1.Many people regard marketing simply as advertising. Advertising is a part of marketing, but it is not the whole picture. What arguments can you make against the common assumption that marketers only worry about advertising? What are some of the roles that marketers play within an organization?
2."Please pick one of the 4 P's of the marketing mix to discuss (each of you have the choice of what you would like to discuss). Describe the key points of goods or services as they apply to the piece of the marketing mix you select: product, price, promotion, or place. How will your good or service be affected by the other three pieces of the marketing mix?"
3.Consider a recent purchase that you or a family member have made. Examples include a household product, DVD or CD, grocery item, or electronic device. Describe the item and list three reasons you purchased that product as opposed to another product. Then, identify the internal influences that describe each reason you made your purchase: perception, motivation, learning, attitudes, personality, age group, the family life cycle, or lifestyle.
4.Respond to a classmate who describes a purchase that you have recently made; it does not have to be the same product described in your original answer. Was your purchasing decision based on the same influences as your classmates’? If so, provide additional examples of your influences. If not, describe what internal factors influenced you to make the same purchase.
5.Think of a product that you have seen advertised on television, a magazine, or on the radio. Describe the product and identify two external influences that might lead a person to purchase the product: culture, subculture, social class, or group membership.
6.Consider your classmates’ examples. Do you agree or disagree with their perception of external influences about the product they described?
7.Look around your home or office and select three products you currently use. Briefly describe each product. How would you classify each one? When responding to your classmates, state if you agree or disagree with their classification and explain why. Do you think their product could be classified differently? If so, explain your reasoning.
8.Consider the products you described and classified in the previous discussion question.in what stage of product adoption do you think each of the products fall under? Do you use similar products as your classmates? Describe whether you agree or disagree with their assessment and why?
9.Imagine that you are a mentor to a new employee at a marketing firm. The new employee is having trouble understanding what the term market communication really means. Using what you have learned, explain to the new employee how marketing communication can influence a buyer.
10.Respond to your classmates’ answers by asking additional questions that a newcomer to marketing might ask. Is the explanation clear? Which areas do you understand? In what areas would you like more clarification?
11.Search your local newspaper for advertisements and examples of pricing strategies. If you do not have access to a local newspaper, search for a newspaper online. What are two pricing strategies you found in the advertisements? Describe the function the price serves for each product or service. When responding to your classmates, describe the steps the company likely followed when planning the price strategy described in the response.
12.How has learning about marketing concepts given you a better understanding of the market place and how businesses and consumers make decisions? Has what you have learned about marketing increased your interest in a future career in marketing? What do you value most from taking this course?