Among the people of a generation ago, understanding of what marketing is and what it does was next-to-nothing.Things are different now; and these days we can all chip in, we can all kick around a couple of marketing concepts.
The key reason for this is that marketing has in several ways come to define business. The marketing strategy and plan will stand behind every business function and impact on just about every decision made.
Learning how marketing works is vital to all areas of an organisation.Everyone who wishes to advance their career in whatever area of business, including owners, managers and consultants, has a duty to understand the guiding principles and current practices that define the key strategic function of marketing.
What is the process that leads the consumer to buy? How do you define and capture marketing opportunities? What is the target market? How is research gathered and analysed? What is the product life cycle? What is the marketing mix? What is being marketed? What factors inform a marketing strategy? How is a marketing plan implemented? All levels of management, but especially the middle and upper tiers ought to be able to talk in marketing terms because the process of marketing – its message and its delivery – is the means by which the end point – the sale – is reached.All business at some level relies on marketing.
Without the ability to answer these questions, your effectiveness in meetings and key strategy debates will be at best minor and If you lack the skills to get to grips with these questions, then tumbleweed is likely to drift through the meeting when you open your mouth.Ultimately there is no substitute for systematic study informed by expert guidance and this is why many make the decision to enrol upon a dedicated marketing management course. Not only does a good quality accredited qualification enable you to breathe a sigh of relief since you now know what you’re talking about, it demonstrates a commitment to acquiring new skills and knowledge.
The other reason why now, more than ever, it is important to get on top of what is going on in the world of marketing is the huge change that has been ushered in by the internet. The new marketing channels that are opening up, and how the big players are exploiting them, offers ever-growing opportunities but also a whole new level of challenge that means you should update your skills – or be left behind.The game has changed and there is nobody anymore who can claim to know everything there is to know about marketing.
If you wish to become a fully-fledged marketing professional, the tutors at BrightonSBM will guide you through their marketing courses delivered online which are designed to suit the amount of commitment you are able to give.The Edexcel Level 5 courses in Marketing Management start with the two-module Award through to the full six-module Diploma. All courses can be ‘topped-up’ into higher qualifications with further study. To find out how an online marketing diploma can transform your career prospects, check out www.brightonsbm.com.
