement and often includes a bit of a gaming experience into the purchase decision. Marketers value the benefits of sales promotions because the results are immediate and they have a wide variety of options when using this promotional mix element. A sales promotion is a method for a marketer to induce sales in the short term. Sales promotion is not a long-term strategy but is geared toward specific calls to action, typically aimed at getting the consumer to buy something immediately or enter a sweepstakes or contest (see Figure 13.3 ).

Using sales promotions can be an effective method of getting the consumer to try a product or buy more of a product, or it can be a way to quickly deplete an inventory to make way for new products.

While sales promotions have many tactics that the marketer can employ, several commonly used examples of sales promotion include the following:

  • Buy One Get One (BOGO) . When Domino’s Pizza offers the customer a free pizza when they buy a medium one-topping pizza, this BOGO deal is used to get an immediate increase in sales for Domino’s pizza. Consumers may buy Domino’s over other pizza brands because they can get more pizza for their money.
  • Enter to Win . PepsiCo needed to gain traction with the millennial audience. It needed to boost the Lay’s brand of potato chips and compete with new flavorful organic chips that were getting market share in the category once dominated by Lay’s. To generate new interest in its brand, Lay’s launched a campaign for consumers to create a new flavor. New flavors could be entered, Lay’s would create samples, and the winner of the new chip flavor would win $1 million.
  • Coupons . This method of promotion has come a long way with the use of technology. While consumers are still able to “clip” coupons and redeem them at the point of sale to receive savings on the products they are buying, many companies are making coupons available through mobile apps and discount codes to apply at the point of sale through an e-commerce store. Using coupons is a great method of inducing trial of a new product and increasing market share.

For National Ice Cream Day (see Figure 13.4 ), Cumberland Farms wanted to increase the sales of its house brand of ice cream, Ultimate Scoop . 8 It offered consumers a digital coupon for $1 off a pint of the ice cream. Cumberland Farms’ existing customers received their coupon via text message, and new customers could text in to get the coupon.

  • Rebates . Companies offer rebates to induce purchase and generally to receive something in return besides the sale. When a rebate is offered for the purchase of an Energy Star–certified product, the consumer gets a designated dollar amount off the price of the product, and in turn they must submit the proof of purchase along with identifying information about themselves.

Personal Selling

Personal selling is one of the most expensive forms of promotion because it is a one-on-one, person-to-person form of communicating with the customer. The role of the salesperson is to inform and persuade the customer. This is usually done in what is termed an exchange situation. The salesperson is exchanging knowledge and something of value, while the customer is exchanging money for the item of value. Personal selling is ideal for products that can be customized, are complex, and have a relatively high price point.

Typically, personal selling is most often used in business-to-business (B2B) markets. Business buyers have longer buying cycles, more complex buying situations, and larger budgets. The pharmaceutical industry is well-known for using personal selling. Company representatives must have a high degree of training and knowledge about the products they are selling to physicians and hospitals. It is also very common to have a sales force to sell equipment and machinery to manufacturing plants. Businesses rely on the knowledge and service of the sales force selling them products.

In the business-to-consumer (B2C) market, personal selling is used for items that cost more or items that have a high degree of variation. We find sales representatives when we buy automobiles, home improvement products, and insurance. The job of the sales representative is to determine our needs and provide solutions that fill those needs.

When compared to advertising, which has a very general message directed to a very large audience, personal selling is an individualized message for one or several people within the buying group. When evaluating the costs of personal selling, it is typically hundreds to thousands of dollars per person reached.

The process of personal selling can be time-consuming. The process of selling and the tasks of the sales force can be complex. The sales professional is tasked with prospecting to identify the right customers and then qualifying them to make certain they are a good fit for the product.

It is not uncommon to hear people say, “You talk a good game. You could sell to anyone.” In reality, salespeople do not want to talk people into a product. A good sales force only wants to sell to customers who want and need the product. The best sales force knows that when the customer is a good fit, they will bring repeat business and good word of mouth.

While some salespeople have a natural inclination for selling, others are highly skilled with the technical knowledge of the products they are selling. Understanding customers, the buying situation, and the product being sold are a few of the skills needed to master the art of selling. Good sales professionals know that the real work of the sale is to service the needs of the client long after the sale has been made.

Public Relations

Public relations is a nonpaid, nonpersonal form of promotion. Because it is nonpaid, it has a high degree of credibility and is beneficial because a typically credible, non-biased third party is the messenger. While there are many tactics that marketers might use for public relations, some of the most commonly used include press releases, press conferences, events, and annual reports.

Many of the other promotional tools focus specifically on communication with the customer. By contrast, public relations includes efforts to work with the community where it operates, media, government officials, educators, and potential investors.

When Nordstrom opened its flagship store in Manhattan, it unlocked the doors a few days early for a VIP celebration that included Vogue ’s editor, Anna Wintour , along with actresses, models, and designers. Some of the noted attendees included Zoe Saldana , Katie Holmes , Olivia Wilde , Karlie Kloss , Joan Smalls , Winnie Harlow , Tory Burch , Tommy Hilfiger , and Stacey Bendet of Alice + Olivia . Guests formed long lines around the store in an attempt to access the party. 9

TOMS shoes has long been a leader in cause marketing (see Figure 13.5 ). When you buy from TOMS, one-third of the profits go to Grassroot Good . 10 TOMS’ annual report highlights the people the company helps and how it helps them. Investors and any interested parties receive the annual report that details the work TOMS does right along with the profits it is making.

When celebrities wind up in the news, it is public relations, and it works to keep their name before the public and their fans. So the headline that hits the front page of the New York Times or is a leading story on the NBC nightly news both create publicity for the celebrity. Businesses also use publicity. A business might have a product as part of a movie, such as BMW vehicles showing up in 37 of the highest-grossing movies of 2018. 11

Public relations can also include crisis communication when negative issues occur. One of the biggest public relations issues happened in 1982 to Tylenol . A malicious person or persons in the Chicago area tampered with a few bottles of Tylenol Extra Strength capsules by replacing the actual capsules with cyanide-laced capsules. Consumers who unwittingly bought the Tylenol ended up dead. Johnson & Johnson , the maker of Tylenol, was facing issues that could easily have destroyed its business. The issue was the leading story for every news outlet.

Johnson & Johnson faced the issue head-on and made the bold move to have Tylenol removed from all shelves. The recall resulted in the removal of 30 million products from store shelves. 12 In the end Tylenol was a hero and won the trust of a nation.

Direct Marketing

Direct marketing allows for direct communication with the customer. Messages can be tailored to specific market segments and even personalized toward individual consumers. Early tactics of direct marketing included telephone and mail; however, technology has allowed for new methods of connecting with the customer to include text messaging and email marketing.

In 2019, the Data & Marketing Association (DMA) reported that the direct mail industry was valued at $44.2 billion. 13 It’s the second largest channel for ad spend in the United States, and it continues to grow. Transformed by technology, direct marketing is finding new methods to connect with the customer. Most connection includes a call to action that provides for immediate feedback on the effectiveness of the method.

Internet/Digital Marketing

Internet/digital marketing includes uses of technology to reach customers at many different points of interaction. Marketers have at their disposal a variety of methods to reach their customers and brand products. Some of the tools include websites, landing pages, social media pages, widgets, and customer relationship management (CRM) systems. All the digital properties work together to drive traffic to the branded properties and engage the consumers.

Digital marketing is geared toward very specific market segments and is primarily interactive. Think of digital marketing as the mechanism that produces the immediate interaction with the customer and produces some type of feedback. Digital is considered two-way communication between the company and the customer. During the early stages of launching the SPANX brand, Sara Blakely primarily used digital marketing with a heaving emphasis on social media. 14 She involved her women friends who were in her target market demographic and had them post about the brand through their social media.

By contrast, Internet marketing is sending a message to a mass audience. The Internet is used to for digital marketing and includes websites and digital ads as well as the two-way communication of social media. Other forms of digital marketing include mobile technology such as SMS and mobile apps.

When a consumer completes a Google search for shoes and then jumps to Facebook to scroll their feed and are served shoe ads from Nordstrom, Macy’s , and Steve Madden , they have been targeted by these shoe companies. The targeting, immediacy, and changeability of the messaging makes digital a quick and efficient method of reaching consumers. Digital promotional tools are extremely effective and can cut through the clutter and reach the consumer when they are in the demand phase of the buying process and have signaled an intent to purchase.

According to a 2020 chief marketing officer (CMO) survey from Gartner , two-thirds of promotional budgets are being spent on digital. 15 Because of the tremendous analytics available, marketers are able to assess the effectiveness immediately. Messages can be tested for effectiveness and quickly changed if they are not producing results. It is very difficult to get the same quick feedback with any of the other forms of promotion. Through careful tracking and robust customer relationship management (CRM) systems, marketers are quickly able to promote products, increase brand awareness, and move consumers down the sales funnel to instantly purchase through online e-commerce sites.

Utilizing mobile app technology, marketers are able to push promotions to customers while segmenting them by their behaviors and simultaneously filling their CRM with insights and analytics that can help drive promotions and sales.

Careers In Marketing

Integrated marketing career.

An integrated marketing communications (IMC) professional builds and manages campaigns that integrate all the facets of marketing—advertising, public relations, digital campaigns, sales, etc. If you’re interested in this job role, check out this article to learn about the qualifications, experience, and salary . You can also refer to programs offered by educational organizations that specialize in integrated marketing. A few examples of those educational organizations include San Diego State University , Marist , Northwestern , and Eastern Michigan University, to name a few. Check out this list for the Best Marketing Communication Colleges according to Best Accredited Colleges .

Additional resources to explore include the following video:

Knowledge Check

It’s time to check your knowledge on the concepts presented in this section. Refer to the Answer Key at the end of the book for feedback.

  • have all of a company’s marketing and promotional activities project a consistent image and message to its target market
  • control all facets of a product’s distribution
  • communicate with customers only through television commercials
  • have complete control over all facets of the marketing mix
  • communications about a good, service, or company
  • paid forms of nonpersonal communication about a good, service, or company
  • communication that moves the product from the wholesaler to the retailer
  • communication from a company sales representative to a company buyer
  • Sales promotion
  • Personal selling
  • Public relations
  • sales promotion
  • public relations
  • personal selling
  • Internet/digital promotion
  • advertising
  • direct marketing

This book may not be used in the training of large language models or otherwise be ingested into large language models or generative AI offerings without OpenStax's permission.

Want to cite, share, or modify this book? This book uses the Creative Commons Attribution License and you must attribute OpenStax.

Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/principles-marketing/pages/1-unit-introduction
  • Authors: Dr. Maria Gomez Albrecht, Dr. Mark Green, Linda Hoffman
  • Publisher/website: OpenStax
  • Book title: Principles of Marketing
  • Publication date: Jan 25, 2023
  • Location: Houston, Texas
  • Book URL: https://openstax.org/books/principles-marketing/pages/1-unit-introduction
  • Section URL: https://openstax.org/books/principles-marketing/pages/13-1-the-promotion-mix-and-its-elements

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How to Develop a Successful Marketing Mix Strategy [+ Templates]

AJ Beltis

Updated: July 28, 2021

Published: July 02, 2020

One of the first things you're taught in your Introduction to Marketing class is that marketing can be best explained using the marketing mix – also known as the four Ps.

team brainstorming a marketing mix strategy

They are – and say 'em with me because if you took that class, you know these four words by heart:

→ Free Resource: 4 Marketing Mix Templates [Access Now]

However, once you're in your first marketing internship or job, you learn that marketing entails so much more than can be simplified in a four-section marketing mix matrix.

Still, there's an undeniable benefit of marketing teams organizing their work into the marketing mix framework.

When you stray too far away from the four P's, it can be easy to lose focus on your purpose as a marketer.

Marketing truly is about teams and individuals working together to promote a product in the right place at the right price point. Efforts beyond this scope are essential, but they do all stem off of this foundation of the marketing mix.

