What do you learn in Marketing college courses?

You learn marketing. Whatever that is.

No, seriously, Crave, a typical marketing course would entail study of advertising techniques, demographic research, point-of-purchase come-ons, and anything else that helps to sell your product. (In the interests of full disclosure, I have never taken a marketing course -- or any other business course -- in my life; but at one time back in the 1970s I had the title of Director of Marketing for a small dog food manufacturing company. Oh, the shame of it all. Sob.)

LOL, I'm the marketing manager for my company here. I learned what I know by simply doing it, and am wondering what the "book" route covers.

marketing courses
since nobody has taken even a nibble, i'll give it a try.
while i worked in the life insurance industry for almost thirty years, i wasn't in the "selling end" of the business ever - however all of us "management types" did have to take a basic marketing course some thirty years ago.
here is a link to some marketing fundamental courses from the university of toronto. perhaps some "sales professional" is going to give out some secrets(how about your used-car dealer, crav , they are probably tops when it comes to selling - and i'm not kidding).
i'll check tomorrow to see if you are getting some "professional" advice. hbg


...UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO - MARKETING COURSE...

i dont know what they teach in college but there is a lot to learn. i recently read a marketing book from a college. some of it was clever strategizing, most of it was thinking about your company's goals and choicing the correct path to the customer. distribution is a big subject but can be learned in the field from what ive learned. here's the outline:

Session 1 - Overview of course <August 31>

Course Summary
Discussion of Teams and Team Assignments

Session 2 - Innovation <September 7>

Product Centric - cost/performance improvements
Customer Centric
Distribution Centric
In-Category Innovation vs. Building a new category
Focusing the Challenge for a new Company
Building a Company vs. Building a Product
Team Presentations on their "innovation"

Session 3 - The Value Proposition <September 14>

Consumer Value
B2B Value [Leaf Systems]
Making money vs. saving money
OEM Value
Reseller Value
Team Presentations of their "value propositions"

Session 4 - Category [Bowflex] <September 21>

Identifying a Category
Creation of a New Category
Methods for Category Creation
Using an Existing Category
Using your Competition
Share Shifting
Team Presentations on their "category"

Session 5 - Customer and Channel Identification <September 28>

Identifying your Customer
Researching your market and sizing it
Buying Database Market Research
Using the Focus Group
Identifying a Channel
Understanding Channel Parameters
Team Presentations on their Channel Selection and Customer Profile

Session 6 - OEM Distribution <October 5>

Risks vs. Rewards of Private Branding
Negotiating OEM Deals
Exclusivity
Deposits
Team presentations on "proposed OEM relationships"

Session 7 - Selling Skills <October 12>

Sales Pyramid
Transaction Selling
Trial Close
Team Presentations of a "short PowerPoint Customer Presentation"

Session 8 - Advertising and PR <October 19>

Advertising Goals
Media Alternatives
Public Relations
Testimonial
Trade Shows
Team Presentations on Proposed "Advertising and PR Campaign"

Session 9 - Retail Distribution [Wal-Mart Frontline Report] [Beldin] <October 26>

Brick & Mortar Retail
Packaging and other forms of in-store advertising
Inventory Risk
TV Retail
Web Retail
Team Presentation on "Retail Packaging (note, if your team does not have a retail
product, then choose another team's product)"

Session 10 - Direct Marketing <November 2>

Web Selling
Components of a sale
Offer
Testimonial (endorsement)
Call to Action
Analytics
Testing
Call Centers
Fulfillment Houses
Team Presentations on a proposed "Web Campaign"

Session 11 - Direct Marketing <November 9>

Infomercials
Creative
Media Purchase
Fulfillment
Cash flow
Media Survey
Team Presentations on a proposed "TV Infomercial"

Session 12 - Financing <November 16>

Financing Alternatives
Venture Capital
Other sources of capital
The Elevator Pitch
Team Presentations on a "PowerPoint VC Presentation"

Session 13 - Leadership <November 30>

Team building
Communication
Focus
Self Delusion
Team presentations of final marketing plans

<December 7>
Team submissions of final marketing plans

Missed that one, but if it's typical of the business courses I did take, you will learn the language. Mostly useful at the interpersonnel level, but if you want to fit in with the ducks, you'll need to know how to quack.

In college, I learned how to drink until I black out, but stop before I throw up.

I was a marketing major as well. Just figured I'd throw that in there.

THANKS!

try this site:

http://www.quickmba.com/

VERY helpful.

-- Joe D. --