Philip Kotler, the S.C. Johnson & Son Distinguished Professor of International Marketing at Northwestern University's Kellog School of Management, is widely regarded as the Father of Modern Marketing. Other contributors to the development of marketing thought were - Taylor, and B.H. Hibbard. What is Marketing? There are many definitions of marketing. But the most popular is AMA - "Marketing is the activity, set of institutions, and processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large." What are marketing tools? Marketing tools are those that companies use to develop, promote their products and services. In this model, the term 'tools' refers to techniques, strategies, and materials. As businesses use different marketing tools - advertising, direct mail and market research to expand sales, it always works whichever is best for your business.