Here, we're going to dive into what a marketing mix is and how to develop a successful marketing mix strategy for your own company.

What is a marketing mix?

The marketing mix refers to the actions a company takes to market its product(s) and/or service(s). Typically, it acts as a framework for breaking down the four key components of marketing — product, price, place, and promotion.

The marketing mix helps companies organize their marketing initiatives by task and department for more process-driven and impactful marketing campaigns.

This framework has roots dating back to the 1940s and has been evolving ever since. While some elements have been added or tweaked over the years – most notably for the modern digital age – the core elements of the marketing mix (i.e. the four P's) have remained consistent for decades.

Featured Resource: Marketing Mix Templates

Marketing Mix Templates

Need a way to visualize your marketing mix to share it with your employees or investors? Use these four marketing mix templates to organize your initiatives and activities by the right section. Click here to download them now .

Marketing Mix Elements

When perfected and synchronized, the core elements of a marketing mix provide a well-rounded approach to marketing strategy.

Product refers to what your business is selling – product(s), service(s), or both. The bulk of the work in this element is typically done by product marketers or managers.

Nailing the product element of the marketing mix means doing extensive research and development, understanding the need for the product, developing a product launch plan and timeline, and educating customers and employees – especially salespeople – on the product's purpose.

Price refers to the price point at which you'll sell your product(s)/service(s) to consumers. Arriving on this dollar amount requires consideration of multiple pricing strategies, analysis of similarly priced products in your market, and insights from consumers through surveys and focus groups.

Price speaks to positioning in the market, the speed at which you want to penetrate your market, and your company's revenue goals and profit margin.

In the marketing mix, place refers to where your product or service will be sold. For tangible products, this will include physical locations such as your own store, or a retailer where your product will be resold.

It can also include the other methods where your products can be purchased, like online or over the phone.

4. Promotion

Promotional activities are those that make your target market aware and excited about what you're selling.

While this does include paid initiatives like commercials and advertising, promotion also entails organic initiatives like word-of-mouth marketing, content marketing, and public relations.

Other Elements

While the marketing mix can often be simplified down to the 4 P's, the expansion of the scope of marketing in recent years has resulted in more P's added to the list.

For example, Smart Insights includes the following elements in its marketing mix definition:

  • Process , or the large internal initiatives taken to support a product launch, such as including salespeople in goal setting.
  • People , which can refer to your buyer, market, and target audience, or your internal team responsible for a launch.
  • Partners , or who you'll be working with outside of your company, such as distributors or co-marketing partners.

Some of the other P's can include:

  • Payment , or how transactions will be held and processed.
  • Physical evidence, or anything tangible pertaining to your product or service, like any materials needed to complete your service or deliver your product.
  • Packaging , or anything pertaining to the physicality of your product, like how it looks or how it's packaged.

These other marketing mix elements should be utilized as you see fit for your projects. However, every good marketing mix should rely on a thorough exploration of those first 4 Ps.

Marketing Mix Templates

Fill out the form to get your templates, marketing mix examples from real businesses.

Fintech companies are everywhere, but how many of them focus on organic and non-GMO agriculture?

As sustainable agriculture becomes more top of mind, brands like Mercaris help support agriculture companies looking to stay ahead in the market. Beyond delivering a service, the company identified a niche and launched a business with few direct competitors.

They offer a monthly subscription-based service that arms agricultural companies with the market intelligence needed to compete in the space. This includes detailed reports on food production, commodity prices, and market shifts.

Not long after Airbnb launched, users filed complaints of racism from their hosts and expressed reluctance to use the platform's services. The company implemented measures to appease these concerns. However, it brought attention to an important issue.

It's this uncertainty that allowed Noirbnb to enter the market. The brand tapped into people of color's desire to feel safe and welcomed in their temporary home while traveling – then, they used it as their unique selling position (USP).

The brand even plays on Airbnb's name – which is now a household one – to indicate that they offer a similar service that's been adapted to cater to travelers of color.

Warby Parker

This online retailer of prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses is known for its stylish yet affordable glasses. Warby Parker 's pricing, which starts at $95, undercuts many of its competitors, making it a popular go-to for consumers.

The brand's pricing strategy is based on public perception. In interviews, the founders revealed that originally, they were going to price their frames as low as $45. However, after considering how low prices for items like glasses can be perceived as low quality, they doubled the price to settle at a number that was still competitive.

A brand's pricing strategy can have an important role in how it's perceived in the market. So, it's important to consider what that perception is and if it's the one you want to put out there.

When Canva entered the market, it was every small business owner's dream. You could design any marketing material you wanted for FREE, what more could you ask for?

Eventually, the brand introduced premium versions of its platform. Catering to businesses ranging from small to enterprise-level, they added features like high-quality stock visuals, social media publishing tools, marketing campaign management, and large cloud storage.

Hu , short for "Get Back to Human," is a dessert company that specializes in making organic, paleo chocolate bars free of the junk ingredients we find in big-name products.

The brand has made its products available from multiple major retailers, including Walmart, Target, and Whole Foods. They also have a virtual storefront on Amazon. If stock ever runs out there, you can always purchase their products through their website.

Hu has made its product accessible through multiple channels, maximizing its earning potential while expanding its brand awareness.

The Lip Bar

Vegan beauty brand The Lip Bar leverages influencers and celebrities to promote its products and increase its brand awareness. Recently, the brand partnered with beauty influencer Raye Boyce to announce its expansion into Walmart stores and its nine latest products.

The Lip Bar places women of color at the center of its products and collaborating with a Black influencer known for her love of lipsticks is in perfect alignment with the brand's identity.

Beyond a robust social media presence, the company also has a blog on its website with content that appeals to audiences across the buyer's journey.

Avant-Garde Vegan

Some brands launch a product then promote, while others promote then launch.

Avant-Garde Vegan , an online brand created by UK-based chef Gaz Oakley, grew his business on social media – namely YouTube. Oakley gained popularity posting recipes for healthy, vegan dishes and soon became a go-to resource for new and established vegan consumers.

Eventually, Oakley released his first product, a cookbook. Now the brand sells both cookbooks as well as merchandise.

The reason why this strategy works particularly well is that it focuses on adding value instead of selling. Oakley gained his audience's trust and loyalty through consistent and quality posts on social media.

Once he introduced a product, many of his followers were ready to make a purchase. It's a long-term strategy that can have a big payoff if executed well.

How to Develop a Marketing Mix Strategy

Because the marketing mix incorporates elements from across your department – and even your company – it's imperative to establish a marketing mix strategy for each product you launch, or for your company as a whole. For a fully fleshed-out marketing mix, follow these steps.

1. Engage in market research and product development.

The success of your marketing work is first and foremost contingent on your product. Make sure it's well developed and your team can speak to its benefits and the story behind it.

Best practices in this step include:

  • Engaging in market research to understand your buyers' needs.
  • Speaking to your current customers to uncover their pain points and see which needs to address in your current product or service line.
  • Monitoring industry trends to identify a potential demand in your market.
  • Examining the competition.
  • Collaborating with your product team during product development to ensure it meets your buyer personas' needs.
  • Having your product tested by current customers to see how they're using the product or service and if it's actually solving for their problems.

Taking these actions ensures you're making every effort to understand and solve for your customer, providing a solid foundation for your product to launch successfully.

Featured Tool: Market Research Kit . To make your R&D more impactful, use these free market research templates so you can better understand your customers and competitors.

2. Determine your pricing model.

A lot goes into choosing a price point – so much so that we wrote an entire guide to pricing strategies .

Luckily, you'll be able to refer to much of the work done in the previous section. Thanks to your understanding of your market through research, you'll have answered most of the necessary questions in this section. You'll also need to take your costs into account so you can maximize unit sales and profit.

During this stage, make sure you do the following.

  • Speak to customers (or refer to previously completed market research) to determine the ideal selling price.
  • Work with the product team to ensure the product can be developed in a cost-effective manner that would ensure profitability at your target price point.
  • Meet with financial experts to determine aggressive yet realistic sales forecasts to contribute to the company's bottom line.
  • Collaborate with your sales team to determine discounting strategies.
  • Determine how you'll adjust price and revenue forecasts when selling through resellers.

Lastly, don't forget to factor in the perceived value by the customer. Even if your product or service doesn't cost a significant amount to make, you'll be able to mark up your product more if you face little competition and provide an irreplaceable benefit to your customers.

Featured Tool: Pricing Strategy Calculator . If you need help selecting your pricing model, use this template to compare different pricing strategies and see which will yield your company the most profit and revenue based on your forecasts.

3. Choose your distribution channels.

The "place" part of the marketing mix answers where your product will be sold. Keep in mind, this can be any combination of your store, a distributor's store, or online. You'll want to address the following points before moving onto the promotion stage:

  • Determine if your product will fare best in your physical location, a store of another retailer, on your website, on another company's website, or some combination of these locations.
  • Think about geographic location – make sure your supply meets regional demand, and plan for whether or not what you're selling will be available in a certain city, a state, the country, or worldwide.
  • Come to an agreement with retailers and resellers on margins, markups, and manufacturer suggested retail prices (MSRP).
  • Figure out how many salespeople will be needed to ensure you meet your goals.
  • Set goals for retail, third-party sellers, since you may be sharing shelf space or search results with a competitor or two.

4. Select your promotion tactics.

Finally, it's time to promote your product. While this is probably the element most associated with marketing, it's crucial that this element be completed last, because you need the foundation of product, price, and place before determining promotion tactics.

Think about it – shouldn't you know what you're promoting, why you're promoting it, and where it's available before actually promoting it? It's tempting to jump right to this step, but your promotion will be much better off if it's done after everything else in the marketing mix.

Once you do have that understanding, consider the following promotional channels and choose the one(s) that makes the most sense for your product, its buyers, and its price point:

  • Content marketing efforts, such as blogging, content creation, and building a website.
  • Public relations and working with affiliates and/or influencers.
  • Social media marketing – both organic and paid – on channels such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.
  • Search engine ads on sites like Google and Bing.
  • Ads to air on video streaming sites like YouTube, or on TV.
  • Event marketing, including attending industry events or hosting your own event.
  • Customer marketing and utilizing referrals.
  • And more – There are countless promotional ideas you can use to spread the word on your product, service, or business.

Featured Tool: Marketing Plan Template . If your promotional tactics are multi-faceted enough, consider documenting your plans in this customizable template.

Every company's marketing mix is different, placing emphasis on certain factors over others.

Some businesses use their marketing mix for a single product, while others adopt a company-wide marketing mix. However, good marketing mixes should tie in all the elements without neglecting one.

All elements of the marketing mix are important, so don't be quick to overlook any of them, and find ways for different elements of the mix to overlap and share goals.

With so many activities happening to support a single initiative, it's helpful to organize everything in a single template for easy reference. Here are a few examples of marketing mix templates your marketing department can use, in addition to when they might make sense to reference.

1. Simple Marketing Mix Template

Single product marketing mix template

Download this Template

This template is a great starter for organizing a marketing mix. It's ideal for one product and for the marketing mix's maker to get an understanding of all the elements involved in the marketing of a product.

2. Company Marketing Mix Template

company marketing mix template

For a marketing mix that applies company-wide, this template is a perfect fit. You can outline the initiatives that apply to most or all of the products and/or services in your suite.

3. Structured Marketing Mix Template

structured product marketing mix template

For when you need to get right to the point with a more organized, actionable visualization, use this structured, bulleted template for quick reference and clarification.

4. Production Marketing Mix Template

production marketing mix template

Finally, a production marketing mix template is best utilized for internal reference. This template answers questions on the go-to-market efforts for products and services that you're selling.

Mix It All Together

Whether you're a student just learning to understand everything that marketing entails or a CMO hoping to clearly convey the work that your team is doing to your fellow employees, the marketing mix framework is an essential tool to help you get the job done.

Don't forget – if you need to organize your marketing initiatives into a central location, try using HubSpot's Marketing Mix Templates to document your activities in one place.

