[gwbrooks]

Done correctly, marketing is the act of giving value (usually in the form of information or opportunity) in order to capture value. It's reciprocal at the most basic level.

Unfortunately, too many folks have figured out that they can strip mine the audience by minimizing or ignoring the first half of that transaction.

I can't really despise marketing since I've spent 30 years in and out of it. But I can damn well despise bad, selfish marketing that doesn't even try to deliver any value.

[doonesbury]

Totally agree. If you've got something to say, and have some real value marketing is legit and darn helpful and a strategic need.

Of course without the preconditions marketing and sales sounds like a BS exercise of desperate come on.