Beginner Level

Marketing Fundamentals

Understand the core principles of marketing, including the 4 Ps, customer journey mapping, and buyer personas.

2-3 weeks
Beginner
2 Practical Exercises

Your Progress

25% Complete
1
4 Ps of Marketing
2
Customer Journey
3
Buyer Personas
4
Practical Exercises

The 4 Ps of Marketing

The fundamental framework that forms the foundation of marketing strategy

Product

What you're selling - could be a physical product, service, or experience.

Key Considerations:

  • Features and benefits
  • Quality and design
  • Branding and packaging
  • Product lifecycle

Price

How much customers pay and your pricing strategy.

Key Considerations:

  • Cost-based pricing
  • Value-based pricing
  • Competitive pricing
  • Psychological pricing

Place

Where and how customers can access your product.

Key Considerations:

  • Distribution channels
  • Market coverage
  • Inventory management
  • Location strategy

Promotion

How you communicate with customers about your product.

Key Considerations:

  • Advertising
  • Public relations
  • Sales promotions
  • Digital marketing

Interactive Example: Coffee Shop Marketing Mix

Product

Specialty coffee, pastries, cozy atmosphere

Price

$4-6 per coffee, loyalty program, seasonal discounts

Place

Downtown location, mobile ordering, delivery

Promotion

Social media, local events, email newsletters

Customer Journey Mapping

Understanding and optimizing the complete customer experience

1

Awareness

Customer becomes aware of a problem or need

  • Social media ads
  • Content marketing
  • Word of mouth
2

Consideration

Researching solutions and comparing options

  • Website visits
  • Product reviews
  • Comparison shopping
3

Decision

Making the purchase decision

  • Free trials
  • Sales conversations
  • Final pricing
4

Retention

Post-purchase experience and loyalty

  • Customer support
  • Loyalty programs
  • Follow-up communication

Buyer Personas

Creating detailed profiles of your ideal customers

Corporate Chris

Marketing Manager, 35-45

Goals: Increase brand visibility, generate leads
Challenges: Limited budget, proving ROI
Preferred Channels: LinkedIn, Email, Webinars

Startup Sarah

Founder, 25-35

Goals: Rapid growth, investor attraction
Challenges: Limited resources, building credibility
Preferred Channels: Twitter, Podcasts, Networking events

Practical Exercises

Apply your knowledge with these hands-on activities

Exercise 1

Marketing Mix Analysis

Objective: Analyze the 4 Ps of a real company

Steps:

  1. Choose a company you admire
  2. Research their product, price, place, and promotion strategies
  3. Identify what makes their marketing mix effective
  4. Suggest one improvement for each P

Resources:

  • Company website and social media
  • Customer reviews
  • Industry reports
Exercise 2

Buyer Persona Creation

Objective: Create detailed buyer personas for a fictional business

Steps:

  1. Choose a business idea (e.g., eco-friendly clothing brand)
  2. Create 2-3 distinct buyer personas
  3. Include demographics, goals, challenges, and preferences
  4. Map their customer journey for your product

Resources:

  • Persona template
  • Market research tools
  • Customer interview guidelines

Additional Resources

Recommended Reading

  • Marketing 4.0 - Philip Kotler
  • This Is Marketing - Seth Godin
  • Contagious - Jonah Berger

Video Courses

  • Marketing Fundamentals - Coursera
  • Digital Marketing - Google Digital Garage
  • Content Marketing - HubSpot Academy

Tools & Templates

  • Buyer Persona Template
  • Customer Journey Map
  • Marketing Plan Worksheet

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