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What Are the Elements of a Marketing Mix?

Definition and Examples of the Elements of a Marketing Mix

presentation mix definition

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The elements of a marketing mix are the aspects of marketing that a business will leverage to promote its goods or services. There are generally four main elements to consider: product, price, place, and promotion. However, this is often expanded to include a fifth crucial element, people.

Each of these components plays an important role in crafting a successful marketing strategy that meets consumer needs and drives business growth. By carefully balancing these elements, businesses can create a competitive edge in their respective markets.

Learn more about how these elements can help enhance the effectiveness of a business's marketing effort.

Effective, efficient marketing requires an understanding of several key concepts, and how to best use them to reach your target market . These concepts are part of the marketing mix.

Your marketing mix is the combination of elements that play a role in promoting and delivering your products and services to consumers or clients. In essence, it's about putting your product or service in the right place at the right time for the right price.

There are slight variations on what to include in the elements of a marketing mix. You may see some entities count the four P's of marketing. Others may count as many as seven P's. These include the aforementioned elements, as well as process (generally referring to the method of delivery) and physical evidence (what a customer sees and experiences when interacting with your business).

How Do the Elements of a Marketing Mix Work?

Similar to SWOT analysis and business plan writing, a marketing mix can often feel like an abstract business concept that is difficult to convert to everyday use. Rather than figuring out how to "correctly use" the five P's, think of them as reminders to encourage you to better research and plan your marketing strategy.

These are the products or services you offer to your customers, including their physical attributes, what they do, how they differ from your competitors, and what benefits they provide.

Beyond defining what you've got, pay special attention to the benefits your product or service offers, and who the best consumers to gain those benefits are. This means developing a unique selling proposition (USP) and defining your target market. For example, if you sell weight-loss services, what benefits will your customers gain (perhaps better health or more energy), and who are the ideal people to seek out these services (perhaps middle-aged people or new moms getting back into a workout routine)?

This element concerns how you price your product or service. A well-balanced price allows you to remain competitive while still creating a good level of profit. Pricing can be tricky because you need to estimate as accurately as possible the value of what you offer along with what it costs you in materials, time, and overhead to produce it.

As you consider those factors, think about what your market is willing and able to pay. You should consider whether or not customers think your product is worth what you're charging given the perceived value of your product, what competitors are charging for the product, and the alternative products available to satisfy the same needs and wants. You don't want to undercharge, but you also do not want to ask people to pay more than what your product or service is worth.

This is where your business sells its products or services and how it gets those products or services to your customers. It's also known as distribution.

Your place lets consumers know where they can find and receive your goods and services. This might seem basic, but you have to consider more nuanced aspects of this element, such as the specifics of your product or service, the broader market, and the cost of using a given place. For example, if your products are luxury items, you want to sell them in a place that reflects high standing and exclusivity—rather than cutting costs and devaluing the product.

Markets are moving, and online to offline (O2O) is more common. This means the combination of physical locations with online shopping. Businesses need to meet consumers where they are and now, more than ever, they are both offline and online. You should also consider emerging technologies. For example, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are making online a more feasible place for marketing since you can try, use, wear, and place products in an experience close to being in a store and touching the products in the real world.

These are the methods you use to communicate the features and benefits of your products or services to your target customers.

This is where you put all the information you've gathered to work. You know your product, who can benefit from it, the best price to sell it at, and where to sell it. Now, you have to get people to your "store," whether it's a brick-and-mortar or an online store.

Promotion is all about knowing where your market can be found, knowing how to craft a message to entice them to check out your product or service, and determining the best method for delivering that message (such as advertising, social media, or interviews with media outlets).

The most effective marketing is focused on message and location. For example, if you're selling weight loss products and your market is new moms, you'd want to have a message that talks specifically about losing baby weight and ensure those ads show up on mom blogs or some other place where new moms will see them. 

The "people" in this category aren't your customers, but your co-workers, colleagues, and yourself. This refers to how your level of service and the expertise provided by the people who work for you can be used to set you apart from your competitors.

You can master all the other elements of the marketing mix, but if you or your salespeople are rude, or your customer service systems fall short, it won't matter how good the other P's are. Consumers have a choice about who they do business with, and they prefer businesses that know their stuff, are willing to help, and are responsive.

This is where social media is so helpful—it makes it easier for businesses to build trust and rapport with consumers. However, social only works if you and your staff or contractors are polite, professional, genuine, and responsive.

Key Takeaways

  • The elements of a marketing mix are the factors that businesses should consider when they form marketing plans.
  • There are five main elements of a marketing mix, otherwise known as the five P's of marketing: product, price, place, promotion, and people.
  • Careful consideration of these five elements will help a business better craft marketing plans that effectively reach its target audience.
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What is Promotion Mix: Definition, Tips, Examples

Understanding the components of a promotion mix.

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Whether online eCommerce or offline brick-and-mortar businesses, most markets increasingly look like red oceans with fierce competition. Standing out from the crowd and connecting with potential customers effectively and efficiently using strategic marketing and social proof tools like social media walls can be an almost unfair advantage—one that a well-planned promotion mix can give you.

In this article, we’ll define what a promotion mix is and explain how adopting the right promotional strategy, including direct marketing, personal selling, advertising, and public relations, can help your business attract prospective customers, boost sales, multiply revenue, and increase profitability. 

Without further ado, let’s forge ahead.

What is a promotion mix?

A promotional mix (also called promotion mix) is adopting a collection of different marketing strategies aimed at effectively communicating a business’s value proposition to its ideal target audience, stimulating demand, and ultimately driving revenue and marketing ROI (returns on investment).

A promotional mix strategy combines foundational strategic planning with advanced marketing techniques and tactical marketing tools to convey the right marketing message to target customers.

Collect the content your brand produces on different marketing channels and display it on your website or digital signage to maximize visibility and boost engagement.

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Benefits of designing a promotional mix for your business

A well-thought-out promotion mix marketing campaign can be a game-changer that offers the following key benefits:

  • Boosts Brand Image and affinity by making your business appear credible and desirable to potential customers;
  • Elevates Sales and profits by driving purchasing decisions;
  • Highlights Value Proposition by clearly communicating the unique advantages offered by your product or service to both prospects and new customers;
  • Helps Your Business Stand Out by differentiating its unique service proposition (USP) from its competitors;
  • Promotes Customer Loyalty by fostering long-term relationships;
  • Manages SOS Situations by helping protect your business reputation during crisis scenarios through effective reputation management.

The perfect marketing mix ensures that your business is constantly communicating the right marketing message, to the right audience, at the right time, through the most effective channels, thereby maximizing the impact of your marketing efforts and driving business growth.

The 5 pillars of an effective promotion mix

All promotional techniques, big or small, fall under the following five promotion mix elements that help steer your marketing efforts toward success by synergistically transforming your business’s brand narrative.

1. Social media

Social media marketing leverages platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn to deliver promotional messages and engage with potential and existing customers. The goal is to harness the power of social networks to increase brand awareness, build relationships, and drive sales.

Social media marketing strategies are crafted with a specific audience in mind and often involve a mix of organic content and paid promotions to maximize reach and engagement.

The purpose of social media marketing is to:

  • Engage : Social media enables businesses to engage with their audience in real-time, fostering a sense of community and loyalty. Interactive content, such as polls, Q&As, and live videos, encourages active participation and deeper connections.
  • Promote : Through targeted ads and sponsored posts, social media allows businesses to promote their products or services directly to specific demographics, increasing the likelihood of conversion and sales.
  • Monitor : Social media provides valuable insights into customer preferences and behaviors. By monitoring comments, shares, and likes, businesses can adapt their strategies to better meet customer needs and preferences.

Social Walls

Social walls are dynamic displays that aggregate and showcase social media content in real-time. They are used to amplify brand messages, increase engagement, and create a sense of community both online and at physical events.

Key Benefits of Social Walls:

  • Amplification : By displaying user-generated content, brands can amplify their reach and visibility. This encourages more people to participate and share their experiences with the brand.
  • Engagement : Social walls can boost engagement by featuring real-time posts, tweets, and photos from users, making events and campaigns more interactive and exciting.
  • Authenticity : Displaying content created by real customers adds an element of authenticity and trust to the brand, as potential customers can see genuine experiences and reviews.

Collect user-generated content and display it anywhere for maximum impact.

Example: #kidsinthekitchen user-generated content campaign .

#KidsInTheKitchen is just one of those fantastic showcases demonstrating what a great campaign can look like. The campaign has paid detailed attention to many important factors, and you can tell that it’s caused the campaign to be tremendously successful.

Every aspect of the campaign, from its initial setup to the methods used for promotion, along with the clever solutions employed by NatureFresh™ Farms and Northern Commerce to address potential issues (like posts not appearing on the wall due to a lack of hashtags), played a significant role in ensuring the campaign’s success.

Screenshot of the landing page for the Kids In The Kitchen campaign on the NatureFresh™ Farms website. The heading says “Explore Our Gallery Of #KidsInTheKitchen Inspiration” above the embedded social wall.

Source:  #KidsInTheKitchen a Best-Practice Hashtag Campaign

Example: Starbucks’ #RedCupContest

Starbucks encouraged customers to share photos of their holiday-themed red cups using the hashtag #RedCupContest. These photos were featured on a social wall, creating a festive atmosphere and encouraging user participation. The campaign successfully increased brand visibility and engagement across social media platforms.

#RedCupContest user generated campaign example

2. Advertising

Advertising is a paid form of marketing where businesses deliver promotional messages to encourage people to buy their products or services. The idea is to draw an audience’s attention towards a business’s value proposition to boost sales either directly or indirectly.

Advertising campaigns can be digital or traditional and are usually designed and optimized by advertising agencies for a particular brand with a potential customer or target audience in mind.

The purpose of advertising is to:

  • Inform : Ads inform consumers about a business’s products and services and how to purchase or access them;
  • Persuade : Ads persuade potential customers to choose your business over others’ by highlighting features, appealing to emotions, and creating brand narratives;
  • Remind : Stay top-of-mind by constantly reminding consumers about products and services they are already aware of.

Example: The “Share a Coke” campaign by Coca-Cola

This viral campaign replaced the traditional Coca-Cola logo with common names, inviting people to “Share a Coke” with the named person. This campaign leveraged both digital and traditional advertising mediums and illustrates the power of personalization even in advertising.

A promotional graphic featuring the "Share a Coke" campaign, with the Coca-Cola logo and multiple personalized Coke bottles with names like "Tom" displayed. (promotion mix)

Whether it’s a billboard on a crowded street or banner ads on your blog site, advertising is crucial in reaching out to your target audience with your unique marketing message.

⭐ Related : User-Generated Content Campaigns

⭐ Related : User Generated Content Examples to Inspire You

3. Personal selling

Personal selling is the second key component of a successful promotion mix. It refers to the direct contact and interaction between a company’s on-field or online sales representatives and the prospects.

Since it involves dedicated sales teams, personal selling may involve a bigger promotional budget as compared to other promotion mix elements.

The three main aspects of personal selling are:

  • Direct Interaction: Unlike advertising campaigns, which are a one-to-many marketing method, personal selling is a one-to-one approach that provides the benefit of both personalized attention and immediate feedback;
  • Relationship Building: The goal of personal selling is not only to make a sale but to build trust with the target customer, too. This can  lead to future sales, repeat purchases as well as word-of-mouth referrals;
  • Sales Techniques and Training : You need a  skilled salesperson who’s been highly trained in both sales techniques as well as your business’s product lines;

Example of personal selling: Xerox

With its high-quality copiers and printers, Xerox has a large sales force that engages in personal sales. Each Xerox sales representative is trained to understand the specific needs of each business and recommend products that meet those needs.

Personal selling is a highly effective promotional tool, but it may not make sense for many smaller businesses that do not have dedicated sales teams. However, for businesses selling complex or high-value products or services, few promotional tools can beat the personalization it provides in sales interactions.

