Service marketing is the process of promoting and selling services to customers. Services are intangible, meaning they cannot be seen, touched, or held like a physical product. Because of this, service marketing presents unique challenges and requires different strategies and tactics compared to product marketing.

Some of the key features of service marketing include:

1. Intangibility: As mentioned, services are intangible and cannot be physically examined before purchasing.
2. Heterogeneity: Services can vary in quality and performance, and can be difficult to standardize.
3. Perishability: Services cannot be stored for later use and must be performed at the time of purchase.
4. Inseparability: The production and consumption of services are closely linked, making it difficult to separate the service provider from the service itself.
5. Simultaneity: The production and consumption of services often occur at the same time.

Problems that businesses may face in marketing services include:

1. Difficulty in communicating the value of the service: Because services are intangible, it can be difficult for businesses to effectively communicate the value of the service to potential customers.
2. Difficulty in differentiating the service: With many competitors in the market offering similar services, it can be challenging for businesses to differentiate their service and stand out.
3. Difficulty in controlling the quality of the service: Because services are performed by people, it can be challenging to control the quality of the service and ensure that customers have a consistent experience.
4. Dependence on employees: The performance of a service is dependent on the people delivering it, meaning that the employee skills and behavior can greatly impact the service experience.
5. Lack of control over the service environment: The service environment (such as a restaurant, hotel, or salon) can greatly impact the service experience, but it may be difficult for a business to control the environment, for example, a hospital can’t control the weather and that might disrupt certain services.

To overcome these challenges, businesses must be proactive in marketing their services, communicate the value of the service clearly and ensure that the service is of high quality. Additionally, providing excellent customer service is crucial in building long-term relationships with customers and establishing a positive reputation in the market.