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The Madison Avenue Field GuideA field guide to marketing & advertising, by Brandon Mina

GlossaryStrategy & Frameworks4Cs of Marketing

Strategy & Frameworks

4Cs of Marketing

Robert Lauterborn's 1990 customer-centric alternative to the 4Ps: Consumer wants, Cost, Convenience and Communication.

By Brandon MinaCEO, BrandPilot AIUpdated November 2026

Short answer

The 4Cs of marketing is Robert Lauterborn's 1990 customer-centric alternative to the 4Ps, covering Consumer wants and needs, Cost, Convenience and Communication. It reframes product, price, place and promotion from the buyer's viewpoint, encouraging marketers to consider total cost to the customer, ease of buying and two-way dialogue.