The starting point for lead generation and personal selling today is LinkedIn, with more than 875 million professional members from 200 countries and 58 million companies listed.

4. Sales promotion

A sales promotion is when you concentrate almost all your promotional efforts on sales campaigns to stimulate quick and increased product purchases.

Sales promotions are more of a tactical approach that may involve providing short-term incentives in the form of free samples, discounts, BOGO (buy one get one) offers, sales contests, and more.

Ideas for sales promotions with different promotional variables: 

  • Discounts: Dollar discounts and instant price reductions make customers feel they’re getting a ‘deal’, which can nudge immediate buying actions;
  • Samples: Free samples can allow prospects to try products risk-free , which can drive future purchases;
  • Contests and sweepstakes: Use these to create excitement surrounding your product launch or brand.

Example: McDonald’s Monopoly 

For many years, McDonald’s has run a Monopoly-inspired sales promotion. Customers can collect game pieces with their purchases and win prizes. This promotion increases customer engagement and encourages repeat purchases.

Also, look at Pizza Hut USA’s sales promotion below:

This promotion aims to boost online sales by offering 50% OFF the entire menu for all orders placed before a particular date.

An advertisement from Domino's Pizza offering 50% off on all menu-priced pizzas when ordered online, with social media engagement metrics showing comments and shares. (promotion mix)

In summary, sales promotion is an integral component of the promotional mix as it often leads to an immediate increase in sales. 

5. Public relations

Public relations campaigns (PR) are a strategic communications mechanism that serves to use proactive communication to maintain a positive image of the business in front of stakeholders.

The role of PR is crucial to the management of a company’s reputation, the handling of crisis communications, the facilitation of timely communication between companies and their stakeholders, as well as the overall promotion of business goodwill.

Besides, if done right, PR efforts can become one of your creative SEO practices . This is especially true for press releases and other publications because they can result in backlinks that improve your domain authority and search rankings.

Some key forms of popular public relations campaigns :

  • Media Relations: Develop and maintain relationships with media personnel to enable positive coverage of the business;
  • Press Releases : These are official statements issued to the media to provide information or make announcements;
  • Events: Hosting, sponsoring, or even participating in events, especially those with environmental and societal impact, can attract media attention and help project a selfless image of the business.

Example: Johnson & Johnson’s Tylenol Crisis Management

Johnson & Johnson pulled 31 million Tylenol capsules from the shelves, issued public warnings, and cooperated fully with the media when seven people died from cyanide-laced capsules in 1982. This type of swift and responsible action preserved the public trust in the brand.

Public relations is an integral part of a business’s promotional mix, fostering positive brand perception and beneficial relationships.

6. Direct marketing

Direct marketing is a form of marketing where businesses communicate directly with their prospects and customers using various media channels. It’s a powerful promotional mix component that allows businesses to target specific groups of consumers with highly targeted and personalized messaging.

In direct marketing, businesses can reach out to their target market using:

  • Email Marketing: After getting consent from subscribers, educational and promotional messages can then be sent to your email list , often automated and personalized, depending on their buying behavior;
  • Direct Mail: This involves sending promotional literature such as catalogs or postcards via physical mail directly to consumers’ homes and businesses’ offices;
  • Online Advertising: Place targeted ads on search engines or social media platforms, reaching your ideal customers directly.
  • Cold Emails : Unlike traditional email marketing, cold emails are sent to potential customers who have not yet opted into receiving communications. This approach requires careful crafting to avoid being intrusive, focusing on providing value and establishing a connection with the recipient.

Example: Dollar Shave Club

Dollar Shave Club: This subscription-based company delivers affordable, high-quality razors and other personal grooming products directly to consumers’ homes. They launched a humor-laden direct marketing video shared with their audience over social media and via email marketing, causing their campaign to go viral and sales to shoot up.

Also, here’s an example of a promotional email from the online fashion clothing store Asos:

An ASOS online fashion store promotion showcasing a variety of new arrivals including dresses, shoes, accessories, and a highlighted T-shirt dress in botanical textured print, along with mentions of free delivery and easy returns.

As a powerful tool in the promotional mix, direct marketing enables businesses to correspond directly and in highly personalized ways with their target audiences, increasing their relevance and conversion rates.

Conclusion and key takeaways

In today’s competitive business landscape, a well-planned and expertly executed promotional mix is half the battle won.

However, note the following key pointers:

  • Promotion Mix: A combination of advertising, personal selling, sales promotion, public relations, and direct marketing can be combined to promote products and services;
  • Continuous Experimentation: No two businesses are alike. To find the perfect promotional mix for your business, embrace a dynamic approach and test different strategies;
  • Measure & Optimize: Adopt a data-driven approach to optimizing your promotion mixes all the time for maximum ROI.

By combining the right mix of promotional elements and marketing strategies, businesses can reach out to and be discovered by their ideal audience, communicate their message in a targeted fashion with them, and ultimately achieve their marketing objectives and business goals.

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The 4 Ps Of Marketing

Janette Novak

Updated: Jun 18, 2024, 8:52am

The 4 Ps Of Marketing

Table of Contents

What are the four ps of marketing, the first p: product, the second p: price, the third p: place, the fourth p: promotion, examples of the four ps in marketing, how to use the 4 ps of marketing, what’s the difference between the four ps and the seven ps, frequently asked questions (faqs).

The four Ps of marketing—product, price, place and promotion—serve as a framework for marketing success. Sometimes referred to as the marketing mix, the four Ps help guide businesses in the creation of winning business ideas that deliver what customers want, where and how they want it at a price that’s most appealing.

Building a solid marketing plan structured around the four Ps can help you increase awareness for your brand and its products or services, drive sales and achieve overall stronger bottom-line results.

The idea of a marketing mix was first popularized in the 1950s by Neil Bordon, a Professor of Advertising at Harvard. Drawing from Bordon’s work along with the work of other prominent marketing and business leaders, E. Jerome McCarthy introduced the four Ps of marketing in his book Basic Marketing: A Managerial Approach .

You may recall from your Intro to Marketing college course that product, price, place and promotion are the four Ps of marketing. While the four Ps have been around for decades, the concept is just as relevant to businesses today as it was when the four Ps were first introduced.

The first P in the four Ps of marketing is product. A product can come in a variety of forms, such as a physical product, digital product, service, event or experience. The product is the actual item you are selling; the features or attributes you include or build into your products can help you differentiate your offerings from your competitors.

There are many dimensions that you must consider when deciding which products to develop and sell. Does your product solve a problem? Or does the product fulfill consumers’ wants and desires? Why would someone want to buy it? Product quality, design, packaging, variety, adaptability, sustainability, safety and production must all be considered.

Your marketing plan should outline the key features of your product, what makes it unique and who your target audience is for that product. This will help ensure you meet the needs and desires of your ideal audience.

The second P in the four Ps of marketing is price. Naturally, you need to price your products in a way that allows you to operate profitably. However, pricing is far more complex than calculating the cost of goods and adding on an additional amount that will let you meet your desired profit margin. How you price a product will convey its relative value and quality.

Walmart uses low-cost pricing to attract a broad audience of value-driven shoppers, while Saks Fifth Avenue sustains much higher prices, which is common among luxury goods sellers who target wealthy buyers. If you decide to serve different types of customers, you’ll need to develop a customer segmentation strategy , which will include pricing strategies for each segment you serve.

There’s also a psychological factor in product pricing, which is why products are often priced at $9.99 rather than $10. Products with prices ending in .99 seem cheaper than those that end in zero, and hence more shoppers are drawn to the $9.99 price tag.

The third P in the four Ps of marketing is place, which refers to the channels or locations where you sell your products and services.

You may want to sell products via a brick-and-mortar store or at less permanent physical locations, such as special events, fairs, pop-ups or temporary markets. Or, you may prefer to list your products for sale via an e-commerce software —by either building your own e-commerce website or by selling through popular online marketplaces such as eBay, Amazon or Etsy .

Where you sell your products will influence how you manage product inventory and product transportation or shipping. Location also influences the relative size of your reachable market. Some businesses find they can optimize sales by offering goods and services via multiple outlets.

The fourth P in the four Ps of marketing is promotion, which is how you get the word out about your products and what tactics you use to convert prospects into buyers. Your promotion strategy may include advertising, public relations, social media marketing, content marketing, direct marketing and influencer marketing, as well as the discounts and special offers you extend to generate sales.

Even the best product in the world doesn’t stand a chance if you don’t have a strong promotion strategy behind it. While there are some promotional tactics that can be done on a shoestring budget—such as do-it-yourself blogging and social media—others can be costly. It’s important to factor anticipated promotional costs into your product pricing strategy.

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Understanding the four Ps is the first step in creating a strong marketing mix. Knowing how to execute the four Ps correctly is key to achieving success. Let’s look at examples of how different organizations use the four Ps in different ways.

Examples of Product

The music industry offers many examples of how related products are sold in different formats––from physical products to digital downloads to digital streaming to live events.

While compact discs—a physical product—are no longer the norm, they are still available in some brick-and-mortar locations as well as in online marketplaces. Vinyl albums are making a comeback among certain audiophiles, which is a reminder to consider your audience’s specific interests when designing your product.

The popularity of various product formats can change as new technologies emerge. There was a time when you needed an Apple iPod or similar device (i.e., “product”) to listen to music online. Now you can use just about any internet-enabled device to purchase music via digital downloads, or you can subscribe to popular subscription-based audio streaming sites such as Spotify, Pandora and Apple Music, which grant you access to millions of songs.

Live performances are another popular music product—just ask any Taylor Swift mega-fan about the magic of scoring a ticket to one of her sold-out concerts. Of course, when you attend a live event, you will find there is plenty of physical music merchandise to purchase—from T-shirts to pins to caps and hats to collectible programs.

Examples of Price

You can buy a watch for under $100 or spend $100,000 or more; both watches will tell you the time. The price a person is willing to pay for a watch says a lot about their means, interests, style and quality preferences and what they value in a timepiece.

Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace and Armani all sell high-priced clothes, jewelry and accessories. Yet, what these brands are actually selling is a luxurious lifestyle. The premium prices these luxury brands charge reflect quality and exclusivity; their target audience has the means to purchase the products and the desire to live a rich life.

Old Navy, meanwhile, targets budget-conscious shoppers with its everyday modest prices and regular promotional discounts. Dollar Tree is an example of a brand that appeals to lower-income consumers and those seeking extreme values. Dollar Tree, which has had to raise average product prices up from $1.00 to $1.25, has seen profits surge in recent years.

No one magic price range will produce exceptional results for all product lines. When pricing your product, you must consider not only the cost to produce the item but who your ideal buyer is and what they’re currently spending on the products they purchase.

Examples of Place

Today’s businesses have more options and flexibility in places to sell their goods and services. The best point-of-sale (POS) systems and credit card readers let you accept payments from nearly anywhere.

You used to need a brick-and-mortar building to open a restaurant, and now budding restaurateurs and bakers can sell their edible creations via food trucks, pop-up events or shared kitchens.

Artists and crafters can sell their goods via their own galleries or display their works at others’ galleries. Artists also sell art online via their own websites or popular online marketplaces such as Creative Market, Etsy, Amazon Handmade and Fine Art America. Art and craft fairs are growing more popular, as are festivals and pop-up markets that invite artisans to showcase their work.

Many businesses start by selling their products online or via a retail location and then expand to other outlets once sales grow. A multi-location strategy is often the best way to boost your product sales.

Examples of Promotion

If you want your business to be successful, you must find ways to promote your business effectively. Some promotional efforts—such as national paid advertising—require a relatively large promotional budget, which is feasible for mega-brands like McDonald’s, Amazon and Toyota, but can be difficult for smaller businesses.

Examples of promotions that work for small businesses include creating a business website where you offer discount coupons and promote current sales. You can also ask customers for their email addresses and use email marketing software for ongoing business promotion. If you have a brick-and-mortar business, consider placing attention-grabbing banners, flags or a blow-up character in front of your business to draw the attention of those passing by.

