Marketing Made Easy

(The 4 P's of Marketing)

Marketing decisions generally fall into the following four controllable categories:

* Product
* Price
* Place (distribution)
* Promotion

The term "marketing mix" became popularized after Neil H. Borden published his 1964 article, The Concept of the Marketing Mix. Borden began using the term in his teaching in the late 1940's after James Culliton had described the marketing manager as a "mixer of ingredients". The ingredients in Borden's marketing mix included product planning, pricing, branding, distribution channels, personal selling, advertising, promotions, packaging, display, servicing, physical handling, and fact finding and analysis. E. Jerome McCarthy later grouped these ingredients into the four categories that today are known as the 4 P's of marketing, depicted top right:

These four P's are the parameters that the marketing manager can control, subject to the internal and external constraints of the marketing environment. The goal is to make decisions that center the four P's on the customers in the target market in order to create perceived value and generate a positive response.
Product Decisions

The term "product" refers to tangible, physical products as well as services. Here are some examples of the product decisions to be made:

* Brand name
* Functionality
* Styling
* Quality
* Safety
* Packaging
* Repairs and Support
* Warranty
* Accessories and services

Price Decisions

Some examples of pricing decisions to be made include:

* Pricing strategy (skim, penetration, etc.)
* Suggested retail price
* Volume discounts and wholesale pricing
* Cash and early payment discounts
* Seasonal pricing
* Bundling
* Price flexibility
* Price discrimination

Distribution (Place) Decisions

Distribution is about getting the products to the customer. Some examples of distribution decisions include:

* Distribution channels
* Market coverage (inclusive, selective, or exclusive distribution)
* Specific channel members
* Inventory management
* Warehousing
* Distribution centers
* Order processing
* Transportation
* Reverse logistics

Promotion Decisions

In the context of the marketing mix, promotion represents the various aspects of marketing communication, that is, the communication of information about the product with the goal of generating a positive customer response. Marketing communication decisions include:

* Promotional strategy (push, pull, etc.)
* Advertising
* Personal selling & sales force
* Sales promotions
* Public relations & publicity
* Marketing communications budget

Limitations of the Marketing Mix Framework

The marketing mix framework was particularly useful in the early days of the marketing concept when physical products represented a larger portion of the economy. Today, with marketing more integrated into organizations and with a wider variety of products and markets, some authors have attempted to extend its usefulness by proposing a fifth P, such as packaging, people, process, etc. Today however, the marketing mix most commonly remains based on the 4 P's. Despite its limitations and perhaps because of its simplicity, the use of this framework remains strong and many marketing textbooks have been organized around it.

It's no big secret that we all need money to survive in this crazy world. While some of us are born with it, the majority of us have to seek out business ventures and make our own capital. On the bright side, this is easier now than it's ever been before. We currently reside in a world of endless possibilities. Much of this is related to the World-Wide-Web. Computers and cyberspace have opened so many doors. It's certainly reasonable to assume you can make a hefty income online. Countless others, not so different from yourself, do it everyday. Our modern world is loaded with money making ideas and wonderful ways to pursue them. Are you ready to work from home?

We're flooded with infinite infomercials now days. Many of them talk about at-home money making ideas. While I think this is great, you may not be clear on what it is they're pitching. Well, you don't really have to choose a particular path. There are countless ways to earn a decent living via the web. Have you ever considered opening up your own business. I can't even begin to imagine how many others have done this online by now. But we all see the abundance of web-stores. You could have one of your own if you wanted. There's always room for more. That's what's so wonderful about cyberspace. There's always more space. And imagine the potential customers. Six billion people inhabit this planet. How many of them do you think surf the web regularly? My guess is a freaking lot. You see, the cool thing about having your business in cyberspace is the rental fees. They're nothing compared to having a business in the local shopping mall or downtown. Just ask yourself what kind of business would suit you. What do you feel passionate about?

It doesn't stop with online companies/businesses. There are other great money making ideas to ponder. Ever heard of Google Adsense or Yahoo Publisher? Google and Yahoo are two of the largest search engines right now. And they pay ad revenue to those who place their ads on websites. So if you were to build web pages and place Google ads on them, every time you get traffic and someone clicks on a Google ad, Google pays you. Therefore you might want to consider building websites in your spare time. As I said before, there are countless money making ideas with the web at our fingertips.

If you have a little familiarity with the net, you're halfway there. A website can be the answer to leveraging a modest investment into multiple streams of income.

