CIM Introductory Certificate in Marketing

CIM Introductory Certificate in Marketing

A career in marketing can take you into almost any field of business, with more and more organisations looking for the marketing strategy that will give them an edge over their rivals. The CIM Introductory Certificate in Marketing course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), the world's largest organisation for marketers, and makes a perfect entry to a dynamic and lucrative career in marketing.

The CIM Introductory Certificate in Marketing course, accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), assumes no previous marketing knowledge and is ideal if you are looking to enter this fascinating field, or if you find your present position requires marketing skills.

You will start by looking at the basic principles of marketing and the ways marketing methods are applied in different contexts. As you study marketing strategies you will develop a variety of effective marketing skills, including identifying target markets and consumer behaviours, and you'll explore the various communications channels and the best ways to get your marketing message across.

By the end of the marketing course you will have the skills you need to take on an entry-level marketing support role for a marketing department or business, or you may choose to continue on to further CIM qualifications.

Entry Requirements

You don't need any previous experience or qualifications to enrol in our Introductory CIM course. That's because we believe in making home study - and a rewarding future - as accessible as possible. However, you do need to be over 16, and, if you are working or have some business experience, you will be better able to put your learning into context.

Where will I go from here?

This qualification has the potential to start you on a career in marketing in any context you choose. Almost every business relies on skilled marketing support staff, and you could find yourself in a position in anything from financial services and retail to sporting bodies and the arts. You may also decide to extend your training and undertake a more advanced CIM qualification course.

What will I gain?

On completion, you'll receive the CIM Level 3 Introductory Certificate in Marketing.

Awarding Body

As the world's largest organisation for professional marketers, the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) plays a key role in training, developing and representing the profession. It delivers accredited, practice-based qualifications throughout the UK and an international study centre network.

Assessment

You will complete two assessments to gain your qualification.

Unit 1 - What is Marketing?

  • The assessment is an online question paper. The MCQ online examination lasts one hour and comprises 50 multiple-choice questions drawn randomly from a bank of questions. You will experience a different set of questions during the examination and the order of the multiple choice answers will also vary.

Unit 2 - Understanding Customer Relationships

  • This written assignment is designed to assess the extent to which you have acquired understanding and skills in marketing. You are required to demonstrate an understanding of the practice of marketing and identify situations when your marketing skills and knowledge can be put into practice.

The online test will be held at a local authorised testing centre, while the written assignment is submitted to ICS and is then marked by CIM.

What will I get?

Because we're experts in home learning, ICS knows about and offers all the support you need along the way.

You'll receive study materials that have been specially designed for distance learning by experts in your field of study, and you will work with step-by-step modules to guide your learning.

As a CIM Introductory Certificate in Marketing student, you'll receive the following complimentary textbook: Introduction to Marketing by A Palmer.

You'll also receive the opportunity to subscribe to the industry magazine The Drum for a specially reduced price of £52 (normally £172). This includes free access to the Marketing Industry Network (MIN).

You'll have access to an experienced personal tutor both online and over the phone, ready to help you with guidance and motivation.

You'll also be part of the ICS Online Student Community, where you'll have access to library materials and your account information, as well as vital links with your fellow students, with the chance to discuss your work, ask questions and make new friends.

Study Period

9 months

Hours of study

80 hours

That's equivalent to just a little over two hours of study a week over the 9-month support period.

Support period

9 months

Course code

V08

Course cost

£629.00

Additional fees

There are CIM registration, exam and assignment fees that are additional to your course fees:

  • CIM Registration fee: £120
  • Online exam fee: £55
  • Assignment fee: £55
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Key Topics

The course is divided into two separate units, each comprising four modules, as follows:

What is Marketing?

Understanding the Role and Function of Marketing

  • Examine the role of marketing. Consider the links between marketing and other activities within an organisation.
  • Explore the differences between internal and external marketing.

Understanding the Marketing Environment

  • Consider how the marketing process can effectively be managed
  • Examine the PESTEL model
  • Explore the micro-marketing environment
  • Learn processes that can be used to monitor the marketing environment

The Marketing Mix

  • Examine the 7 Ps of the marketing mix: product, price, place, promotion, people, process and physical evidence

How Marketing is Applied in Different Organisational Contexts

  • Explore the different ways in which customers and consumers make their buying decisions
  • Examine the different ways in which the marketing mix is used within different types of organisations to influence the buying-decision

Understanding Customer Relationships

  • Understanding Customers
  • Examine the importance of collecting information to gain a better understanding of customers' needs, and learn how this information can be collected and stored

Building and Maintaining Effective Internal and External Customer Relationships

  • Examine ways of developing and sustaining customer, supplier and distributor relationships
  • Explore the relationships within an organisation, and consider potential areas of conflict between the different functions of an organisation. Discover solutions to these conflicts

Communicating with Internal and External Customers

  • Examine the various business formats for communicating with customers both internally and externally
  • Explore the strengths and weaknesses of a variety of promotional activities
  • Discover the processes involved in undertaking a range of marketing campaigns
  • Learn how to measure the success of both internal and external tactical communication campaigns.

Providing Customer Service for Internal and External Customers

  • Examine the different stages of a customer care programme
  • Discover methods of obtaining both formal and informal customer feedback
  • Learn how to measure the success of a customer care service

 

You can either pay for your course in full or opt for a monthly payment plan.

Standard Course fee: £629 (excluding discounts)

Or speak to one of our course advisors now for payment plans.

 

There are CIM registration, exam and assignment fees that are additional to your course fees:

  • CIM Registration fee: £120
  • Online exam fee: £55
  • Assignment fee: £55