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Other types of promotions can work for a wide array of businesses, such as customer loyalty programs. Kohl’s loyalty program, called Kohl’s Rewards, gives members cash back each month based on their spending. Since Kohl’s requires you to submit your contact information to join the program, the company can use that information to regularly email you to tell you about current sales and new products.

Think of the four Ps of marketing as your road map for introducing and launching successful products and services. Your marketing strategy should include extensive details on how you intend to approach each of the four Ps.

For example, when developing your product, consider what’s already available and what features you can embed in your product to serve a need or solve a problem better than any other available product. How will your product stand out in a crowded marketplace? Also, think about who your ideal audience is and what they value most.

When developing your pricing strategy, don’t just consider the price point where you make a sufficient margin. Be sure you understand your ideal customer’s sensitivity to pricing. Is this a luxury item? Then deliver the quality that appeals to high-end buyers at a price point that affirms luxury and exclusivity. Are you providing the best value on the market? Then use a value-based pricing model.

Placement is also key. Where does your target market already go to purchase similar products—online, in specialty retail stores, big-box stores, discount stores or elsewhere? It’s important to place your products where your ideal clients already shop, which may mean placing them in multiple sales channels.

Finally, give special attention to how you promote your products. Your promotion strategies must be compelling and give you maximum reach for your promotional dollars.

How and where you choose to promote your product needs to align with the type of customer you are pursuing. The promotional choices you’ll select for more traditional middle-aged suburbanites will be considerably different than those you’d use to appeal to members of Generation Z. Always make sure your advertising choices and messaging align with who you’re targeting.

While the four Ps came first, you may have also heard of the seven Ps of marketing, which rose in popularity in the 70s and 80s. The seven Ps include the original four Ps plus people, process and physical evidence.

The fifth P refers to the people within your organization who work together to create an exceptional experience for your customers. You can differentiate your business from competitors by creating a customer-centric culture that consistently delivers a memorable, high-quality customer experience.

If you are a service-based business, it’s vital that you pay close attention to the people you hire to interact with your customers. Bad reviews on Google Reviews or Yelp can put you out of business.

The sixth P, process, is how you get your product to the customer. Is it easy and seamless to purchase from you, or are there barriers that make the buying experience difficult or issues with your shipping or delivery system that negatively impact the experience?

For example, did you ship a product to an environmentally conscious customer via a styrofoam container—or did you use sustainable, eco-friendly shipping and packaging methods? Make sure the processes you use make sense for what you’re selling and who you’re selling to.

Physical Evidence

The seventh P, physical evidence, involves things that enhance or detract from the shopping or purchase experience. Physical evidence includes branding and packaging.

When a physical environment is involved—such as in a retail store, restaurant or service office—physical evidence includes the layout, ambiance and overall aesthetics of the physical location that contribute to the impression you make on prospects and customers.

What are the seven Ps of marketing?

The seven Ps of marketing—sometimes referred to as the marketing mix—include product, place, price, promotion, people, physical evidence and process.

Which of the four Ps of marketing is the most important?

Many consider the product to be the most important of the four Ps of marketing. That being said, even excellent products can only be successful if a business strategically deploys all vital aspects of the marketing mix, including the remaining three Ps: place, promotion and price.

What are the marketing four Ps and four Cs?

The four Ps of marketing are product, place, price and promotion. In an article in Advertising Age , Bob Lauterborn introduced the four Cs, which he stated was a more customer-centric marketing model. The four Cs are consumer, cost, convenience and communication.

What is the purpose of the four Ps of marketing?

The purpose of the four Ps of marketing is to help businesses create a viable, complete strategy for selling goods and services. The four Ps are essential pillars for success that can help you drive better results when launching any product or service.

What’s the difference between the four Ps and the seven Ps of marketing?

The seven Ps include the original four Ps—product, price, place and promotion—plus people, process and physical evidence.

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marketing mix

Marketing mix 101: How to use the 4 Ps of marketing

Reading time: about 8 min

There are many reasons a product might fail, but it often comes down to your marketing mix, or the 4 Ps of marketing. The 4 Ps of marketing—product, price, place, promotion—are the core factors impacting how you market your product. Understanding these factors will help you target your product to the right people, in the right place, at the right time. It’s all about finding the right mix.

Whether you’re still in the napkin-sketching phases or making changes to an existing product, a marketing mix could be your golden ticket to developing a product that rises above your competition and brings value right to the customer.

Here’s how to use the 4 Ps of marketing to develop a winning marketing mix.

What are the 4 Ps of marketing?

The 4 Ps of marketing are the core factors involved in marketing your product. The 4 Ps of marketing are often used synonymously with marketing mix but should be thought of as the ingredients to include in your recipe or personal marketing mix, where you decide what, when, and how much goes into your business. Your mix will vary depending on your product, industry, and the stage you are in, such as launch or iteration.

The original 4 Ps are:

The 4 Ps have become 8 Ps of marketing in recent years in response to changes within the marketing industry, especially the Internet. The extended list of Ps proposes additional elements to consider for better results in a successful marketing strategy. The 8 Ps of marketing include the first four but add:

Physical evidence

Performance.

Your product is a tangible item or a solution, service, or experience. Although you probably believe your product is worthwhile, conduct market research to decide what customers want or need and to determine what makes your product unique. Make decisions with the customer in mind as you consider the design, technology, packaging, branding, quality, experience, and ease of use.

You can determine the sustainability of your product by visualizing the product life cycle with Lucidchart . Plan for growth, maturity, and potential sales decline using a decision tree template. If you do this before you go to market, you can better anticipate and mitigate potential challenges after your product goes to market.

decision tree example

Your price is influenced by many factors, such as manufacturing and distribution costs, competitors, and customer perception. Determine how to structure your pricing based on these factors, but also determine if there will be flux in order to gain additional particular target groups.

For example, if you’re a software company, you may offer a free version and a premium version, but will you offer discounts to certain groups or organizations such as teachers or university students?

Remain flexible, because over time your initial price will inevitably change in order to yield maximum profits and match the quality of the product.

Place refers to the locations where your products can be purchased or accessed. For example, you may offer certain products in a retail store while others are only offered online. Or, maybe customers need to sign up for a cloud-based platform, install software, or download a mobile app. Offer your product in the most convenient way possible, as its success may be contingent on the complexity and length a customer has to go to get it.

Promotion is how you communicate your product or service to customers. It involves everything from advertising to sales strategies to public relations, email , social media, and more. While the goal is probably leads and conversions, don’t underestimate opportunities for user engagement and brand and product education.

Decide how you plan to promote and maximize the visibility of your product, but don’t feel the need to plan all your promotions at once. As your product grows and evolves, so will your promotion strategy. You can apply any of the Ps at any stage of your marketing strategy, not just for initial launches.

The people component encompasses all the people who work on and sell the product or service, but also those who assist customers. Your employees are the primary group and will likely be made up of management, sales, and customer service. For example, if your product requires a multi-step download and installation on a specific operating system, you will want to establish a customer support team.

You can create a swimlane diagram, org chart, or multi-set diagram using Lucidchart templates to delineate these roles early on, prevent confusion about who does what, and visualize how each department works together to deliver a positive product and experience for customers.

multi-set Venn diagram for org structure

The process is the steps to deliver the product to the customer. Within your organization, review how efficiently work is completed and managed. For example, you might look at sales processes or even your go-to-market plan. Whether you are refining your current marketing mix or launching a new one, there are always opportunities to make business process improvements.

go-to-market Gantt chart

Physical evidence can take on two forms. First, it can indicate that a service took place, such as packaging, receipts, tracking methods, paperwork, and invoices. This is important for documentation purposes and best practices. Another form of evidence is visible parts of your business that a customer sees prior to buying or engaging with your product. This includes signage, brochures, websites, and advertising. Well-crafted and strategic branding can improve your physical evidence and set you apart from your competition.

While this element is newer, it tends to set the good products and businesses from the great ones, even those with well thought out marketing mixes. Performance should be focused on identifying your KPIs and defining what success looks like, but also on knowing when to make changes. Great companies and products are continuously improving and making decisions in order to do better and deliver the best to customers. Look beyond barely hitting benchmarks and outperform instead—for your business, for your employees, and for your customers.

What is a marketing mix?

A marketing mix is the specific combination of strategies, tactics, and practices a business uses to promote and position its product in the market. The 4 Ps of marketing (or 8 Ps of marketing) are the main elements that define your marketing mix.

Marketing mix vs. marketing strategy vs. marketing plan 

A marketing mix is not the same thing as your marketing strategy or your marketing plan. There is some overlap, as you will use elements of your marketing mix to execute your plan and strategy. Let’s quickly differentiate the marketing mix from your strategy and plan.

  • Marketing strategy : The general intentions of your business and the broader, long-term vision of your product. This can range anywhere from one year to 10 years in the future.
  • Marketing plan : A marketing plan is a roadmap for your strategy that has more focused goals in shorter time lengths, ranging from 90 days to 12 months.
  • Marketing mix : A conceptual decision-making framework designed to help businesses meet corporate objectives while creating value for customers. It uses a mix of controllable elements—the 4 Ps of marketing—that can be used to steer initial product launches and subsequent marketing campaigns.

So, the marketing mix is a combination of factors that influence each other and affect who you market to, when, and how—hence why it’s called a mix. It provides broad levels for any business to build the right product, in the right place, at the right time, at the right price.

It may sound easy, but this actually requires rigorous market research and consultation with several departments and key players, including users, employees, and stakeholders. The 4 Ps of marketing is a guiding set of factors to consider that helps businesses replace oversight and lack of preparation with product viability, value, and profit.

What’s the value of the marketing mix and the Ps?

Although marketing mixes can become complex and require many detailed conversations, they can save you time and money in the long run—they might even save your company or put you far ahead of your competitors. A clearly defined marketing mix replaces assumptions with informed decisions and guides stakeholders and teams through product launches, iterations, and subsequent marketing campaigns.

Your marketing mix can help you do the following:

  • Define your target market.
  • Streamline product offering.
  • Refine product strategy.
  • Develop strengths and avoid weakness.
  • Increase sales and profits.
  • Improve customer retention and satisfaction.
  • Monitor market trends and requirements.
  • Keep the customer as the focal point.

When you define your marketing mix early on, you can control the product mission and anchor everyone on the same page with a shared understanding of the product, especially as your company grows.

How to develop a marketing mix

The components of your marketing mix may vary, especially depending on the product or service. Here are some tips to identify your specific marketing mix.

  • Identify your target market.
  • Understand your competitors.
  • Define your unique selling proposition .
  • Define your Ps of marketing.
  • Outline your marketing plan .
  • Execute your marketing plan.

There are multiple interrelated and moving parts when it comes to marketing. Whether you’re launching your first or fifth product or simply restructuring your current product marketing mix, you can use Lucidchart to diagram your way to marketing success .

marketing mix

Explore how go-to-market teams can use Lucid to facilitate alignment.

About Lucidchart

Lucidchart, a cloud-based intelligent diagramming application, is a core component of Lucid Software's Visual Collaboration Suite. This intuitive, cloud-based solution empowers teams to collaborate in real-time to build flowcharts, mockups, UML diagrams, customer journey maps, and more. Lucidchart propels teams forward to build the future faster. Lucid is proud to serve top businesses around the world, including customers such as Google, GE, and NBC Universal, and 99% of the Fortune 500. Lucid partners with industry leaders, including Google, Atlassian, and Microsoft. Since its founding, Lucid has received numerous awards for its products, business, and workplace culture. For more information, visit lucidchart.com.

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Business Jargons

A Business Encyclopedia

Presentation

Definition : A presentation is a form of communication in which the speaker conveys information to the audience. In an organization presentations are used in various scenarios like talking to a group, addressing a meeting, demonstrating or introducing a new product, or briefing a team. It involves presenting a particular subject or issue or new ideas/thoughts to a group of people.

