What is Social Marketing?

Social marketing is the systematic application of marketing, along with other concepts and techniques, to achieve specific behavioral goals for a social good.

Social marketing can be applied to promote merit goods, or to make a society avoid demerit goods and thus to promote society’s well being as a whole. For example, this may include asking people not to smoke in public areas, asking them to use seat belts, or prompting to make them follow speed limits.

Although social marketing is sometimes seen only as using standard commercial marketing practices to achieve non-commercial goals, this is an over-simplification. The primary aim of social marketing is social good, while in commercial marketing the aim is primarily financial. This does not mean that commercial marketers can not contribute to achievement of social good.

Not to be confused with Social Networking

A social network service focuses on building online communities of people who share interests and/or activities, or who are interested in exploring the interests and activities of others. Most social network services are web based and provide a variety of ways for users to interact, such as e-mail and instant messaging services.

Social networking has encouraged new ways to communicate and share information. Social networking websites are being used regularly by millions of people.

Social Marketing & Vermont

Vermont’s Youth in Transition Grant social marketing plan hopes to reduce the stigma regarding mental health following the path of the national Campaign for Children’s Mental Health.

Related Media

• Vermont Youth In Transition Social Marketing Plan
  
• Social Marketing Newsletter for the TA Partnership