> "making sure you’re solving someone’s real problem"

When I studied a couple of university marketing subjects in the mid-90s, we were taught that's about the most fundamental aspect of marketing.

> “We’re overloading the term”

I think it's more likely you're reacting to a stereotype of marketing held by people outside the field, rather than what it really is according to those who do it properly.

From the author's own summary of the book:

So basically: start marketing the day you start coding.

Or, actually... before you even start coding! Validate your idea, build a prototype, show it to people, gather feedback, improve it and keep going.