What Marketing Really Is

Terris Ayres
Feb 6
2 min read

Week One: What Marketing Really Is (And Why Most Businesses Get It Wrong)

Marketing Is Not Ads. It’s Understanding.

When most people hear the word marketing, they think:

Social media posts
Ads
Logos
Websites

Those are tools, not marketing.

Marketing starts earlier — long before you spend money or post anything online.

At its core, marketing is simple:

Helping the right people understand how you solve a real problem.

If you miss that step, no billboard, radio ad, or social post will save you.

Step 1: Define the Problem You Solve

You don’t sell a product or service. You sell a solution.

Examples:

A mechanic sells reliability and safety
A restaurant sells convenience, comfort, or experience
A printer sells speed, quality, and fewer headaches
A consultant sells clarity and confidence

Ask yourself:

What problem do people come to me with?

Write it down in one sentence. No buzzwords.

Step 2: Identify Who That Problem Matters To

Trying to market to everyone is like yelling into the wind.

Instead, ask:

Who needs this right now?
Who benefits the most?
Who says “yes” the fastest?

You’re not limiting your business. You’re sharpening your aim.

Step 3: Clarify Your Message

Good marketing doesn’t impress. It connects.

If someone can’t answer these in 10 seconds, your message is too muddy:

What do you do?
Who is it for?
What happens next?

Clear beats clever every time.

Step 4: Marketing Is Repetition, Not Perfection

Most businesses quit right before marketing starts working.

People need to:

See you
Hear you
Recognize you

More than once.

Consistency builds familiarity. Familiarity builds trust.

Step 5: One Action This Week

Don’t overhaul everything.

This week:

Rewrite your one-sentence description
Ask one customer how they found you
Remove jargon from your website or social bio

Small clarity changes have a big impact.

Final Thought for Week One

Marketing isn’t about shouting louder. It’s about being understood sooner.

If people “get” you, the tools will work.