Marketing

The process of planning and executing the conception, pricing. promo­tion, and distribution of ideas, products, and services to create exchanges that will satisfy the needs of individuals and orga­nizations. Marketing a product involves such tasks as anticipating changes in demand (usually based on *market­ing research), promoting the product (see SALES PROMOTION), ensuring that its quality, availability, and price meet the needs of the market, and providing after­ sales service. See also DIRECT MARKETING.