A New Definition of Marketing

                                                       By Seahill

A new definition adopted by the AMA in 1985 is used as a basis for the definition of international marketing given here: international marketing is the multinational process of planning and executing the conception,pricing,promotion,and distribution of ideas,goods,and services to create exchanges that satisfy individual and organizational objectives.Only the word multinational has been added to the definition adopted by the AMA.That word implies that marketing activities are undertaken in several countries and that such activities should somehow be coordinated across nations.

This is not completely free of limitations.By placing individual objectives at one end of the definition and organizational objectives at the other,the definition stresses a relationship between a consumer and an organization.In effect,it excludes industrial marketing,which involves a transaction between two organizations.In the world of international marketing,governments,quasi-government agencies,and profit-seeking and nonprofit entities are frequently buyers.The definition also fails to do justice to the significance of industrial purchases.

　　　Nonetheless,the definition does offer several advantages.It closely resembles the AMA's widely and easily understood definition.In several ways,it carefully describes the essential characteristics of international marketing.First,it makes it clear what is to be exchanged is not restricted to tangible products(goods) but can include concepts and services as well.When the United Nations promotes such concepts as birth control and breast feeding,this should be viewed as international marketing.Tables1-1 and 1-2 show how two organizations promote the concept of preservation of tropical forests.Likewise,services or intangible products are just as relevant to the definition,because airline flights,financial services,advertising services,management consulting,marketing research,and so on all play a very significant role in improving the trade balance of the United States.

Second,the definition removes the implication that international marketing applies only to market or business transactions.International nonprofit marketing,which has received only scant attention,should not be overlooked.The marketing of state governments and of religion underscores this point.State goverments are very active in marketing in order to attract foreign investment.Religion is also a big business,though most people prefer not to view it that way.Religion has been marketed internationally for centuries.Well-known exporters of religion have included Billy Graham and Jimmy Swaggart.Their television programs have been shown in many countries.Overseas trips by such figures can generate a great deal of publicity at home and abroad.

Third,the definition recognizes that it is improper for a firm to create a product first and then look for a place to sell it.Rather than seeking consumers for a firm's existing product,it is often more logical to determine consumer needs before creating a product to satisfy those needs.For overseas markets,the process may call for a modified product.In some cases,following this approach may result in foreign needs being satisfied in a new way (i.e.,a brand new product is created specifically for overseas markets).

Fourth,the definition acknowledges that place or distribution is just part of the marketing mix and that the distance between markets makes it neither more nor less important than other parts of the mix.Place,product,promotion,and Price-the 4 Ps of marketing-must be integrated and coordinated in order to bring about the most effective marketing mix.