My first reaction to Randall Chapman’s article “A Marketing Definition in Six Words” was that his six words were too general, and therefore less than useful.

His definition of Marketing is:

“Marketing means solving customers’ problems profitably.”

But as I read the article, I came to agree that this is as good a definition as any. I’m not sure the “we’re all in marketing or we shouldn’t work here” argument will play well in larger companies, but it probably should. Too many people confuse advertising as equalling marketing.

Then again, I think you could make an equally solid argument that:

“Business means solving customers’ problems profitably.”

or

“Sales means solving customers’ problems profitably.”