Marketing vs. Advertising vs. Branding

Many people are unclear on the difference between marketing, advertising and branding. Therefore, they don’t know when to use these techniques for their business. Some people think that marketing is advertising and advertising is branding. This is certainly not true. Let’s have a look at these strategies and their differences to help you understand them better.

To begin with – it hurts to see how many people call all marketing activities Advertisement. And then consider some of these advertising activities as branding. Oh the confusion!

Marketing, Advertising and Branding are all related and have many things in common. But it is important that we differentiate them so we make sure to get the most return on our investment (ROI).

After all, the goals of Marketing, Advertising and Branding can be very different — as can their results.

But do you know what the differences between these marketing channels are?

If you’re like most people, there are a lot of times when you say “Marketing” but really mean “Branding”. Maybe also you don’t know the difference between all these marketing channels, or there are only subtle nuances that really matter for your project. This post looks at the differences between each and how they can work together.

Marketing, Advertising and Branding – Their definitions

Marketing, advertising and branding are terms that are often interchanged but in reality their meanings differ from each other.

Let’s take a quick look at the definitions of these three words and understand the differences between them.

Marketing

Marketing is a general concept, which includes all activities to uncover customer needs, perceived benefits of products/services and loyalty that generates profitable customer actions (i.e. purchases, advocacy, and retention).

Advertising

Advertising is the paid, non-personal presentation and promotion of ideas, goods and services by an identified sponsor. In essence, it is a type of communication intended to persuade an audience to, or remind them to, buy, or take some action regarding a product, service or idea.

Branding

Branding is the process of building a unique name and image for a product, service, or idea – in a way to differentiate yourself so that people remember you. It is the process of shaping and enhancing your identity and reputation to achieve a specific goal.

Whether you are designing everything yourself or if you are hiring a branding agency for startups, it is crucial to think about brand positioning. Having a strong brand identity that is presented consistently is important in providing a great customer experience.

Marketing, Advertising, and Branding – How are they different?

• Marketing is the action of communicating the value of your product or service to a target audience. It is a push strategy because the message is being broadcasted to target audiences. Branding is a pull strategy because people come to you because they’ve heard about how great you are.
• Advertising is the “sales pitch” for your business as part of your campaign to promote your business. Branding is the perception you have among your peers, and within the industry that you serve – the image of your business that others get from your actions.
• Marketing is the process of positioning your company’s product in front of your target market. Advertising is a part of marketing, and it creates an actual connection between your brand and potential customers

Why it is Important to know their differences

Marketing

Marketing is a critical business function concerned with acquiring and keeping customers. You need to be in front of people where they are, determine what they need, and provide solutions (product or services) to meet their needs. In simple terms, marketing is customer oriented.

Advertising

•       Create ads to attract people to your brand
•       Pay a 3rd party to show ads to their audience
•       Make your sales impressive
•       Increase profits

This is why advertising exists.

Advertising is a vital aspect of communication between sellers and consumers. Without it, sellers would not be able to inform potential customers of what they have to sell. And since consumers are bombarded with advertising messages every day, it’s important that yours stands out.

Branding

Just as a good resume will get you noticed by a hiring manager, a well-thought out brand can help you close lots of sales. Branding ultimately deals with YOU.

Branding is about creating a sense of trust and loyalty in your market. It’s therefore important to watch how your brand is perceived by consumers, and that’s where brand monitoring tools can help you!

In fact, brand monitoring tools have become essential specifically for businesses now more than ever before in this age of digital communication. Businesses are not run in a vacuum where you can control every aspect of its operations. These tools facilitate proactive communication with stakeholders that helps a business build trust among them, establish authority, get feedback on products and make informed decisions leading to success all along the line.