It's easy to become confused about these terms: advertising, marketing, promotion, public relations, publicity, and sales - These terms are often used interchangeably. However, they refer to different -- but similar activities. Some basic definitions are provided here just to make sure we're all on the same page.

• An Example of the Definitions in use:
The following example may help to make the six concepts below it a little more clear -

"... if the circus is coming to town and you paint a sign saying 'Circus Coming to the Fairground Saturday', that's advertising. If you put the sign on the back of an elephant and walk it into town, that's promotion. If the elephant walks through the mayor's flower bed, that's publicity. And if you get the mayor to laugh about it, that's public relations." If the town's citizens go the circus, you show them the many entertainment booths, explain how much fun they'll have spending money at the booths, answer their questions and ultimately, they spend a lot of money at the circus, that's sales.
(example is from "Promoting Issues and Ideas" by M. Booth and Associates, Inc.)

• Advertising
Advertising is bringing a product (or service) to the attention of potential and current customers. Advertising is typically done with signs, brochures, commercials, direct mailings or e-mail messages, personal contact, etc. {Yes, orbit design can create any or all of these items for you}

• Promotion
Promotion keeps the product in the minds of the customer and helps stimulate demand for the product. Promotion involves ongoing advertising and publicity (mention in the press). The ongoing activities of advertising, sales and public relations are often considered aspects of promotions. {yes, we can provide a consultation to explore a promotional plan for you}

• Marketing
Marketing is the wide range of activities involved in making sure that you're continuing to meet the needs of your customers and getting value in return. These activities include market research to determine, for example, what groups of potential customers exist, what their needs are, which of those needs you can meet, how you should meet them, etc. Marketing also includes analyzing the competition, positioning your new product or service (finding your market niche), pricing your products and services, and promoting them through continued advertising, promotions, public relations and sales. note: Advertising is but one aspect of marketing. {yes, we'll be happy to chat with you about how marketing, in all it's manny facets, can benefit you}

• Public relations
Public relations includes ongoing activities to ensure the company has a strong public image. Public relations activities include helping the public to understand the company and its products. Often, public relations are conducted through the media, that is, newspapers, television, magazines, etc. As noted above, public relations is often considered as one of the primary activities included in promotions. {yes, we can help building your visibility through public relations}

• Publicity
Publicity is you getting a mentioned in the media (tv, radio, newspaper, magazine). clients usually have little control over the message in the media, at least, not as they do in advertising. Regarding publicity, reporters and writers decide what will be said, however design firms {like orbit!} will often influence the direction and timing of a story with their efforts.

• Sales
Sales involves most or many of the following activities, including cultivating prospective buyers (or leads) in a market segment; conveying the features, advantages and benefits of a product or service to the lead; and closing the sale or coming to agreement on pricing and services. {we can't do the selling for you, that's your job, but we can create some knock out sales materials that will get your potential customers to take notice - and getting their attention is half the battle - then it's up to you to close it!}