By: Andy Moore

Not long before I began working at Prospectr a little over three months ago, I would not have envisioned myself being in the field of marketing at all—in any capacity. Nearly all of my previous experience is in educational or other nonprofit environments, as I used to work as a librarian. I subscribed to stereotypes about the private sector of the economy such as, “money is the only thing that matters, without much room for intellectual exercise or rigor.” I’ve since learned that I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Here are some ways that demonstrate how marketing is a multidisciplinary endeavor:

Business & Finance

These are no-brainers. Business knowledge and sound financial practices are essential foundations for a successful organization of any kind. It’s a major problem if the numbers don’t add up.

Psychology

In marketing, it is important to pinpoint where human motivations come from and how we can utilize that knowledge to make our clients’ messages effective.  How can we harness the way people innately think to garner the best results for our clients? Are there particular words or sentiments that consistently strike a chord with a target audience?

Sociology

There is comfort in numbers—having multiple testimonials and showing how a strategy has influenced and affected the people our prospects will see as peers is important.  How do people interact with and respond to the social environment? Does this process create different outcomes than we might expect? Can we harness these social trends in our communication?

Ethics & Law

There are many fraudsters and charlatans in the world who take advantage of others through unethical (and often illegal) practices. Good and honest people understandably want to separate themselves from these highwaymen. What should our highest ethical and moral aspirations be, and how can we ensure they are followed at every level of the organization?

Etiquette

I once heard an aphorism that “courtesy is assumed, but respect is earned.” How can we interact with our clients, prospects, colleagues, and the broader community in ways that accept and respect inevitable differences in opinion while still preserving truthfulness and candor? If someone is discourteous, can we not take it personally but also register his or her genuine concerns?

Geography & Demography

The digital world connects people across vast distances, but most businesses still have a physical location and geographical target areas. Within the United States, a shift has occurred from traditional cities to the suburbs, but not all towns are created equal. Which cities have a strong enough commercial or industrial base to make B2B marketing outreach necessary and worthwhile?

Technology

The world is changing with unprecedented rapidity. Technologies that were mere pipe dreams just a few years ago are now commonplace. What distinguishes the digital realm from print, radio, or television media? Are certain traditional approaches more or less effective within our business model? 

Writing & Design

There are only so many waking hours in a day, and busy people simply don’t have the time to read lengthy epistles at work. Aside from the usual considerations of spelling and grammar, how can words and phrases be constructed and deployed most effectively and succinctly? 

My experience transitioning into the marketing field and a quickly growing lead-generation company has taught me a lot about what goes into this multi-billion dollar industry and challenged my preconceived ideas. I hope these examples will provide you with a framework to consider the field of marketing in a more profound way.