How is advertising different from marketing?

Many people are confused about what is marketing and what is advertising. Their confusion is relevant because an individual’s field of expertise varies from another and not every individual is a student or expert in advertising or marketing. To throw some light upon the difference between advertising and marketing, let us first of all clear the sky of cloud that advertising is a subset of marketing which gives no room for differentiating the same from marketing.

Advertising as a subset of marketing involves spreading or promoting word about a business, brand, service or idea. Advertising is considered the most expensive segment of marketing because advertising requires a huge budget, a creative team and planned strategies to promote a particular brand, service or business among the target group. Another important aspect of advertising is to launch a promotion campaign through the most appropriate media vehicle.

Marketing is the overall process which is specially designed to create awareness about a business, product or service. Marketing believes in building relationships with clients and spiraling their satisfaction. Also, marketing involves various aspects of advertising, sales promotion, distribution, personal selling, publicity etc. Marketing revolves around customers and the needs of the customers.

Marketing as a parental source of advertising directs an ad campaign about which media vehicle to use, whom to target for the campaign, when to launch the campaign etc. One point which differentiates marketing from advertising is that marketing doesn’t require any creative input because most of the marketing activities are based upon rational data and resources. On the other hand, there should not be a dearth of creativity in any advertising activity. The objective behind any marketing activity is to indulge in sale for the product or service. Advertising cannot guarantee sale of a product or service, however, advertising can promote the product or service and drive to sale by providing a unique appeal to the target audience with a compelling brand communication.

Advertising and marketing, both are interdependent and there is no need to differentiate
them from each other. An Advertising campaign evolves out from a marketing plan; while a marketing strategy is worked out through an advertising activity. Both advertising and marketing play significant role in any business activity.