Brand Marketing

It’s tempting to consider marketing and finance to be completely separate business disciplines. Marketing is about subjective, edgy, creative things like brands and television commercials. Finance focuses on hard, cold numbers. In reality, as most experienced business leaders know, the two disciplines are deeply entwined in the successful management of a venture. Though it’s not the only factor, marketing is one of the most essential drivers of business profitability and high valuations. Marketing is about revenue generation and growth, which is what drives the financial side of the business.

They say we live in the age of transparency. Thought leaders and industry pundits tell us that thanks to ratings, reviews and ubiquitous connectivity, consumers can see completely through brands. I’ve been part of this movement, screaming from the proverbial hilltops with articles, speeches and a documentary. But it’s complete hyperbole.

One powerful statistic made me rethink the way we, as marketers, approach gaining our audience’s attention.

We might argue as to the merits of the 4Ps of marketing, but do we even agree on what the Ps stand for?

It has long been a task of marketing to change people’s minds. Perhaps the most difficult task of all as people grasp firmly to their beliefs.