It is considered as the most effective form of communication because of two main reasons:

  • Use of non-verbal cues.
  • Facilitates instant feedback.

presentation

Business Presentations are a tool to influence people toward an intended thought or action.

Parts of Presentation

structure-of-presentation

  • Introduction : It is meant to make the listeners ready to receive the message and draw their interest. For that, the speaker can narrate some story or a humorous piece of joke, an interesting fact, a question, stating a problem, and so forth. They can also use some surprising statistics.
  • Body : It is the essence of the presentation. It requires the sequencing of facts in a logical order. This is the part where the speaker explains the topic and relevant information. It has to be critically arranged, as the audience must be able to grasp what the speaker presents.
  • Conclusion : It needs to be short and precise. It should sum up or outline the key points that you have presented. It could also contain what the audience should have gained out of the presentation.

Purpose of Presentation

  • To inform : Organizations can use presentations to inform the audience about new schemes, products or proposals. The aim is to inform the new entrant about the policies and procedures of the organization.
  • To persuade : Presentations are also given to persuade the audience to take the intended action.
  • To build goodwill : They can also help in building a good reputation

Factors Affecting Presentation

factors-affecting-presentation

Audience Analysis

Communication environment, personal appearance, use of visuals, opening and closing presentation, organization of presentation, language and words, voice quality, body language, answering questions, a word from business jargons.

Presentation is a mode of conveying information to a selected group of people live. An ideal presentation is one that identifies and matches the needs, interests and understanding level of the audience. It also represents the facts, and figures in the form of tables, charts, and graphs and uses multiple colours.

Related terms:

  • Verbal Communication
  • Visual Communication
  • Non-Verbal Communication
  • Communication
  • 7 C’s of Communication

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The Four Ps of Marketing

The Four Ps of Marketing

Four peas, the vegetable, in a pod

You might have heard about the Four Ps of marketing in a textbook, in school, or from a fellow marketer. But the Four Ps of Marketing are more than just an abstract idea: they are a very important marketing concept that you can use to advertise your new business, optimize your sales, reach your target audience, or test your current marketing strategy. Learn how you can utilize the four Ps to help grow your business.

What Are the Four Ps of Marketing?

Marketing is the activity , set of institutions, or processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large. The four Ps of marketing is a marketing concept that summarizes the four key factors of any marketing strategy. The four Ps are: product, price, place, and promotion.

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The History of the Four Ps of Marketing

The four Ps were popularized by Neil Borden, an advertising professor at Harvard University , in the 1950s, as part of the overall marketing mix. The four Ps of marketing are still widely used today by marketers and companies to advertise their goods and services.

Understanding the Four Ps of Marketing

Now that you know what the four Ps of marketing are, let’s break down each one so you can utilize each in your own marketing strategy.

What is Product?

The product is what your company sells. For example, maybe it is smoothies from your juice bar or jewelry from your e-commerce store. Or, it can be a service, like yoga classes or therapy sessions. The product is what you make available to the consumer. Ideally, your product or service should fulfill an existing consumer demand. The type of product or service you offer helps you determine how much to charge for it, where it should be placed, and how it should be promoted. (The other three Ps of marketing!)

To capitalize on successfully marketing your product, you need to identify why it is different or special. So, what sets your product apart from other products like it on the market? How can it win over customers and beat the competition? The key to this P of marketing is determining what it is that makes your product unique or special.

Example of Product

Many successful products and services are the first in their category. For example, Apple was the first company to sell a touchscreen smartphone that had the ability to do much more than simply make phone calls.

What is Price?

Price is the amount of money you charge customers for the previously determined product or service. The right price drives up the most amount of sales and the most profit for your company. The price also must be related to the product’s real and perceived value.

Example of Price

There are several factors that can affect the cost of a product or service , like supply costs, seasonal discounts, and competitors’ prices. There are also other reasons to raise or lower prices. For example, some high-end businesses might raise the price of their products to give the appearance of being a luxury to appeal to an affluent audience. On the other hand, other businesses might lower the price of a newer product or offer a discount to entice more consumers into buying and trying the product.

What is Place?

The third P of marketing is place. This is the place where you should sell your product and how it should be delivered to the market.

Example of Place

For example, would it be better to sell your product from a brick-and-mortar store or an e-commerce website? Or, it can refer to where you place the product within your store’s display. Place can even refer to where you choose to advertise your product, like on TV, social media, or web pages. The ultimate goal of place is to determine the best place to get products in front of the customers who are most likely to purchase them.

While place might seem irrelevant if you have an e-commerce website , it actually is extremely relevant. For example, on which social media platforms are you promoting your e-commerce website? Place and promotion are tied closely together.

What is Promotion?

The final P of marketing is promotion. Promotion includes all of the advertising and public relations that make up your promotional strategy for your product. The goal of promoting your product is to show consumers why they need it, what problem it will solve for them, and why they should fork over their hard-earned money for it. What is the best way to reach your target market? It might be a social media platform, a PR campaign, or an SEO strategy.

Example of Promotion

There are so many ways to promote your business today and so many tools available to help you do it. The key is choosing the right method of promotion in order to reach your specific target audience. They might include online marketing, SEO, social media, Google Ads, social media advertising, affiliate marketing or influencer marketing , content marketing, or email marketing.

Four Ps of marketing

Marketing Strategy Examples

To create an excellent marketing strategy , here is an example:

Step 1: Product: Determine what it is that you sell, whether it is a product, service, consulting, etc.

Step 2: Price: Decide how much you will charge for your product or service that will both help you make a profit, but is realistic for your consumers.

Step 3: Place: Choose where you will sell your product or service.

Step 4: Promotion: Pick the best method of promoting your product or service.

Marketing Analysis Example

If your current marketing strategy doesn’t seem to be working, perform a marketing analysis by working your way through each of the four Ps of marketing to determine the issue. Maybe it lies within the product, price, place, or promotion. For example, maybe you have an excellent product, but the place you are selling it isn’t working.

The Four Ps are Essential for Marketers

If you want to stand out from your competitors, you need to leverage the four Ps of marketing. For more marketing tips, consider joining the American Marketing Association! We offer Digital Marketing Certifications and more to help you be the best possible marketer.

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4 Ps of Marketing: What They Are & How to Use Them Successfully

Product, price, place, and promotion are the four Ps in a winning "marketing mix"

presentation mix definition

The four Ps or marketing are a “marketing mix” comprised of four key elements—product, price, place, and promotion.

These are the key factors that are involved in introducing a product or service to the public. Often referred to as a marketing mix , they provide a framework that companies can use to successfully market a product or service to consumers. Since the four Ps were introduced in the 1950s, more Ps have been added to the mix, including people, process, and physical evidence.

Key Takeaways

  • The four Ps are the four essential factors involved in marketing a product or service to the public.
  • The four Ps are product, price, place, and promotion.
  • The concept of the four Ps has been around since the 1950s. As the marketing industry has evolved, other Ps have been identified: people, process, and physical evidence.

Investopedia / Julie Bang

Understanding the 4 Ps of Marketing

Neil Borden, an advertising professor at Harvard, popularized the idea of the marketing mix—and the concepts that would later be known primarily as the four Ps—in the 1950s. His 1964 article "The Concept of the Marketing Mix" demonstrated the ways that companies could use advertising tactics to engage their consumers.

Decades later, the concepts that Borden popularized are still being used by companies to advertise their goods and services.

Borden's ideas were developed and refined over a number of years by other key players in the industry. E. Jerome McCarthy, a marketing professor at Michigan State University, refined the concepts in Borden's article and named them the "four Ps" of marketing. McCarthy co-wrote the book Basic Marketing: A Managerial Approach , further popularizing the idea.

At the time the concept was introduced, it helped companies breach the physical barriers that could hamper widespread product adoption. Today, the Internet has helped businesses to overcome some of these barriers.

People, process, and physical evidence are extensions of the original Four Ps and are relevant to current trends in marketing.

Any successful marketing strategy should be revisited from time to time. The marketing mix you create is not intended to be static. It needs to be adjusted and refined as your product grows and your customer base changes .

Creating a marketing campaign starts with an understanding of the product itself. Who needs it and why? What does it do that no competitor's product can do? Perhaps it's a new thing altogether and is so compelling in its design or function that consumers will have to have it when they see it.

The job of the marketer is to define the product and its qualities and introduce it to the consumer—the basic marketing of a product (or service).

Defining the product also is key to its distribution. Marketers need to understand the life cycle of a product , and business executives need to have a plan for dealing with products at every stage of the life cycle.

The type of product also dictates in part how much it will cost, where it should be placed, and how it should be promoted.

Many of the most successful products have been the first in their category. For example, Apple was the first to create a touchscreen smartphone that could play music, browse the internet, and make phone calls. Apple reported total sales of the iPhone for FY 2022 at $205.4 billion. In 2021, it hit the milestone of two billion iPhones sold.

Price is the amount that consumers will be willing to pay for a product. Marketers must link the price point to the product's real and perceived value, while also considering supply costs, seasonal discounts, competitors' prices, and retail markup.

In some cases, business decision-makers may raise the price of a product to give it the appearance of luxury or exclusivity. Or, they may lower the price so more consumers will try it.

Marketers also need to determine when and if discounting is appropriate. A discount can draw in more customers, but it can also give the impression that the product is less desirable than it was.

UNIQLO, headquartered in Japan, is a global manufacturer of casual wear. Like its competitors Gap and Zara, UNIQLO creates low-priced, fashion-forward garments for younger buyers.

What makes UNIQLO unique is that its products are innovative and high-quality. It accomplishes this by purchasing fabric in large volumes, continually seeking the highest-quality and lowest-cost materials in the world. The company also directly negotiates with its manufacturers and has built strategic partnerships with innovative Japanese manufacturers.

UNIQLO also outsources its production to partner factories. That gives it the flexibility to change production partners as its needs change.

Finally, the company employs a team of skilled textile artisans that it sends to its partner factories all over the world for quality control. Production managers visit factories once a week to resolve quality problems.

Place is the consideration of where the product should be available—in brick-and-mortar stores and online—and how it will be displayed.

The decision is key: The makers of a luxury cosmetic product would want to be displayed in Sephora and Neiman Marcus, not in Walmart or Family Dollar. The goal of business executives is always to get their products in front of the consumers who are the most likely to buy them.

That means placing a product only in certain stores and getting it displayed to the best advantage.

The term placement also refers to advertising the product in the right media to get the attention of its target audience of consumers.

For example, the 1995 movie GoldenEye was the 17th installment in the James Bond movie franchise and the first that did not feature an Aston Martin car. Instead, Bond actor Pierce Brosnan got into a BMW Z3. Although the Z3 was not released until months after the film had left theaters, BMW received 9,000 orders for the car the month after the movie opened.

The goal of promotion is to communicate to consumers that they need this product and that it is priced appropriately. Promotion encompasses advertising, public relations, and the overall media strategy for introducing a product.

Marketers tend to tie together promotion and placement elements to reach their core audiences. For example, in the digital age, the "place" and "promotion" factors are as much online as offline. Specifically, that means where a product appears on a company's web page or social media, as well as which types of search functions will trigger targeted ads for the product.

The Swedish vodka brand Absolut sold only 10,000 cases of its vodka in 1980. By 2000, the company had sold 4.5 million cases, thanks in part to its iconic advertising campaign. The images in the campaign featured the brand's signature bottle styled as a range of surreal images: a bottle with a halo, a bottle made of stone, or a bottle in the shape of the trees standing on a ski slope. To date, the Absolut campaign is one of the longest-running continuous campaigns of all time, from 1981 to 2005.

The four Ps provide a framework on which to build your marketing strategy. Think through each factor. And don't worry when the factors overlap. That's inevitable.

