When I ask people what they believe marketing, CRM, ecommerce, direct marketing, web development, web design, and graphic design are, it is clear that the majority of people have a muddled and jumbled view of what they are, what they cover, which is most important, and which is easiest to understand.

Almost always, someone understands what graphic design is – perhaps unsurprisingly, given that it has been around the longest and has its roots in “old technology.” Not only that, research indicates that only about 7% to 11% of communication is verbal, with the remainder being non-verbal via “graphical” factors such as gesture; body language or posture; facial expression and eye gaze; clothing, hairstyles, architecture, symbols, and graphics. As a result, this is unsurprising – we are highly visual.

Almost always, people believe they understand what web design is – though many people confuse it with web development. Again, this is unlikely to be surprising, but it is also unlikely to be helpful. Why would you not? Because if you do not have a clear ‘definition’ for something (definition = distinction from other concepts), you have no idea what you are purchasing. And, guess what, if you are not aware of what you are purchasing, you risk being “ripped off.”

Thus, we decided to be boringly helpful and use Wikipedia and a variety of other sources to attempt to explain what marketing, CRM, ecommerce, direct marketing, web development, web design, and graphic design truly are.

We also thought we would rank them according to their importance to the success of your business

– which is pretty much in reverse order to how most people perceive them – and see if anyone can be bothered to read what could be “the most boring and convoluted article ever” and challenge these views.

1. MARKETING:

The most widely accepted definition of marketing on a global scale comes from the United Kingdom’s Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), the world’s largest marketing body by membership. According to the definition, marketing is the “management process of anticipating, identifying, and profitably satisfying customer requirements.” Thus, operational marketing entails market research, new product development, product life cycle management, pricing, channel management, and promotion……… It is one of the management tools used by the company to ensure that products and services are developed in accordance with market requirements and are profitable.

2. CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT (CRM)

Is the umbrella term for the methodologies, technology, and capabilities that assist businesses in managing customer relationships. CRM’s overarching goal is to enable organizations to manage their customers more effectively through the implementation of dependable systems, processes, and procedures. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is a strategy implemented at the corporate level that focuses on developing and maintaining long-term relationships with customers. Although there are several commercial CRM software packages available that support CRM strategy, CRM is not a technology in and of itself; rather, it is a holistic shift in an organization’s philosophy that places a premium on the customer………. A successful CRM strategy cannot be implemented simply by installing and integrating software and will not occur overnight. All aspects of the business must be reshaped to be customer-driven, including policies and processes, front-of-house customer service, employee training, marketing, systems, and information management.

3. ELECTRONIC COMMERCE,

Abbreviated as EC, e-commerce, or ecommerce, is the process of distributing, purchasing, selling, marketing, and servicing products or services via electronic systems such as the Internet and other computer networks. Electronic funds transfer, supply chain management, e-marketing, online marketing, online transaction processing, electronic data interchange, automated inventory management systems, and automated data collection systems are all examples of electronic data interchange. It is typically accomplished through the use of electronic communications technology such as the Internet, extranets, e-mail, ebooks, databases, and mobile phones…….. Internet marketing is considered to be a subset of electronic commerce. Internet marketing encompasses a variety of functions, including data management, public relations, customer service, and sales.

4. DIRECT MARKETING

Is a marketing discipline that entails the systematic recording, analysis, and tracking of individual customers’ responses and transactions (business-to-business or consumer) with the goal of developing and extending mutually profitable customer relationships. DM makes use of both addressable and non-addressable media. What matters is that it elicits a response, and it is on this basis that the recipient, typically a marketer, bases their subsequent actions, or contact strategy. Indeed, all direct marketing is conducted via media; however, many, such as email, telemarketing, and SMS, are “addressable.” It is frequently not understood to include face-to-face contact. Direct marketing appeals to many marketers because its effectiveness can frequently be quantified directly.

5. WEB DEVELOPMENT

Encompasses all aspects of creating a World Wide Web site. Web design (graphic design, XHTML, CSS, usability, and semantics), programming, server administration, content management, marketing, testing, and deployment are all included. Additionally, the term refers to the “back end,” which includes programming and server administration. A development team is typically composed of multiple members, each of whom is an expert in his or her own field. A web developer typically has more database, cgi, and engineering experience and is responsible for developing the interface between the front and back ends of a web site, as well as other programming tasks. This could include developing e-commerce applications or implementing a site search tool.

6. WEB DESIGN

Is the process of utilizing HTML, CSS, and images to create web pages, websites, and web applications. A web designer is someone who creates web pages. Typically, a designer will use a graphics application to create a mock-up of a page (for example, Adobe Photoshop). Once you have approved the design, a designer can create an HTML template, CSS files, and all of the necessary images for the web site.

GRAPHIC DESIGN, on the other hand, is the applied art of arranging images and text to convey a message. It is suitable for use in a wide variety of media, including print, digital media, motion pictures, animation, product decoration, packaging, and signage.