What is the process of communicating with and persuading the customer called?

The process of communicating with and persuading the customer is best described as marketing. Marketing encompasses a wide range of activities that aim to understand customer needs, create value, and foster relationships, often through effective communication strategies. It not only includes promotional activities but also involves research, product development, pricing, and distribution, all aimed at meeting consumer demands and influencing their purchasing decisions.

Effective marketing involves a mix of various techniques and tools, such as advertising, sales promotions, and publicity, to reach potential customers and persuade them to buy products or services. However, marketing as a broader concept integrates these components and focuses specifically on the overall strategy of how a business can engage and maintain a relationship with its audience.

While advertising is a component of marketing, focusing specifically on paid promotion messages, it does not encompass the entire process involved in understanding and interacting with customers. Sales promotion refers specifically to short-term incentives offered to encourage the purchase or sale of a product, and publicity involves generating public interest and awareness through free media coverage rather than paid methods. Thus, marketing is the most comprehensive and accurate term for the outlined process.