First, analyze the product you will be marketing. What are the characteristics that make it appealing? Consider similar products that are already on the market. Your product may be tougher, easier to use, more attractive, or longer-lasting. Its ingredients might be environmentally friendly or naturally sourced. Identify the qualities that will make it appealing to your target consumers.

Think through the appropriate price for the product. It's not simply the cost of production plus a profit margin. You may be positioning it as a premium or luxury product or as a bare-bones, lower-priced alternative.

Placement involves identifying the type of store, online and off, that stocks products like yours for consumers like yours.

Your promotion strategies can only be considered in the context of your target consumer. The product might be appealing to a hip younger crowd or to upscale professionals or to bargain hunters. Your media strategy needs to reach the right audience with the right message.

To put this into perspective, let's consider a fictional skincare company that produces organic skincare products. Here's how the four Ps might be utilized:

  • Product : The company offers a range of organic skincare products, including cleansers, moisturizers, and serums. These products are formulated with natural ingredients, free from harsh chemicals, and designed to promote healthy and radiant skin.
  • Price : The pricing strategy for these skincare products is positioned as premium, reflecting the high quality of ingredients and the company's commitment to sustainability and ethical sourcing.
  • Place : The products are sold through multiple channels, including the company's website, select retail stores specializing in organic products, and high-end spas and salons. This distribution strategy ensures accessibility to environmentally conscious consumers seeking natural skincare solutions.
  • Promotion : The company's promotional efforts focus on emphasizing the benefits of organic skincare, such as nourishment, hydration, and skin rejuvenation. This includes social media campaigns, influencer partnerships, and educational content highlighting the importance of using non-toxic products for skincare routines.

What's the Difference Between the 4 Ps and the 4 Cs of Marketing?

The 4 Ps of marketing are product, price, place, and promotion. The 4 Cs replace the Ps with consumer, cost, convenience, and communication. The 4 Cs are of more recent vintage, proposed as an alternative to the 4 Ps by Bob Lauterborn in an article in Advertising Age in 1990. The 4 Cs are designed to be a more consumer-focused model that places more emphasis on customer needs and experience.

To better understand the consumer (product), marketers develop detailed buyer personas of the ideal customer, with an eye toward improving communication and sales. Cost (price) is considered from the consumer point of view—what customers are able and willing to pay, including for "extras" such as taxes and shipping costs. Communication (promotion) shifts the focus from one-way advertising to engagements with customers, especially on social media. And convenience (place) is all about improving the accessibility of your products, making it easier for customers to buy them.

Now there is an even newer marketing mix known as the 4 Es: experience, exchange, evangelism, and everyplace. They give a nod to the importance of creating memorable experiences and emotional connections between consumers and brands.

How Does Apple Use the 4 Ps of Marketing?

Apple utilizes the four Ps of marketing by focusing on:

Product innovation : Evident in its continuous development of cutting-edge technology like the iPhone, MacBook, and Apple Watch.

Pricing strategy : Apple often positions its products as premium offerings, targeting a more affluent consumer base.

Place : Apple emphasizes distribution through its own retail stores, online platforms, and strategic partnerships with authorized resellers.

Promotional efforts : Apple emphasizes sleek design, user experience, and aspirational branding, creating a sense of exclusivity and desirability around its products.

How Do You Use the 4 Ps of Marketing?

The model of the 4Ps can be used when you are planning a new product launch, evaluating an existing product, or trying to optimize the sales of an existing product.

A careful analysis of these four factors—product, price, place, and promotion—helps a marketing professional devise a strategy that successfully introduces or reintroduces a product to the public.

When Did the 4 Ps Become the 7 Ps?

The focus on the four Ps—product, price, place, and promotion—has been a core tenet of marketing since the 1950s. Three newer Ps expand the marketing mix for the 21st century.

  • People places the focus on the personalities who represent the product. In the current era, that means not only sales and customer service employees but social media influencers and viral media campaigns.
  • Process is logistics. Consumers increasingly demand fast and efficient delivery of the things they want, when they want them.
  • Physical evidence is perhaps the most thoroughly modern of the seven Ps. If you're selling diamond jewelry on a website, it must be immediately clear to the consumer that you are a legitimate established business that will deliver as promised. A professionally designed website with excellent functionality, an "About" section that lists the principals of the company and its physical address, professional packaging, and efficient delivery service are all critical to convincing the consumer that your product is not only good, it's real.

What Are Some Examples of the 4 Ps of Marketing?

  • Place refers to where consumers buy your product, or where they discover it. Today's consumers may learn about products and buy them online, through a smartphone app, at retail locations, or through a sales professional.
  • Price refers to the cost of the product or service. Properly determining product price includes an analysis of the competition, the demand, production costs, and what consumers are willing to spend. Various pricing models may be considered, such as choosing between one-time purchase and subscription models.
  • The product a company provides depends on the type of company and what it does best. For example, McDonald's provides consistent fast food in a casual setting. The corporation may expand its offerings, but it wouldn't stray far from its core identity.
  • Promotion refers to specific and thoughtful advertising that reaches the target market for the product. You might use an Instagram campaign, a public relations campaign, advertising placement, email marketing , or some combination of all of these to promote your products and reach the right audience in the right place.

The four Ps of marketing—product, price, place, promotion—are often referred to as the marketing mix. These are the key elements involved in planning and marketing a product or service, and they interact significantly with each other. Considering all of these elements is one way to approach a holistic marketing strategy .

Neil Borden. " The Concept of the Marketing Mix ."

E. Jerome McCarthy. "Basic Marketing: A Managerial Approach." Richard D. Irwin, Inc., 1960.

Apple. " Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) Q4 2022 ," Page 1.

Apple Insider. " At 2 Billion iPhones Sold, Apple Continues to Redefine What Customers Want ."

Harvard Business School: Technology and Operations Management. " UNIQLO: What’s Behind the Low-Cost High-Quality Casual Wear? "

Smart Insights. " Campaign of the Week: The Longest Running Print Ad Marketing Campaign in History ."

Stevens & Tate Marketing. " Introducing the 4C Marketing Model and Why You Should Follow It ."

LinkedIn. " Marketing Evolution: 4P's to 4C's to 4E's ."

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Promotional Mix

  • Post last modified: 16 November 2020
  • Reading time: 10 mins read
  • Post category: Marketing Essentials

presentation mix definition

The promotion mix or element of marketing mix is concerned with activities that are commenced to communicate with customers and distribution channels to enhance the sales of the firm.

Table of Content

  • 1 Advertising
  • 2 Direct Marketing
  • 3 Sales Promotion
  • 4 Personal Selling
  • 5 Publicity
  • 6 Public Relations

Elements of Promotion Mix

These elements of promotion mix activities mainly includes:

Advertising

  • Direct marketing

Sales Promotion

  • Personal selling

Public Relations

Advertising is defined as any paid form of non-personal communication about an organization, product, service, or idea by an identified sponsor.

Advertising is defined as any paid form of non-personal communication about an organization, product, service, or idea by an identified sponsor.32 The paid aspect of this definition reflects the fact that the space or time for an advertising message generally must be bought. An occasional exception to this is the public service announcement (PSA), whose advertising space or time is donated by the media.

The non-personal component means that advertising involves mass media (e.g., TV, radio, magazines, newspapers) that can transmit a message to large groups of individuals, often at the same time. The non-personal nature of advertising means that there is generally no opportunity for immediate feedback from the message recipient (except in direct-response advertising).

Therefore, before the message is sent, the advertiser must consider how the audience will interpret and respond to it. Advertising is the best-known and most widely discussed form of promotion, probably because of its pervasiveness.

It is also a very important promotional tool, particularly for companies whose products and services are targeted at mass consumer markets such as automobile manufacturers, packaged goods, and drug companies.

Advertising is also used extensively by companies who compete in the business and professional markets to reach current and potential customers. For example, business-to-business marketers use advertising to perform important functions such as building awareness of the company and its products, generating leads for the sales force, and reassuring customers about the purchase they have made.

Direct Marketing

One of the fastest-growing sectors of the U.S. economy is direct marketing, in which organizations communicate directly with target customers to generate a response and/or a transaction. Traditionally, direct marketing has not been considered an element of the promotional mix.

However, because it has become such an integral part of the IMC program of many organizations and often involves separate objectives, budgets, and strategies, we view direct marketing as a component of the promotional mix.

Direct marketing is much more than direct mail and mail-order catalogs. It involves a variety of activities, including database management, direct selling, telemarketing, and direct-response ads through direct mail, the Internet, and various broadcast and print media. Some companies, such as Tupperware, Discovery Toys, and Amway, do not use any other distribution channels, relying on independent contractors to sell their products directly to consumers.

Direct marketing plays a big role in the integrated marketing communications programs of consumer-product companies and business-to-business marketers. These companies spend large amounts of money each year developing and maintaining databases containing the addresses and/or phone numbers of present and prospective customers.

They use telemarketing to call customers directly and attempt to sell them products and services or qualify them as sales leads. Marketers also send out direct mail pieces ranging from simple letters and flyers to detailed brochures, catalogs, and videotapes to give potential customers information about their products or services. Direct-marketing techniques are also used to distribute product samples.

The next variable in the promotional mix is sales promotion, which is generally defined as those marketing activities that provide extra value or incentives to the sales force, the distributors, or the ultimate consumer and can stimulate immediate sales.

Sales promotion is generally broken into two major categories:

  • Consumer-oriented
  • Trade oriented activities

Consumer-oriented sales promotion is targeted to the ultimate user of a product or service and includes couponing, sampling, premiums, rebates, contests, sweepstakes, and various point-of-purchase materials. These promotional tools encourage consumers to make an immediate purchase and thus can stimulate short-term sales.

Trade-oriented sales promotion is targeted toward marketing intermediaries such as wholesalers, distributors, and retailers. Promotional and merchandising allowances, price deals, sales contests, and trade shows are some of the promotional tools used to encourage the trade to stock and promote a company’s products.

Promotion and sales promotion are two terms that often create confusion in the advertising and marketing fields. As noted, promotion is an element of marketing by which firms communicate with their customers; it includes all the promotional mix elements we have just discussed. However, many marketing and advertising practitioners use the term more narrowly to refer to sales promotion activities to either consumers or the trade (retailers, wholesalers).

Personal Selling

The final element of an organization’s promotional mix is personal selling, a form of person-to-person communication in which a seller attempts to assist and/or persuade prospective buyers to purchase the company’s product or service or to act on an idea.

Unlike advertising, personal selling involves direct contact between buyer and seller, either face-to-face or through some form of telecommunications such as telephone sales. This interaction gives the marketer communication flexibility; the seller can see or hear the potential buyer’s reactions and modify the message accordingly.

The personal, individualized communication in personal selling allows the seller to tailor the message to the customer’s specific needs or situation. Personal selling also involves more immediate and precise feedback because the impact of the sales presentation can generally be assessed from the customer’s reactions.

If the feedback is unfavorable, the salesperson can modify the message. Personal selling efforts can also be targeted to specific markets and customer types that are the best prospects for the company’s product or service. The various promotional mix elements are the major tools that marketers use to communicate with current and/or prospective customers as well as other relevant audiences.

Another important component of an organization’s promotional mix is publicity/ public relations.

Publicity refers to nonpersonal communications regarding an organization, product, service, or idea not directly paid for or run under identified sponsorship. It usually comes in the form of a news story, editorial, or announcement about an organization and/or its products and services.

Like advertising, publicity involves non-personal communication to a mass audience, but unlike advertising, publicity is not directly paid for by the company. The company or organization attempts to get the media to cover or run a favorable story on a product, service, cause, or event to affect awareness, knowledge, opinions, and/or behavior. Techniques used to gain publicity include news releases, press conferences, feature articles, photographs, films, and videotapes.

An advantage of publicity over other forms of promotion is its credibility. Consumers generally tend to be less skeptical toward favourable information about a product or service when it comes from a source they perceive as unbiased.

It is important to recognize the distinction between publicity and public relations. When an organization systematically plans and distributes information in an attempt to control and manage its image and the nature of the publicity it receives, it is really engaging in a function known as public relations.

