Are you just starting out in marketing and feeling overwhelmed by all the jargon, tools, and strategies? Don’t worry — this guide breaks down the marketing basics in a simple, easy-to-understand way. Whether you’re a freelancer, small business owner, or aspiring entrepreneur, this post is for you.
What Is Marketing?
Marketing is the entire process of researching, understanding, reaching, and satisfying customer needs. It includes everything from building your brand, promoting your products/services, to creating long-term value for both customers and businesses.
✅ Goal: Deliver the right product to the right person, at the right time, in the right place, with the right message.
The 7 Core Elements of Marketing (7Ps)
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Product
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What you’re selling: product, service, ebook, online course, etc.
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You need to understand your USP (Unique Selling Proposition), quality, packaging, and features.
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Price
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Pricing strategies include penetration pricing, skimming, psychological pricing, etc.
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Compare with competitors and price based on the value you offer.
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Place (Distribution)
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Where you sell: offline store, website, social media, marketplaces,…
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Today, omnichannel selling is key.
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Promotion
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Includes ads, PR, discounts, influencer marketing, etc.
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Use the right mix of marketing strategies based on your stage.
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People
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Your team, customer support, and marketing staff
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A great customer experience often depends on people.
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Process
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The systems that deliver your product/service efficiently
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Examples: automation, CRM, chatbots, email workflows.
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Physical Evidence
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Your website, testimonials, certifications, reviews, samples, etc.
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Builds trust and drives conversions.
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Common Marketing Fields Today
| Area | Description |
|---|---|
| Digital Marketing | Online marketing via websites, SEO, ads, email, etc. |
| Content Marketing | Creating valuable content to attract and convert audiences |
| Social Media Marketing | Using Facebook, Instagram, TikTok to build brand awareness |
| SEO (Search Engine Optimization) | Optimizing content to rank high on Google |
| PPC (Pay Per Click) | Paid ads – Google Ads, Facebook Ads, etc. |
| Email Marketing | Sending emails to nurture and convert leads |
| Affiliate Marketing | Earning commissions by promoting other people’s products |
| Influencer Marketing | Partnering with influencers to promote your brand |
The Customer Journey (From Stranger to Loyal Customer)
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Awareness – The customer discovers your brand (via ads, social media, search engines).
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Interest – They look at your product or content (websites, blogs, reviews).
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Consideration – They compare your offer with competitors.
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Purchase – They decide to buy.
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Loyalty – If satisfied, they come back and refer others.
Essential Marketing Tools to Know
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Google Analytics | Tracks website visitor behavior |
| Facebook Ads Manager | Run Facebook and Instagram ads |
| Google Ads | Run search, display, and YouTube ads |
| Ahrefs / SEMrush | Keyword research, SEO, competitor analysis |
| Canva | Design visuals quickly and easily |
| ChatGPT | Generate content ideas, copy, emails, and more |
Must-Know Marketing Terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Target Audience | Your ideal customers |
| CTA (Call to Action) | Words that push the user to act (“Buy now”, “Subscribe”) |
| Conversion Rate | % of visitors who take a desired action (e.g., purchase) |
| A/B Testing | Testing two variations to see which performs better |
| Funnel | The journey from prospect → lead → customer |
| Lead | A potential customer |
| CRM (Customer Relationship Management) | Software to manage customer data and communication |
How to Start Learning Marketing (From Zero)
Here’s a simple roadmap if you’re starting fresh:
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Understand the foundations (like this article).
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Pick one area to specialize in: SEO, Facebook Ads, Content Creation,…
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Get hands-on experience: Create a blog, run small ad campaigns, write content,…
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Take free online courses: Google Digital Garage, HubSpot Academy, Coursera,…
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Keep practicing – Freelance, intern, or experiment on your own projects.
Marketing is both a science and an art. It takes time to master, but with consistent learning and experimentation, you’ll start seeing results. And that’s it for today’s post, we’ll talk soon.