marketing

The word “marketing” means the business activity of promoting and selling products or services, including advertising and market research. In plain terms, the business of getting people to want and buy a product, through advertising, branding, and research.

“Marketing” is pronounced MAH-kih-tihng (/ˈmɑɹkɪtɪŋ/ in IPA).

Here is “marketing” used in a sentence: “She works in marketing for a tech startup.”

“Marketing” is a noun.

“Marketing” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

Advertising is one part of marketing, not the whole of it. Marketing is the entire process of understanding customers and getting a product to them — including research, pricing, branding, and distribution. Advertising is the narrower task of creating paid messages to promote that product. All advertising is marketing, but not all marketing is advertising.

Marketing creates interest and demand, while sales convert that interest into actual purchases. Marketing works before and around the sale — building awareness, positioning the brand, and attracting potential customers. Sales is the direct, person-to-person step of closing the deal. The two are closely linked, and each depends on the other to succeed.

Marketing comes in many forms. Traditional marketing includes print, TV, and radio advertising, while digital marketing covers websites, email, search, and social media. Other common types are content marketing, influencer marketing, and word-of-mouth. Most organisations blend several approaches, choosing the mix that best reaches their particular audience.

Marketing matters because even the best product will not sell if no one knows it exists or understands why they need it. Good marketing connects a business with the right customers, communicates value clearly, and builds a lasting reputation. It also gathers feedback about what people actually want, guiding what a company makes next.