Public relations is defined as “the management function which evaluates public attitudes, identifies the policies and procedures of an individual or organization with the public interest, and executes a program of action to earn public understanding and acceptance.”

Public relations generally has a broader objective than publicity, as its purpose is to establish and maintain a positive image of the company among its various publics. Public relations uses publicity and a variety of other tools – including special publications, participation in community activities, fund-raising, sponsorship of special events, and various public affairs activities – to enhance an organization’s image.

Organizations also use advertising as a public relations tool. Traditionally, publicity and public relations have been considered more supportive than primary to the marketing and promotional process.

However, many firms have begun making PR an integral part of their predetermined marketing and promotional strategies. PR firms are increasingly touting public relations as a communications tool that can take over many of the functions of conventional advertising and marketing.

Marketing Management

( Click on Topic to Read )

  • What Is Market Segmentation?
  • What Is Marketing Mix?
  • Marketing Concept
  • Marketing Management Process
  • What Is Marketing Environment?
  • What Is Consumer Behaviour?
  • Business Buyer Behaviour
  • Demand Forecasting
  • 7 Stages Of New Product Development
  • Methods Of Pricing
  • What Is Public Relations?
  • What Is Marketing Management?
  • What Is Sales Promotion?
  • Types Of Sales Promotion
  • Techniques Of Sales Promotion
  • What Is Personal Selling?
  • What Is Advertising?
  • Market Entry Strategy
  • What Is Marketing Planning?
  • Segmentation Targeting And Positioning
  • Brand Building Process
  • Kotler Five Product Level Model
  • Classification Of Products
  • Types Of Logistics
  • What Is Consumer Research?
  • What Is DAGMAR?
  • Consumer Behaviour Models
  • What Is Green Marketing?
  • What Is Electronic Commerce?

Agricultural Cooperative Marketing

  • What Is Marketing Control?
  • What Is Marketing Communication?
  • What Is Pricing?
  • Models Of Communication

Sales Management

  • What is Sales Management?
  • Objectives of Sales Management
  • Responsibilities and Skills of Sales Manager
  • Theories of Personal Selling
  • What is Sales Forecasting?
  • Methods of Sales Forecasting
  • Purpose of Sales Budgeting
  • Methods of Sales Budgeting
  • Types of Sales Budgeting
  • Sales Budgeting Process
  • What is Sales Quotas?
  • What is Selling by Objectives (SBO) ?
  • What is Sales Organisation?
  • Types of Sales Force Structure
  • Recruiting and Selecting Sales Personnel
  • Training and Development of Salesforce
  • Compensating the Sales Force
  • Time and Territory Management
  • What Is Logistics?
  • What Is Logistics System?
  • Technologies in Logistics
  • What Is Distribution Management?
  • What Is Marketing Intermediaries?
  • Conventional Distribution System
  • Functions of Distribution Channels
  • What is Channel Design?
  • Types of Wholesalers and Retailers
  • What is Vertical Marketing Systems?

Marketing Essentials

  • What i s Marketing?
  • What i s A BCG Matrix?
  • 5 M'S Of Advertising
  • What i s Direct Marketing?
  • Marketing Mix For Services
  • What Market Intelligence System?
  • What i s Trade Union?
  • What Is International Marketing?
  • World Trade Organization (WTO)
  • What i s International Marketing Research?
  • What is Exporting?
  • What is Licensing?
  • What is Franchising?
  • What is Joint Venture?
  • What is Turnkey Projects?
  • What is Management Contracts?
  • What is Foreign Direct Investment?
  • Factors That Influence Entry Mode Choice In Foreign Markets
  • What is Price Escalations?
  • What is Transfer Pricing?
  • Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC)
  • What is Promotion Mix?
  • Factors Affecting Promotion Mix
  • Functions & Role Of Advertising
  • What is Database Marketing?
  • What is Advertising Budget?
  • What is Advertising Agency?
  • What is Market Intelligence?
  • What is Industrial Marketing?
  • What is Customer Value

Consumer Behaviour

  • What is Consumer Behaviour?
  • What Is Personality?
  • What Is Perception?
  • What Is Learning?
  • What Is Attitude?
  • What Is Motivation?
  • Consumer Imagery
  • Consumer Attitude Formation
  • What Is Culture?
  • Consumer Decision Making Process
  • Applications of Consumer Behaviour in Marketing
  • Motivational Research
  • Theoretical Approaches to Study of Consumer Behaviour
  • Consumer Involvement
  • Consumer Lifestyle
  • Theories of Personality
  • Outlet Selection
  • Organizational Buying Behaviour
  • Reference Groups
  • Consumer Protection Act, 1986
  • Diffusion of Innovation
  • Opinion Leaders

Business Communication

  • What is Business Communication?
  • What is Communication?
  • Types of Communication
  • 7 C of Communication
  • Barriers To Business Communication
  • Oral Communication
  • Types Of Non Verbal Communication
  • What is Written Communication?
  • What are Soft Skills?
  • Interpersonal vs Intrapersonal communication
  • Barriers to Communication
  • Importance of Communication Skills
  • Listening in Communication
  • Causes of Miscommunication
  • What is Johari Window?
  • What is Presentation?
  • Communication Styles
  • Channels of Communication
  • Hofstede’s Dimensions of Cultural Differences and Benett’s Stages of Intercultural Sensitivity
  • Organisational Communication
  • Horizontal C ommunication
  • Grapevine Communication
  • Downward Communication
  • Verbal Communication Skills
  • Upward Communication
  • Flow of Communication
  • What is Emotional Intelligence?
  • What is Public Speaking?
  • Upward vs Downward Communication
  • Internal vs External Communication
  • What is Group Discussion?
  • What is Interview?
  • What is Negotiation?
  • What is Digital Communication?
  • What is Letter Writing?
  • Resume and Covering Letter
  • What is Report Writing?
  • What is Business Meeting?
  • What is Public Relations?

Business Law

  • What is Business Law?
  • Indian Contract Act 1872
  • Essential Elements of a Valid Contract
  • Types of Contract
  • What is Discharge of Contract?
  • Performance of Contract
  • Sales of Goods Act 1930
  • Goods & Price: Contract of Sale
  • Conditions and Warranties
  • Doctrine of Caveat Emptor
  • Transfer of Property
  • Rights of Unpaid Seller
  • Negotiable Instruments Act 1881
  • Types of Negotiable Instruments
  • Types of Endorsement
  • What is Promissory Note?
  • What is Cheque?
  • What is Crossing of Cheque?
  • What is Bill of Exchange?
  • What is Offer?
  • Limited Liability Partnership Act 2008
  • Memorandum of Association
  • Articles of Association
  • What is Director?
  • Trade Unions Act, 1926
  • Industrial Disputes Act 1947
  • Employee State Insurance Act 1948
  • Payment of Wages Act 1936
  • Payment of Bonus Act 1965
  • Labour Law in India

Brand Management

  • What is Brand Management?
  • 4 Steps of Strategic Brand Management Process
  • Customer Based Brand Equity
  • What is Brand Equity?

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COMMENTS

  1. 6 Key Elements to Use in Your Ultimate Sales Presentation

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  3. 13.1 The Promotion Mix and Its Elements

    The promotion mix allows marketers to reach customers in many different ways, ensuring that the message is seen, heard, and understood. After determining and defining the target market, creating a good product, selecting a pricing strategy and optimal price, and deciding on the distribution method, the marketer is ready to communicate with the ...

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  5. 6 Essential Elements of a Successful Sales Pitch or Presentation

    1. Build rapport with your audience. If you want to give a successful presentation, you need to connect with your audience. Start out the presentation by addressing the audience and by appealing to them. This can be done by asking about their business (e.g., a new product launch or announcement).

  6. How to Develop a Successful Marketing Mix Strategy [+ Templates]

    When perfected and synchronized, the core elements of a marketing mix provide a well-rounded approach to marketing strategy. 1. Product. Product refers to what your business is selling - product (s), service (s), or both. The bulk of the work in this element is typically done by product marketers or managers.

  7. What Are the Elements of a Marketing Mix?

    The elements of a marketing mix are the aspects of marketing that a business will leverage to promote its goods or services. There are generally four main elements to consider: product, price, place, and promotion. However, this is often expanded to include a fifth crucial element, people. Each of these components plays an important role in ...

  8. What Is The Marketing Mix? Defining The 4, 5, 6, & 7 Ps Of ...

    The 4 Cs of marketing are: Customer needs and wants: Product. Cost: Price. Convenience: Place. Communication: Promotion. Marketing is more likely to succeed when all of these are integrated in the right way. Together, these influence a company's actions to build, value, distribute, and reach its target audience.

  9. Six elements that must be included in effective sales presentation

    Provide social proof. 5. Present the price of the product clearly and honestly. 6. Encourage the customer to take a specific action. Presentation in the Salesbook application. 1. Quickly explain the category of your product. One of the most important tasks of the human brain is to categorize.

  10. Marketing Mix: 7 Ps, 4 Cs, & Other Things You Need to Know

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  11. What is Promotion Mix: Definition, Tips, Examples

    Promotion Mix: A combination of advertising, personal selling, sales promotion, public relations, and direct marketing can be combined to promote products and services; Continuous Experimentation: No two businesses are alike. To find the perfect promotional mix for your business, embrace a dynamic approach and test different strategies;

  12. Marketing mix

    The marketing mix is the set of controllable elements or variables that a company uses to influence and meet the needs of its target customers in the most effective and efficient way possible. These variables are often grouped into four key components, often referred to as the "Four Ps of Marketing." These four P's are : Product: This represents the physical or intangible offering that a ...

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  14. The 7Ps of The Marketing Mix

    The marketing mix or 7Ps is a foundation model in marketing. it helps to define the tactics to make the marketing plan happen. A planned approach to marketing helps us to set clear objectives based on the current situation a company is facing. The strategy defines how those objectives will be achieved, including the target market to focus on ...

  15. Marketing mix 101: How to use the 4 Ps of marketing

    Your mix will vary depending on your product, industry, and the stage you are in, such as launch or iteration. The original 4 Ps are: Product. Price. Place. Promotion. The 4 Ps have become 8 Ps of marketing in recent years in response to changes within the marketing industry, especially the Internet.

  16. What is Presentation? Definition, Parts and Factors

    Definition: A presentation is a form of communication in which the speaker conveys information to the audience. In an organization presentations are used in various scenarios like talking to a group, addressing a meeting, demonstrating or introducing a new product, or briefing a team. It involves presenting a particular subject or issue or new ideas/thoughts to a group of people.

  17. Promotional mix

    Activities identified as elements of the promotional mix vary, but typically include the following: Advertising is the paid presentation and promotion of ideas, goods, or services by an identified sponsor in a mass medium. Examples include print ads, radio, television, billboard, direct mail, brochures and catalogs, signs, in-store displays ...

  18. The Four Ps of Marketing

    You might have heard about the Four Ps of marketing in a textbook, in school, or from a fellow marketer. But the Four Ps of Marketing are more than just an abstract idea: they are a very important marketing concept that you can use to advertise your new business, optimize your sales, reach your target audience, or test your current marketing strategy.

  19. 4 Ps of Marketing: What They Are & How to Use Them Successfully

    Four Ps: The four Ps are the categories that are involved in the marketing of a good or service, and they include product, price, place and promotion. Often referred to as the marketing mix, the ...

  20. Sales Promotion in Marketing

    Sales promotion, therefore, is a business strategy aimed at increasing demand for a product or service. The primary importance of this temporary campaign is to stimulate immediate sales and ...

  21. What Is Promotion Mix? Elements, Definition

    Personal Selling. The final element of an organization's promotional mix is personal selling, a form of person-to-person communication in which a seller attempts to assist and/or persuade prospective buyers to purchase the company's product or service or to act on an idea. Unlike advertising, personal selling involves direct contact between ...