Monday, October 13, 2008

Progress in Marketing?

Most disciplines like to talk about the progress that their discourse has taken over a long period of time, from biology to politics to education. Most disciplines that move between academics and commercial application are very focused on progressing its insights, theories, and applications.

The discipline marketing seems to be a very different animal, not too many marketers talk about progress.It might be helpful to separate three different forms within the marketing discipline:

  •  The academic world of marketing
  •  The commercial word of marketing
  •  The output of marketing 

First, marketing academics would claim that its discipline made significant advancements over the last decades. Probably rightful so, we have seen emerging the theory of brands, the deeper understanding of consumers, the theory and practice of pricing, the more insightful analysis of the retail space, etc. Academics continue to make the marketing discipline more rigorous, more insightful and more empirically based. 

Second, it’s much more difficult to assess any progress in the commercial world of marketing. The industry itself has grown substantially over the last decades and with this financial growth its sophistication, too. But it would be far fetched to identify any substantial progress beyond strong diversification and expansion. The emergence of more and more channels and targeted marketing programs are less about progress, and more about maximizing profits in a capitalist society. 

Third, the output of marketing: From creative to pricing to new products. I would argue that it is inappropriate to talk about progress. The consumer facing output of marketing is closer linked to art objects, though with commercial intent. No one would talk about progress in art over the last decades or centuries. Modern art objects have incorporated older art objects but there has not been a objective degree of progress. It’s not about progress towards any particular point but understanding, learning, “borrowing”, and reassembling of previous art forms and expressions into something new and unique. Or sometimes it is about rejecting the past and its norms but always with full understanding of the past. 

Unfortunately I have too often observed that there is ignorance within the marketing community towards previous marketing expressions and work. A lot of marketers are less educated and not alt all interested in understanding the previous generation of marketing work. While new marketing ideas should be grounded in the work of previous marketers, they mostly celebrate its historical ignorance. It’s not about a plea for progress in marketing but an urge to be smart and historically grounded in our marketing discipline.

6 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

> While new marketing ideas should be grounded in the work of previous marketers, they mostly celebrate its historical ignorance.

I have been pondering this same problem on my blog, from the perspective of Teaching and Learning. Why does this happen?

Is the ignorance intentional? Is it just a "youth" thing to not take any guidance from history?

Is there a problem with Teaching? This online marketing community is incredibly recursive - they only read what their social groups read, only think like their friends think - is the whole "Consensus Learning / Wisdom of Crowds thing doing damage here?

Is there a problem with the way these folks Learn, the way their brains are wired? Something that allows them to Repeat the mistakes of the past that were proven to be mistakes only 5 years ago?

As the co-Chair of the Web Analytics Association Education Committee, answers to these questions are more than a passing interest, they're my night job...

11:41 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Building on Jim's question, I don't think this ignorance is intentional.

I especially think that nowadays marketers are in the grips of "shiny object syndrome", where they want something new and innovative (social media, widgets, being on YouTube,etc.)and tend not to ask whether the idea is well rooted in well established historical marketing principles.

1:21 PM  
Blogger Bhupendra said...

Nice post. You certainly have very different view and it gives me good taste everytime I read a new post. This happens with very few in the blogosphere.

Have you written a book? If you ever plan to I would love to be a part of that initiative helping you with back-ground works, if not anything else.

Bhupendra

5:19 AM  
Anonymous seslisohbet said...

Thank you for sharing a nice article.
Congratulations on your posts, not go from your site successful.

6:26 AM  
Blogger Th. Brijesh Pratap Singh said...

When you love what you do then work doesn’t seem like work!If creativity is what you are all about and if animation isyour first love, then rush to ZICA today! And let yourpassion lead you!Mercedes has set the pace in taking initiatives. In August, it signed up as the automotive partner for all motor sporting events at the Budhh International Circuit in Greater Noida for two years. The Mercedes SLS AMG-with top speed of 317 km/hr-will be the 'safety car' for all racing events at the circuit. It will also provide cars to race officials.

Daewoo Ignition Coil

6:11 AM  
Blogger digitalindia said...

Hii
Nice Blog
Guys you can visit here to know about
Digital marketing agency Noida


1:46 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home