Think about what you know. If you're working as a secretary, you can set up a website offering your services as a "virtual assistant". A virtual assistant provides secretarial services on a telecommute basis to clients around the world. Additionally, you can place advertising banners linking to other sites with services related to, but outside your capacity. Advertising banners pay commissions for each sale that results from a "click-through" from your site. You can set up links to Amazon or other book sites, advertising books relevant to your customer's needs, which also pay handsome commissions for each sale. Without too much trouble, you can write a monthly newsletter, including links to sites your customers will find rewarding and for which you'll gain another source of multiple streams of income.

No matter what your "day job" is, you can generate multiple streams of income to enhance and build off your paycheck job. Advertising is key in your search for added income. Are you a mechanic? Why not set up your website, filled with information on cars, with advertising links to resources, books, car parts, junkyards and car shows? Garner your commissions for sales on click-throughs, creating multiple streams of income to add to your weekly paycheck.

Writers are notoriously underpaid. The self-employed writer has many "dry" periods where no income whatsoever is forthcoming. Set up your own website, packed with information and articles - you're a writer, right? Write your own newsletter, including links to resources and products your audience will find helpful and gain commissions and advertising income to boot!

The net is a boon to every profession. You have something to offer to the world at large. You just have to let them know! When you do, you'll realize the benefits of multiple streams of income.

You can find your first advisors and business partners in the new growing community. Just ask your questions, share your thoughts and thousands of people will answer. Visit http://www.CallOfMoney.com and start!

Here's the truth.. "you can make money online."

No shock there then!

But why do so many budding internet marketers fail to make any money or very little?

After a lot of thought and analyzing my first 2 years online I would honestly put the reason down to just 1 word%u2026"Focus".

As you know all too well, there are many different ways and methods to earn a good full-time income online.

Here's just some of the more popular methods:

Ebay
Affiliate Marketing
Selling Information Products
Adsense
PPC
Membership Sites
Blogging
Selling Physical Products

There are plenty more to add to the list but the methods above are the ones that I personally have tried.

Yep, every one!

Here's what happened..I became average at all of them, made a little money at first and then became disillusioned, bored, the money dried up and I looked for the next great idea.

My problem wasn't that I choose the wrong business model; it was because I didn't focus on just one method and become an expert in that model.

I am absolutely convinced that 'focus' is the number 1 quality anyone needs if they want to make a full time living online.

You don't need to work 14 hour days, 7 days a week, you just need to focus on one thing and become an expert in that area.

My personal area of expertise is selling information products. I started my online business learning about this method and it is a business model that is still going strong today.

It is my number 1 method of making money online and is something that I really enjoy doing.
So if you haven't had the success you previously thought you would have, ask yourself if you are making the same mistakes I made a couple of years ago?

If you are new to internet marketing, decide on a particular business model that you would be happy to learn about and work on, every single day.

Focus all your efforts on this one business model and don't let yourself become distracted by any other 'business opportunity' that will inevitably come your way.

It takes discipline and focus, but you will succeed if you choose this route.

To your success,

~ Peter Tremayne

(The Insider Secrets to Marketing Your Business on the Internet)

If you're at all serious about making money with your own online business, then it is essential that you carefully consider the deal I want to make with you today...

My good friend Derek Gehl has publicly released the newest
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You see, I'm considering partnering with Derek (he and his team
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*gets* how to be successful selling almost anything using the
Internet) -- but before I team up with Derek, I want to make
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subscribers.

So here's what I'm proposing:

I've worked out a deal with Derek, and he will ship you
(via Federal Express) a 10 lb. box.

In this box you'll find 3 resource CDs, 4 guidebooks, and 2
thick binders containing in excess of 1,385 pages explaining
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All I'm asking you to do is follow the instructions. If you
do this, one of two things will happen:

The system will work for you, and you'll start living the
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You'll be literally making money while you sleep!

OR:

The system won't work for you. If this happens, Derek will
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for wasting your time.

In other words, the absolute WORST thing that can happen if
you take us up on this is that you'll come out $200 ahead!

The best case scenario is something far, far more exciting...
luxury vacations, new cars for you and your family, paying
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All you need to do today is tell Derek where to send your
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Insider Secrets to Marketing Course

All the best,

P.S. By the way -- do you want to meet a few of the people who
are *already* using Derek's system?

-- Rory M. from Ireland made over $1,000,000 last year
   selling a VERY strange gizmo from his simple little web site.
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-- Barbara J. is making a steady $8,500 a month telling people
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You can read more of their stories, and find out all the
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