Introduction
Marketing is the process of identifying and satisfying customer needs profitably. It is an essential aspect of any business, whether big or small as it helps to promote and sell products or services to a target audience. In today’s digital age, marketing has evolved tremendously, and businesses need to adapt to current market trends to remain in the competition.
The traditional 4Ps of marketing, include product, price, place, and promotion. However, marketers have realized that this mix is not enough to effectively compete in the modern business landscape. As a result, they have started using the 7P’s of marketing which include people, process, and physical evidence.In this blog, we will discuss why the 4Ps are not enough
and why marketers are using the 7Ps.
Traditional 4P’s of Marketing Mix
- Product: This is the very first element of the marketing mix. This refers to the physical or digital goods or services that are being offered to the customers. The product should be designed to meet the need and wants of the target audience, as well as differentiate itself from competing products in the market. Factors to be considered when developing the products include their features, designs, quality, branding, and packaging.
- Price: This refers to the amount that customers are charged for a product. Setting the right price is important because it affects the perceived value of the product and the profitability of the company. Factors to be considered when setting the price include the cost of production, the demand for the product, and the target audience’s willingness to pay.
- Promotion: The third element of the marketing mix is promotion, which refers to the various methods used to communicate the value of the product to the target audience. It is simply putting the image of the product in the customer’s mind. Promotional activities can include advertising, sales promotions, personal selling, public relations, direct marketing, email marketing, etc.
- Place: this refers to the distribution channels used to get the product to the customers. This includes both physical and digital channels, such as retail stores, online marketplaces, and the direct to customers sales. The factors to consider when choosing distribution channels include the target audience’s buying habits, the level of competition in the market, and the costs associated with each channel.
Three New addition of P’s of Marketing Mix
- People: This refers to the individuals or groups involved in the delivery of the products or services. This includes the employees, management, and any other stakeholders who are responsible for the creation, marketing, and delivery of the products. It is important to consider the skills, knowledge, and attitudes of these individuals and how they can impact the overall customer experience. This includes factors such as employee training, customer services, and communications.
- Process: This refers to the set of activities or steps that are involved in the creation, delivery, and support of the products or services. This includes the processes used to manufacture or produces the product, and the steps involved in customer services and support. It is important to evaluate these processes to ensure that they are efficient, effective, and aligned with the overall goals of the marketing strategies.
- Physical evidence: This refers to the tangible elements that customers can see, touch, or experience when interacting with the products or services. This includes factors like the physical environment where the product or services are delivered, the packaging and the branding of the products, and any other physical evidence that can influence the customer’s perception of the products or services. It is important to ensure that these physical elements are aligned with the overall marketing strategy and reinforce the desired brand image or positioning.
Modern Market Trends & Evolution of 7P’s
- Globalization: The growth of international trade and the increasing
interconnectedness of the global economy means that businesses need to
consider cultural differences when developing their market strategies. This edition
of People to the marketing mix allows businesses to consider the specific need
and preferences of different cultural groups.
- Personalization: With the evolution of competition in the market, customers expect personalized experiences, and the business need to deliver personalized marketing messages. Personalization can be achieved through data analysis and segmentation, which enables businesses to target a specific group of customers.
- Evolution of mobile marketing: More and more people are using mobile devices to access the internet and for personalized marketing. Therefore, businesses need to ensure that their website and marketing campaigns are optimized for mobile devices.
- Influencer marketing: Social media influencers have become a powerful force in marketing. Businesses can leverage influencers to promote their products or services to their followers.
- Video marketing: Video content is becoming increasingly popular, with platforms like YouTube, TikTok, etc. gaining millions of users. Businesses can use video marketing to engage with customers and showcase their products and services.
- Services Design: Service design is a relatively new concept in marketing, but it has become increasingly important in recent years. The addition of Process to the marketing mix allows businesses to design their services with the customers in mind, leading to a more seamless and enjoyable customer experience.
- Sustainability: Customers are becoming more conscious of the
impact their purchasing decisions have on the environment. Therefore, businesses
that prioritize sustainability and eco-friendliness can appeal to
environmentally conscious customers.
- Increased competition: One of the primary reasons why 4P’s are not enough is the increased competition in the market. There are more products and services available to customers than ever before, which means businesses need to work harder to stand out. The addition of new P’ (People, Process, Physical evidence) allows businesses to create a more comprehensive marketing strategy that takes into account all aspects of customers' experience. Because the modern market has set a trend of customer experience and hence marketing should also roam around this where three new additional P’s can help businesses to provide experiential marketing this marketing strategy is called customers centric approach. This in, turn, leads to increase customer loyalty and a better reputation in the market.
- The increased importance of services: In today’s economy, services have become just as important as the product itself. The addition of people and processes to the marketing mix allows businesses to focus on creating a service experience. This leads to increase customer satisfaction and a better reputation for the business.
- Digital Transformation: The rise of digital technologies has completely transformed the business landscape. The addition of Physical evidence to the marketing mix allows businesses to create a digital presence that is just as important as their physical presence. This, in turn, leads to increased brand awareness and better loyalty to the customers.
The 4Ps of marketing were an effective framework for their
time, but the modern business landscape requires a more comprehensive approach.
By adding People, processes, and Physical evidence to the marketing mix,
businesses can create a more personalized, customer-centric experience that
leads to increased brand loyalty and awareness. By staying up to date with the
current marketing trends and implementing the 7Ps of marketing, businesses
can create successful marketing strategies that appeal to their target audience.