3Cs of marketing: Definition, examples & how to use

Do you want to develop an effective marketing strategy but need to know how? There are countless methods you can employ. Undoubtedly, one must understand the strategic 3cs of marketing and take advantage of its advantages. Knowing the 3 Cs of marketing and using them effectively allows your company to differentiate from its competitors and develop a customer-focused strategy.

In this article, we explain the 3Cs' meaning in marketing. We discuss each concept separately and give examples. You can find out how to use them and their advantages and disadvantages for an effective marketing strategy. We also answer frequently asked questions about the various 3Cs models.

What are the 3Cs of marketing?

The 3CSs of marketing are the strategic triangle developed by Kenichi Ohmae, which includes the concepts of customer, competition, and company. 

Each factor creates a balance that creates a chain effect on the others. Maintaining this balance is the key factor to the sustainable success of your marketing strategy. It lets you keep your competitors and your company's purpose in mind and focus on meeting customer needs.

3Cs of marketing

1. Customer

Customers are one of the 3Cs of marketing and indispensable elements of your business. Because your goal as a business is to act toward your customers' expectations and needs. At this stage, you can ask your customers various questions to understand them and meet their needs. You can conduct more customer-oriented work and increase loyalty in line with results.

2. Competition

Your customers may only meet their needs partially through your business. Your competitors are also an option for them. At this point, analyzing and understanding the competition is of great importance. The better you know your competitors, the better you can provide your customers with their shortcomings. Therefore, you can differentiate yourself from competitors and become your customers' first choice.

3. Company

Company is the last C of marketing. It is about knowing who you are as a company, your vision, and your mission. Knowing yourself and clarifying your goals can differentiate you from competitors in the market's competitive environment. If you know your strengths and weaknesses, you can develop strategies to eliminate weaknesses and emphasize your strengths.

How to use the 3Cs of marketing

The 3C model as a strategic concept of marketing is an indispensable element of a successful advertising campaign. According to this model, the concepts of competition, company, and customer determine a company campaign's success. Now that you know what these 3Cs include, it's time to learn how to integrate this model into your marketing campaign.

How do you use the 3Cs of marketing

1. Conduct market research and competitor analysis

You should research your target market and learn about its competitive environment. The information you obtain allows you to understand and meet the target audience's needs and target customer expectations. At the same time, understanding your competitors' situation and market share makes it easier to understand the industry and create a sustainable competitive advantage.

2. Identify your company's strengths and weaknesses

You must identify your company's perceived strengths and weaknesses in your product or service. From your pricing strategy to your brand image, you can determine which aspects of your company need improvement and which areas are enough. While doing this, you should consider customer evaluations. Thus, you can develop a more effective and customer-focused marketing plan.

3. Make necessary improvements

After determining your strengths and weaknesses, you should focus on your shortcomings according to the result you have achieved. You can work on the weak points and create a strategy for necessary improvements. It allows you to follow the market and integrate your company with the current market.

💡The market is a constantly developing, growing, and changing competitive environment. Therefore, you should regularly review your strengths and weaknesses and work to stay caught up in the long term.

4. ⁠Collect customer feedback

If you have completed all the necessary stages, you should now find out whether your customers are satisfied with the result you have achieved. At this stage, you can collect customer feedback on many issues using product surveys and learn what your customers think about the products. It helps you increase satisfaction by creating a customer-focused brand image.

5. Evaluate your progress

Another step you should not ignore is to evaluate how much progress you have made regularly and the position you have reached. It is a significant step that ensures the effectiveness and sustainability of your marketing campaign. Conducting this evaluation ensures that your campaign remains current and customer-centric periodically.

Examples of the 3Cs of marketing

Google has a significant market share in the international segment and aims for development in every field. We examined this company's 3Cs of marketing model to provide an example that aligns with our predictions. Below, you can find separate reviews based on company, customer, and competitive factors.

1. Customer

Google: The search engine has a vast customer base that uses or has the potential to use services such as YouTube, Gmail, and Google Maps. Therefore, the company conducts a comprehensive data analysis to understand customer expectations, preferences, and needs. Based on this information, strategies are created to make necessary improvements and develop new products.

2. Company

Google is among the most valuable companies in the world. Its mission is to make all kinds of information universally accessible and usable. The robust engineering team develops the marketing strategy by taking advantage of resources such as data management infrastructure and advertising. It also aims to constantly expand the product range by carrying out studies.

3. Competitive

Like every large company, Google has many competitors. Microsoft is in the search engine market. In the advertising market, it faces competitors such as Facebook or Amazon. Therefore, at this point, it pre-analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of its competitors and tries to differentiate its products and services from those of its competitors by determining competitive pricing strategies.

Advantages of the 3Cs of marketing

You can use various methods to grow your brand and expand your goals. The 3Cs marketing model can help you conduct effective strategic marketing planning and campaign processes. Below, we have listed a few of the benefits of this method.

➕One of the main benefits of the 3C model is customer focus and the creation of customer value. You can also differentiate yourself from your competitors by providing unique offerings that meet the needs of your target market. 

➕By using the model, you can get an idea of which products or services will be most attractive to your customers. Understanding what customers need, you can adapt your products and services to meet these needs and provide customer satisfaction and loyalty.

➕Analyzing your company in the 3C model helps you identify your company's strengths and weaknesses. You can use the information you gain to develop an effective marketing strategy that leverages your strengths and mitigates your weaknesses.

➕Using this model also gives you an idea of your company's overall competitive position in the market. Understanding the competition helps you identify potential threats and opportunities and take action accordingly.

💡You can use many strategies to create an effective marketing campaign. You can also make your campaign more effective by taking advantage of the 4Ps of marketing.

Disadvantages of the 3Cs of marketing

As with any method, all three marketing models have advantages and disadvantages. To ensure that your company is minimally affected by these disadvantages, you can learn about them and work to eliminate them as much as possible. Below are the disadvantages of the 3Cs of marketing.

➖Although the 3C model is intended to create an effective strategy for your marketing campaign, it may take a long time to realize.

➖The model gives you a template to determine your strategy. However, to develop an effective strategy, the data you collect and how you analyze it must be of high quality.

Frequently asked questions about the 3Cs of marketing

The 3C model of marketing benefits your business in many ways. It is also a strategy you can choose to run an effective marketing campaign. Below, we have included frequently asked questions and answers about the 3Cs of marketing. You can read and get more information.

Final words

The 3C model of marketing is a strategically important factor that helps you better understand customer expectations and needs. Thanks to this model, you can gain a competitive advantage and exhibit a customer-oriented company attitude. Therefore, you can achieve success in your target market.

In this article, we have included information about the 3C model of marketing that will be very useful for your company. We touched upon what the 3C marketing model includes and its advantages and disadvantages. You can also find instructions on how to use the model and examples of it.