In today’s competitive environment no business can afford to ignore marketing. The discipline, which was devised as a business adjunct in the 1950s but didn’t really start spreading until the 60s, now forms a crucial pillar of business management, planning and strategy. It is woven into the fabric of all business function, whether we realize it or not, and successful companies leverage its effect by applying the principles right throughout the business process. Some of it might be seen as commonsense (though commonsense is actually quite uncommon!) but the structure, concepts and systems required to make it happen in a coordinated and successful way can often be quite complex. Nobody could be expected to be expert in every single aspect of the discipline but it as well to know at least the rudiments of the different elements so that, when you make a decision you at least have some idea of its likely impact. This book will help you get to grips with those basics and set you on the road to being a marketing led - and hopefully more effective - business.