A Simple Explanation of Marketing: Impact Career

I had the opportunity to engage in various policy-level negotiations, including e-governance, digitization, and service-related matters in the last 10+ years. I had no formal training but learned through experience. It worked, I successfully handled most of them with win-win negotiation.

Recently, I’ve been involved in negotiations that feel more like marketing within my private sector network to advance my career. Unfortunately, I failed in most cases. However, some of these failures were quite funny and might be valuable for others who, like me, have no formal training. I’ll share these experiences step by step.

This article is not based on my personal experience but rather on insights from social media. However, I found it useful and believe others will too. Link - https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1664dcLhsi/

A group of commerce students was traveling by train, engaged in an animated discussion about marketing. Sitting nearby, an elderly gentleman listened attentively, occasionally smiling to himself.

After a while, he turned to the students and asked, “Would you like me to explain marketing in a simple way?” 

Intrigued, the students nodded eagerly.

Marketing Explained Through a Wedding Scenario

The gentleman began his explanation with an interesting analogy:

1. Direct Marketing

"Imagine you are invited to a wedding and you see a stunningly beautiful girl. You walk up to her and say, ‘I am well-educated and wealthy. Will you marry me?’
This is direct marketing—approaching the customer directly with your offer."

2. Advertising

"Instead of approaching the girl yourself, your friend points to you and says, ‘He is well-educated and wealthy. Will you marry him?’
This is advertising—promoting a product through a third party."

3. Brand Value

"The girl walks up to you herself and says, ‘I have heard you are well-educated and wealthy. Will you marry me?’
This is brand value—where customers come to you because of your reputation."

4. Demand and Supply Gap

"You propose to the girl, but she tells you she is already married.
This represents a demand and supply gap—where demand exists, but supply is already fulfilled elsewhere."

5. Competition

"Before you get a chance to propose, someone else does, and she accepts.
This is competition—where businesses compete for the same customer."

6. Production

"The girl accepts your proposal, and a year later, you have a child together.
This is production—the result of a successful marketing effort."

7. Customer Feedback

"You propose, and she slaps you!
This is customer feedback—not all responses are positive."

8. Risk of Entering a New Market

"Just as you propose, your wife arrives at the scene.
This is the risk of entering a new market, unexpected challenges can arise."

The Students’ Reaction

The students were left speechless! They had never imagined that marketing could be explained so simply and humorously.

Marketing is everywhere in our daily lives—sometimes, all it takes is the right analogy to make it clear.