Promotion refers to activities that communicate the benefits of products to customers in order to generate sales and brand loyalty. It is one of the four elements of the marketing mix, along with price, product, and place. Promotion techniques can include advertising, sales promotions, public relations, personal selling, publicity, and direct marketing. The optimal promotion mix depends on factors like the product, marketing strategy, buyer readiness, and product lifecycle stage. The goal of promotion is to build awareness, create interest, provide information, stimulate demand, and reinforce the brand.