product, pricing, promotion, placement, people, process, and physical evidence.

The first four elements are often referred to as the marketing mix. A marketer can use these to design a marketing plan. The four Ps model is useful when marketing low value consumer products. They serve as a framework within which a marketing activity can be used as well as offer a workable guide to the major categories of marketing activity.

The additional three Ps is called the extended marketing mix which reflects a consumer-centered perspective, as it must account for the unique nature of services.

Know more about market research in The Psychology of Marketing.

Trust is the highest form of human motivation. It can always bring out the best in everyone. With trust, working together efficiently is highly achievable. It takes time, effort and patience to develop people in an organization to achieve competency. And competency can be gained if people trust each other, which in turn encourage leadership and high morale in people. For our subordinate to trust us, we must also be approachable. We must also know our people really well, and we must take the role of a responsible leader and develop the skills of interacting with people in as many ways and situations possible.

Solution – how does the solution meet the customer’s needs/problem;

Information – is the customer aware of the solution and do they know enough about it to make them decide to buy;

Value – does the customer know the value of the transaction, what the cost is, the benefits, and what is the reward they can get if they decide to avail;

Access – where can the customer get the solution and is it readily available.

While the purpose of coaching is to help sales people become more effective, the purpose of counseling is to help marketing people become better adjusted in his work environment. The manager should avoid two extremes of response. One is to maintain that personal difficulties of subordinates are none of his business since private matters should remain private. The other extreme is the temptation to run a psychology practice, prying indelicately into matters beyond his capabilities and legitimate concern. Personal problems deplete the energy of a worker and reduce efficiency. To ignore that a sales person has a serious problem is unwise; probing into it is self-defeating and potentially dangerous.

All employees do their job according to their job description. Anything outside of it is simply “not their job”. A company offers a lot of opportunity for its employees, but not all opportunities are obvious. One has to step “out of the box” to recognize all available options to grow and move up. Join conferences related to your industry and establish new contacts. Avail of trainings and workshops to gain new skills or update yourself on new technologies. Gain more experience, talk to more people, do not limit yourself to your job description. Be proactive, and create the opportunities that would have not been available to you.

Source: Unstoppable by Cynthia Kersey

The job of a marketing manager is a challenging one. This is not only because each aspect of a manager’s function is demanding, but also because one has to accomplish multifarious responsibilities at the same time. The nature of a manager’s job is such that performance in one area is enhanced or inhibited by his success or failure in another. We can look at the Marketing Manager’s job from these three angles – in reference to his market, in reference to his personnel, and in reference to his relationship with higher management. As an effective manager, he must be able to communicate successfully.

Performance – overachievers and underachievers are not noticeable in most organizations. When a marketing person is lacking in motivation or when poor attitude impede progress, counseling is called for. Aimless employees and those without goals but who have superior talents, as well as individuals trying too hard require guidance.
Career – at time, some people who are so talented cannot decide which way to go. Helping these persons choose a career is more than charity; it may be the way to keep him within the company. If a person visualizes the possibilities that are open to him and he knows the way to achieve them, then satisfaction sets in.