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Sam Baertschi
Montreal (Quebec)
Canada

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How can a marketing professional have a positive impact on his or her community?

I feel extremely fortunate to have the chance to ask important questions like this to bright minds like yours. Thank you again. Here it goes:

In what ways can a marketing professional help and contribute to his or her community without having a constant focus on sales and revenue?

Topics: community contribute greater good help impact marketing sales

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Scott Armstrong 50+
- 0
Mar 11 2013: by raising awareness of issues that, by having an awareness of, will benefit the community
Pabitra Mukhopadhyay 30+
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Mar 11 2013: By not creating a false demand, not for money that is already not earned by a buyer and by being absolutely candid about the environmental cost of the product that is not accounted for in the sale.
However it will soon see the marketing professional out her position.
- Krisztián Pintér 200+
  - 0
  TED Translator
  
  Mar 11 2013: let me answer here, so you get notification
  
  "Do you mean one needs to understand how marketing works to realize ..."
  
  actually, i don't think people need to understand marketing. i would be pretty much okay with people not minding it at all. what i don't like is people having misconceptions about it. marketing does not make people buy anything. marketing is about finding out what people buy, regardless of anything else. it is the consumer that decides, corporations' influence on it is negligible.
  
  of course, understanding marketing can lead to understanding your own thinking as a consumer, though i doubt it is a path anybody would walk. it is easier to find a scapegoat, and continue to live the life of the plankton.
Michael McWatters
- 0
TED Staff TED Attendee

Mar 11 2013: A lot of good ideas already posted. One thing you can do is encourage the agency you work with to take on pro bono projects to help local organizations and initiatives. It's good for the community, it revitalizes agency team members, and frankly it tells paying clients that your team is a cut above.
John Gianino
- 0
Mar 11 2013: What are you interested in promoting?
Robert Galway 20+
- +1
Mar 11 2013: Teaching kids about business and marketing themselves positively...such as resumes and interpersonal communications.

Helping charities and worthy causes get their message to the intended audience.

Helping young artists with tips on improving commercial appeal.

Volunteer in an area you feel passionate about and tell no one about your background. Being the person to help get more volunteers is always a tough assignment that may be up your alley.

Help public broadcasting efforts reach the intended audiences.
greg dahlen 20+
- 0
Mar 10 2013: I suppose they could share their knowledge on an informal basis. Like if they run across something positive in their day-to-day life where the other person isn't trying to market it, they could say to them, "I'm a marketing professional, and I think this could really succeed for other people, here's how you might market it." Be encouraging, and even follow up with the person if you see them again.
Krisztián Pintér 200+
- +1
TED Translator

Mar 10 2013: explain them how marketing works. fight the common misconception about corporations mindcontrolling the people.
- Gail . 50+
  - 0
  Mar 10 2013: You said, "fight the common misconception about corporations mindcontrolling the people."
  
  I live in America, so I don't understand why you would say such a thing. The reason that commercials sell for six million dollars a minute during the Super Bowl is because the commercials work. If they didn't work, comapnies wouldn't spend the money. (Use my razor blade and women will find you sexy, or use this phone network so that you can appease your guilty feelings (talk to your mother and make her happy even though you moved away from her in her old age and you don't really care)
  - Krisztián Pintér 200+
    
    0
    TED Translator
    
    Mar 10 2013: you are not a fan of formal logic and such boring stuff, are you?
    
    question: if something works, does it mean it is mindcontrolllng? example: elevator works, it takes you from one floor to another. does the elevator controls you? no. conclusion: something working does not imply that thing is mindcontrolling. sorry for boring you out.
  - Krisztián Pintér 200+
    
    +1
    TED Translator
    
    Mar 10 2013: ah, by the way, thanks for illustrating my point so eloquently. most people not only does not know what marketing is (60% time spent in excel, analyzing data, 30% in board rooms, brainstorming ideas, 9% on watching the competition, and ads somewhere in the remaining 1%, Nth position in the list), so not only you have no idea how marketing works, you don't even want to understand it. you are okay with your completely false and comforting world view.
    - Pabitra Mukhopadhyay 30+
      
      0
      
      Mar 11 2013: Do you mean one needs to understand how marketing works to realize how his/her home/office is filled with gadgets or services that the consumer is still looking for a good reason to use other than just because buying it?
Gail . 50+
- 0
Mar 10 2013: Volunteer your expertise for a cause you believe in (as opposed to a cause that someone tells you that you should believe in).

But if you are wondering how to market your skills to your community, that's a whole different story. Marketing is about increasing revenue (as you would be looking to increase yours if this is what you are asking). If you're not looking at revenue streams in today's culture, you are not a marketing professional.
edulover learner 10+
- 0
Mar 10 2013: Selling products as true as they are.
carolyn mcauley 10+
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Mar 10 2013: sell us concepts that will sustain us in between buying things,. Sell us concepts that stimulates a sense of appretiation,of gratitude,to be graceful,not in a aristocratic way,but like the air as in tai chi,hulla,belly dance,ballet...sell us harmony a sustainable relationship with our colours,sounds and senses..sell us innerawareness,(not innerblindness) a path to understanding of our experience...ect ect
Fritzie Reisner 100+
- +2
Host

Mar 10 2013: there are many worthy organizations that sometimes need to get a message out effectively and could use your expertise.

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