Marketing

The marketing specialist works with areas within the College to plan, develop goals and find the proper channels for executing the marketing/communications strategy. Planning and implementation are key parts of this work. We will work with you to create strategic communications that support your goals and objectives.

Marketing has many definitions. The American Marketing Association defines it as “the activity, set of institutions and processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large.”

Here’s another way to think about it: Are we offering our programs, classes and services at times convenient for our audiences? Are we meeting our communities’ needs with workforce training and other educational opportunities?

Oftentimes marketing is confused with advertising. There’s a big difference. A May 2017 article by Laura Lake, a Kansas City marketing consultant and digital marketing strategist, explained it well. She says, “the best way to distinguish between advertising and marketing is to think of marketing as a pie. Inside that pie you have slices of advertising, market research, media planning, public relations, product pricing, distribution, customer support, sales strategy, and community involvement. Advertising only equals one piece of the pie in the strategy. All of these elements must not only work independently, but they also must work together toward the bigger goal. Marketing is a process that takes time and can involve hours of research for a marketing plan to be effective. Think of marketing as everything that an organization does to facilitate an exchange between company and consumer.”

The bottom line is this:

SCC’s Marketing & Communications Office can help you market (and advertise) the product or service you want prospective students to have.