6 Marketing Concepts for B2Bs Explained

In business-to-business marketing, the concept of marketing is somewhat different from that of consumer marketing.

In general, marketing concepts for businesses revolve around creating long-term relationships with other companies rather than individual consumers. There are a few key marketing concepts that all business-to-business marketers should be aware of, which is what this article will cover. 

What are Marketing Concepts?

At its most basic, a marketing concept is “the use of marketing data to focus on the needs and wants of customers to develop marketing strategies that not only satisfy the needs of the customers but also accomplish the goals of the organization.”

In other words, marketing concepts include all of the various strategies and activities that a company uses to market its products or services to customers.

B2C vs B2B Marketing Explained

For the sake of providing context, let’s briefly cover the differences between B2C and B2B marketing.

Business-to-consumer marketing, or B2C marketing, involves marketing products or services to individual consumers. This is the type of marketing that most people are familiar with, as it includes all of the traditional marketing channels, such as television commercials, print ads, and online advertising.

On the other hand, business-to-business marketing, or B2B marketing, involves marketing products or services to other businesses. This type of marketing is often more complex than B2C marketing, as it requires a different approach and a different set of strategies.

The 4Ps of marketing

The 4Ps of marketing is a framework that businesses use to plan and execute their marketing activities. It includes all of the elements that make up a company’s marketing strategy, such as product development, pricing, promotion, and distribution.

Product

The first P in the 4Ps of marketing is the product. This refers to the goods or services that a business offers to its customers. When developing a product, businesses need to consider its features, benefits, and price. They also need to ensure that it is able to meet the needs of their target market.

Pricing

The second P in the 4Ps of marketing is pricing. This one is pretty self-explanatory, as it involves the amount that a business charges for its products or services. Pricing is a key element of the marketing mix, as it can impact the demand for a product and the profitability of a business.

Promotion

Promotion is the marketing and advertising activities that a business undertakes to generate interest in its products or services. Promotion can take many different forms, such as advertising, public relations, and social media marketing.

Place

Finally, distribution. This refers to the way in which a business makes its products or services available to its customers. Distribution can be direct, such as through a company website, or indirect, such as through retailers.

There are several considerations that businesses need to take into account when deciding on their distribution strategy, including the type of product or service, the target market, and the marketing mix.

Businesses need to ensure that their products or services are available in the right place, at the right time, and at the right price. They also need to consider the channels through which they will distribute their products or services, as well as any intermediaries that will be involved.

The Marketing Mix

The marketing mix is a framework businesses use to plan and execute their marketing activities. It includes all of the elements that make up a company’s marketing strategy, such as product development, pricing, promotion, and distribution.

The marketing mix is an important tool for businesses to use when planning their marketing activities. It helps them ensure that all of the elements of their marketing strategy are aligned with each other and support the overall goals of the company.

Marketing Mix Example

Let’s say you are a company that sells products to other businesses. You have a new product that you want to launch, and you need to decide how to price it, promote it, and get it into the hands of your customers.

You will need to consider all of these factors to develop your marketing mix. For example, if you price your product too high, you may not be able to sell it. If you promote it too aggressively, you may turn off potential customers. And if you don’t distribute it properly, you may not be able to reach your target market.

By taking all of these factors into account, you can develop a marketing mix tailored to your specific product and business goals.

Now that we’ve established the fundamentals, let’s sink our teeth into the meat of the article.

The Production Concept

The production concept is based on the belief that customers will be more likely to purchase a product if it is available and affordable. This means, that businesses should focus on increasing production efficiency and reducing costs in order to make their products more affordable.

The caveat with this concept is that it does not always take into account the needs of customers or the overall goals of the organization. In fact, focusing too much on production and cost-efficiency can often lead to sub-par products and customer dissatisfaction.

The Advertising Concept

The advertising concept states that the more customers are exposed to a product, the more likely they are to purchase it. Its central tenets state that businesses should focus on creating marketing and advertising campaigns that reach as many people as possible.

While this approach can be effective in some cases, it is not always the best way to build long-term relationships with customers. In addition, it can be expensive and time-consuming to create and implement large-scale marketing and advertising campaigns. This is especially valid when it comes to B2Bs, as marketing efforts are generally more targeted and conversion-centric in scope.

The Selling Concept

The selling concept is the more traditional of the bunch — customers will not purchase a product unless it is actively marketed and sold to them. Therefore, businesses should focus on marketing and selling their products rather than on creating customer satisfaction.

The problem with the selling concept is that it ignores the fact that customers often know what they want and do not need to be sold to. In addition, this approach can lead to customers feeling like they are being “sold” rather than being helped.

The Marketing Concept

The marketing concept arose in response to the limitations of the production concept, which was the dominant view of marketing prior to the 1950s, and it’s built around the assumption that customers will be more likely to purchase a product if they feel that their needs are being met. From a business perspective, this concept states that companies should focus on creating customer satisfaction and meeting customer needs.

The marketing concept is a more customer-focused approach that takes into account the overall goals of the organization. 

The Social Marketing Concept

The social marketing concept describes a phenomenon wherein customers will be more likely to purchase a product if they feel that it is in line with their own personal values. Businesses adhering to this concept typically focus on creating products and marketing campaigns that are consistent with the customer’s values.

But to do it right, businesses need to understand the customer’s needs and what they are looking for in a product or service. They also need to be aware of the customer’s values and how these values can be aligned with the company’s own goals.

The Societal Concept

The societal marketing concept is based on the belief that businesses should focus on meeting the needs of society as a whole rather than just the needs of individual customers. More specifically, businesses should focus on creating products and services that are beneficial to society and not just those that are profitable for the company.

However, this requires a high degree of awareness of social trends and changes and the ability to adapt their products and services accordingly. They also need to be willing to invest in research and development in order to create new products and services that can meet the changing needs of society.

What’s the Best Marketing Concept to Choose and How?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to marketing concepts for B2Bs. The best approach will vary depending on the products or services you offer, your target market, and your overall marketing goals. However, there are a few key marketing concepts that all B2Bs should keep in mind.

1. Focus on the needs of your target market: What problems do your products or services solve? What needs do they address? When you can align your marketing efforts with the needs of your target market, you’ll be more successful in driving conversions.

2. Create a strong value proposition: Why should potential customers choose your products or services over those of your competitors? Make sure your value proposition is clear, concise, and compelling.

3. Develop a marketing mix that works for you: There’s no one-size-fits-all marketing mix. The right mix of marketing channels will vary depending on your products, target market, and marketing goals. However, some common marketing channels for B2Bs include content marketing, search engine marketing, email marketing, and social media marketing.

4. Track your results and adjust your approach as needed: Not all marketing campaigns will be successful right out of the gate. It’s important to track your results so you can identify what’s working and what’s not. Then, you can make adjustments to improve your results over time.

By keeping these key marketing concepts in mind, you can develop an effective marketing strategy for your B2B business.

Conclusion

The marketing concepts discussed above are all beneficial in their own way and can help businesses to achieve their goals. However, the best marketing concept for a company to choose depends on the specific needs and values of the customer base.

In addition, B2Bs need to be willing to adapt their marketing strategies as society changes and new trends emerge. By doing so, they can ensure that they are meeting the needs of both their customers and society as a whole.