What is Digital Marketing

blogmeta November 23, 2025No Comments

It’s a great question, and a common one. The misspelling is no problem—we’re here to get the concept clear.

“Marketing” is often misunderstood as just advertising or selling. In reality, it’s a much broader and more strategic process.

At its core, Marketing is the process of getting the right product, to the right customer, at the right price, place, and time.

It’s everything a company does to identify customer needs and then satisfy them profitably.

Table of Contents

The Simple Analogy: The Lemonade Stand

Imagine a kid setting up a lemonade stand.

Bad Approach: They make the lemonade how they like it (super sour), sit in their backyard where no one can see them, and yell “BUY MY LEAOMNADE!” at anyone who passes by. This is just selling.
Good Marketing Approach:
1. Research: They notice it’s a hot day and people are jogging in the park. (Identifying a need: thirst).
2. Product: They decide to make the lemonade a little sweeter and cold because that’s what people will want. (Developing a product to meet the need).
3. Place: They set up their stand right next to the park path. (Being where the customers are).
4. Price: They charge $1, which is affordable and seems fair.
5. Promotion: They make a bright, colorful sign that says “ICE-COLD LEMONADE – $1” and give a friendly smile. (Advertising and communication).

This entire thought process is marketing.

The Four Main Pillars: The “4 Ps of Marketing”

This is a classic framework that breaks down the key components, often called the Marketing Mix.

Product: What you are selling. This can be a physical good (a smartphone), a service (a haircut), or an idea. Marketing decides its features, design, packaging, and even its brand name.
Price: How much the customer pays. Marketing determines the pricing strategy to be competitive, reflect the product’s value, and achieve business goals.
Place: How the product reaches the customer. This is about distribution. Is it sold in a physical store? On an e-commerce website? Through an app? The goal is to make the product available where and when the customer wants it.
Promotion: How you communicate about the product. This is the part most people think of as marketing. It includes:
- Advertising (TV, online ads)
- Social Media Marketing
- Sales Promotions (discounts, coupons)
- Public Relations (getting news coverage)
- Email Marketing

The Modern Marketing Process

Today, marketing is a continuous cycle:

Understand the Customer & Market: Research who your customers are, what they need, and what your competitors are doing.
Develop a Strategy: Based on your research, decide which customers you will target and how you will position your product to stand out.
Create Value: Develop the product, set the price, and plan the distribution (the 4 Ps).
Communicate Value: Use promotion (advertising, social media, etc.) to tell people about the value you’ve created.
Deliver & Grow: Sell the product, provide great customer service, and build long-term relationships to keep customers coming back.

Types of Marketing (Examples)

Marketing is everywhere:

Digital Marketing: Using online channels (Social Media, SEO, Email, Websites).
Content Marketing: Creating valuable content (blogs, videos) to attract customers.
Social Media Marketing: Engaging with customers on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, or LinkedIn.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Optimizing your website to rank higher on Google.
Influencer Marketing: Partnering with online personalities to promote your product.

In a Nutshell

Marketing is not the art of selling what you make. It is the art of knowing what to make in the first place.

It starts long before a product is created and continues long after the sale is made, all with the goal of building a strong relationship between a brand and its customers.