Why marketing?

Why would a course in marketing be helpful even if you don't pursue marketing as a career?

A lot of my professors assume that whoever is in their class is going to go into that field after graduation. I had a professor who taught a business statistics class, and every day, would say "Good morning, fellow statisticians!" Needless to say, I'm not going to be doing business statistics later in life. 

I'm a Film Production major and, last year, I took on a Management minor. My thinking behind this was to broaden my future employment possibilities and give the ability to open my own company one day, if I choose to. I had plenty of family members who, upon hearing my major, would get a puzzled look on their face, and ask what I planned to do with that. While I already have future employment prospects, telling them I'm minoring in management has seemed to assuage their worst thoughts and fears. 

As to why marketing is important, you would only need to look to my last post. Understanding how to brand yourself and market your positive attributes can secure future jobs. That is especially important in an industry where networking and word of mouth are the main ways to gain clients. Understanding what your target market needs from you and your business can help ensure future gigs, as you would say.

I work for a company that has a special department just for handing their brand. Any post to their Facebook, Twitter or website must go through these people to assure that the right message is being put out. Even emails to potential clients or suppliers goes through the same process. Anything that will reach the public is screened and edited to make sure they are presenting themselves the way that will most benefit them. Understanding how to do this for myself can only effect me positively. 

On a more more cynical note, by taking marketing, it gives me an insight as to how companies are marketing themselves to me. I can understand the tricks of the trade, and possibly not be duped into becoming a blind consumer. 

Do you think it's important to take a marketing/management class? How do you think understanding marketing can benefit you in your career or every day life?