Is marketing really that important?...

Is marketing really that important for all businesses?

Clearly I can see the value with a small business that no-one has heard about as it will increase their exposure and get them much needed publicity.

However for larger companies is there really any benefit for it? For instance when major companies like Coke advertise in the media what do they gain from it - everyone has heard of them already.

Is marketing really just something that is propagated as important by marketeers to keep their jobs? Certainly it is almost impossible to measure accurately the return on investment of marketing...

Stephen

Re : Is marketing really that important?

I have heard a few entrepreneurs say something like:
"marketing, marketing, marketing"

... so I guess the answer is that, yes, it is important. At the simplistic level there is no point having a great product if no-one knows about it!

Jim

Re : Is marketing really that important?

Marketing is important for any business small or large.

I know one thing for sure that if Coke would not do the advertising in the way they currently do, Coke would not be so much in our face and therefore, not top of our mind and they will loose market share to anybody who is doing advertising in the soft drink market at that point in time.

As a company, you always need to make sure that you are top of mind for your customers as your customers can go anywhere - to any of your competitors.
Ingrid

Re : Is marketing really that important?

I agree with Ingrid.

Marketing is essential for any business. How are people going to find about you and buy your product or service without marketing?

Anything that gets the word out there about you is marketing - whether it is word of mouth or something more formal... so don't be fooled into thinking about it in the narrow sense of advertising; it is much more than that!

David
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Re : Is marketing really that important?

Interesting point, Ingrid.

I often wonder why massive brands like Coke do advertise - we all know about them anyway they must be one of the best well known brands there are. I guess we sometimes forget it is partially because they keep on advertising over time that they are so well known!

Lianne