COURSE OVERVIEW:
Welcome to the course Mastering Strategy with the 4 Ps of Marketing. This course is designed to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the 4 Ps of Marketing—Product, Price, Place, and Promotion—and how to effectively apply these elements to develop a robust marketing strategy. By the end of this course, you will be equipped with the tools and knowledge to strategically position your products in the market, set competitive pricing, choose the right distribution channels, and communicate value to your customers.
We begin with an introduction to the 4 Ps of Marketing, where you will gain an overview of the marketing mix concept and its significance in strategic marketing. This section will also cover the evolution and relevance of the 4 Ps in today’s dynamic market environment, highlighting why this framework remains a cornerstone of marketing strategy.
Understanding product strategy is crucial for creating offerings that resonate with your target audience. You will explore how to define the core product and its features, differentiate your products through unique value propositions, and consider the impact of the product life cycle on your overall marketing strategy.
Product development and innovation are key to staying competitive in the market. This section will guide you in identifying market needs and customer preferences, developing new products that meet those needs, and managing your product portfolio to maintain a competitive advantage.
Branding and positioning are essential for standing out in a crowded market. You will learn how to build a strong brand identity, develop positioning strategies that differentiate your products from competitors, and align your brand positioning with the expectations of your target audience.
Pricing strategies for competitive advantage are critical to your marketing mix. This section will cover the role of price in marketing, explore different pricing strategies—such as cost-based, value-based, and competition-based pricing—and examine how psychological pricing can influence perceived value.
Pricing tactics and adjustments will further refine your pricing strategy. You will explore various tactics such as discounts, allowances, and promotional pricing, as well as dynamic pricing and price optimisation techniques. Additionally, this section will address the legal and ethical considerations in pricing.
Distribution strategies, or place, focus on how to get your products to your customers efficiently. You will learn how to choose the right distribution channels, manage supply chain and logistics, and develop multi-channel and omnichannel distribution strategies to maximise reach and efficiency.
Retailing and wholesaling are integral to distribution. This section will cover strategies for retailing through in-store, online, and hybrid models, as well as wholesaling strategies that involve relationships with intermediaries. You will also learn how to maximise channel efficiency and coverage.
Promotion is about communicating value to your customers. You will explore the role of integrated marketing communications (IMC), how to select the right promotional mix—encompassing advertising, public relations, and sales promotions—and how to measure the effectiveness of your promotional activities.
Digital marketing and social media have become essential components of promotion. This section will cover how to leverage digital channels for promotion, develop effective social media marketing strategies, and integrate online and offline promotional strategies to create a cohesive marketing approach.
Sales promotion and public relations are key elements of the promotional mix. You will learn how to design effective sales promotion campaigns, build and maintain a positive public image, and leverage PR to enhance brand awareness and customer trust.
Understanding consumer behaviour and market segmentation is critical for targeting your marketing efforts effectively. This section will explore the consumer decision-making process, how to segment the market, and how to tailor the marketing mix to different segments for maximum impact.
Adapting the 4 Ps for global markets is essential for businesses operating internationally. You will explore the challenges of marketing in international markets, how to adapt the 4 Ps for local preferences, and strategies for managing global brands and international marketing efforts.
Measuring and analysing marketing performance is key to ensuring the effectiveness of your strategy. This section will introduce key performance indicators (KPIs) for marketing, tools and techniques for marketing analytics, and how to drive continuous improvement through data-driven insights.
Finally, developing a comprehensive marketing strategy involves integrating the 4 Ps into a cohesive marketing plan. You will learn how to align your marketing strategy with broader business objectives, and how to implement, monitor, and adjust your strategy to ensure long-term success.
By the end of this course, you will have a thorough understanding of how to apply the 4 Ps of Marketing to develop and execute a strategic marketing plan that drives business growth and success.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By the end of this course, you will be able to understand the following topics:
1. Introduction to the 4 Ps of Marketing
- Overview of the Marketing Mix Concept
- Importance of the 4 Ps in Strategic Marketing
- Evolution and Relevance of the 4 Ps in Today’s Market
2. Understanding Product Strategy
- Defining the Core Product and its Features
- Differentiating Products Through Unique Value Propositions
- Product Life Cycle and its Impact on Marketing Strategy
3. Product Development and Innovation
- Identifying Market Needs and Customer Preferences
- Strategies for New Product Development
- Managing the Product Portfolio for Competitive Advantage
4. Branding and Positioning
- Building a Strong Brand Identity
- Positioning Strategies to Differentiate in the Market
- Aligning Brand Positioning with Target Audience Expectations
5. Pricing Strategies for Competitive Advantage
- Understanding the Role of Price in the Marketing Mix
- Cost-Based, Value-Based, and Competition-Based Pricing
- Psychological Pricing and Perceived Value
6. Pricing Tactics and Adjustments
- Discounts, Allowances, and Promotional Pricing
- Dynamic Pricing and Price Optimisation
- Legal and Ethical Considerations in Pricing
7. Distribution Strategies (Place)
- Choosing the Right Distribution Channels
- Managing Supply Chain and Logistics for Efficient Delivery
- Multi-Channel and Omnichannel Distribution Strategies
8. Retailing and Wholesaling
- Retail Strategies: In-Store, Online, and Hybrid Models
- Wholesaling Strategies: Relationships with Intermediaries
- Maximising Channel Efficiency and Coverage
9. Promotion: Communicating Value to Customers
- The Role of Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC)
- Selecting the Right Promotional Mix
- Measuring the Effectiveness of Promotional Activities
10. Digital Marketing and Social Media
- Leveraging Digital Channels for Promotion
- Social Media Marketing Strategies and Best Practices
- Integrating Online and Offline Promotional Strategies
11. Sales Promotion and Public Relations
- Designing Effective Sales Promotion Campaigns
- Building and Maintaining a Positive Public Image
- Leveraging PR for Brand Awareness and Customer Trust
12. Consumer Behaviour and Market Segmentation
- Understanding Consumer Decision-Making Processes
- Segmenting the Market for Targeted Marketing
- Tailoring the Marketing Mix to Different Segments
13. Adapting the 4 Ps for Global Markets
- Challenges of Marketing in International Markets
- Adapting Product, Price, Place, and Promotion for Local Preferences
- Managing Global Brands and International Marketing Strategies
14. Measuring and Analysing Marketing Performance
- Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Marketing
- Marketing Analytics Tools and Techniques
- Continuous Improvement Through Data-Driven Insights
15. Developing a Comprehensive Marketing Strategy
- Integrating the 4 Ps into a Cohesive Marketing Plan
- Aligning Marketing Strategy with Business Objectives
- Implementing, Monitoring, and Adjusting the Marketing Strategy
COURSE DURATION:
The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.
COURSE DELIVERY:
Purchase and download course content.
ASSESSMENT:
A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.
CERTIFICATION:
Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.