The role of marketing
Marketing is the process of identifying, satisfying and keeping customers while making a profit. Its main aims are to understand customer needs, sell more products, increase market share and build customer loyalty.
Key idea
Market share is the proportion of total sales in a market held by one business, shown as a percentage. A rising market share suggests a business is competing well.
Meeting customer needs
A market-oriented business finds out what customers want before producing goods, using market research. A product-oriented business focuses first on the product itself. Meeting needs closely leads to customer satisfaction and repeat purchases.
- A mass market is large, with products aimed at most consumers.
- A niche market is a small, specialised segment with particular needs.
Competition and adding value
Most markets have competition, so businesses try to stand out. Adding value means making a product worth more to the customer than the cost of the inputs, for example through branding, quality or good service.
Remember
- Markets change as tastes, incomes and technology change.
- Loyal customers buy again and recommend the business to others.
Effective marketing helps a business survive competition and grow.