Advertising: meaning, definitions and examples

Public promotion of a product, service, or company through various media like TV, radio, online, and print. It is usually paid for.

• The company spent millions on TV advertising for its new product
• Online advertising has become increasingly popular among businesses

Activities to increase sales or awareness of a product or service, often including discounts, offers, events, and other incentives.

• The store is running a promotion with 50% off all items
• They launched a special promotion to introduce their new line of products

The process of promoting, selling, and distributing a product or service. This encompasses market research, advertising, sales, and distribution strategies.

• Our marketing team is developing a new strategy to increase sales
• Understanding your audience is key to effective marketing

Free media coverage or attention given to a product, service, or company. This can be positive or negative and isn't usually paid for.

• The celebrity endorsement gave the product a lot of publicity
• Negative publicity from the scandal affected the company's reputation

Refers to the activity of creating advertisements to promote products or services. It is often paid and aims at a broad audience.

• The company invested heavily in advertising to boost their sales.
• Television is a popular medium for advertising.

Encompasses a broader set of activities than advertising, including market research, product design, pricing strategy, and distribution. Focuses on overall strategy to attract and retain customers.

• Good marketing strategies can significantly increase a company's market share.
• She studied marketing at university.

Refers to short-term tactics used to boost sales or awareness, such as discounts, special offers, or events. Often used in combination with advertising and marketing activities.

• The supermarket had a promotion on all dairy products this week.
• They launched a new product with a big promotion event.

Free or earned media attention and public visibility for a product, service, or company. It can be both positive and negative; positive publicity is desired, while negative publicity can harm a brand.

• The scandal brought a lot of negative publicity to the company.
• The new movie received a lot of publicity thanks to the star-studded cast.

Advertising is generally used when referring to the broader field or activity of creating and distributing ads to promote products or services.

• She works in advertising and handles campaigns for various brands.
• The company increased its advertising budget this year.

Typically used to refer to advertisements on television or radio. It can also mean something related to commerce or business.

• I love watching the Super Bowl commercials.
• They released a new commercial to promote their latest smartphone.

Promotion is often used when talking about efforts to boost the sales or awareness of a product or service, including sales tactics and special offers.

• The store is running a promotion with discounts up to 50%.
• The promotion of the book involved a nationwide tour and several interviews.

Publicity refers to the attention or coverage from the media or public, often without directly paying for it. It can be positive or negative.

• The movie received a lot of publicity before its release.
• Negative publicity can harm a company's reputation.