Ambush marketing is a fairly new concept in marketing, where research into the subject has become an area of considerable interest over the past twenty years, as increasing amounts of companies opt to take up this revolutionary marketing activity. Although much has been written about “ambush” marketing, considerable ambiguity surrounds this term and its status. From the earliest definitions of ambush marketing as a derogatory term involving ‘unauthorized’ practices, has emerged not only an acknowledgement of the considerable vagueness that surrounds the concept but also a conceptual framework of ambush marketing that more accurately reflects the balancing of sponsors contractual rights against the rights of non-sponsors to maintain a market presence during an event through legal and competitive business activities, although it has been cast as an “amorphous concept” along with being branded as a somewhat devious, unethical tactic, and an unfair marketing practice. Despite this ambush marketing has recognized Continue reading
Marketing Techniques
Advertising Response Models
Advertising, being a form of mass communication, reaches numerous people simultaneously. Because it is highly visible and touches our lives, almost everyone has some pet views about it. Advertising produces both intended and unintended results. The intended results serve the objectives of the advertiser such as increasing brand awareness or producing profitable sales. Roland Berman has made the following observations “Advertisements do more than inform or persuade. They eloquently translate feelings and opinions. Through advertising and the media we receive an enormous amount of silent information: how to act in relation to people, property and ourselves. And that information is a barometer, attuned to social change.” (Roland Burman, “Advertising and Social Change,”Advertising Age, April 30, 1980, p. 18.) Much has been researched and written about how advertising works and the effects it produces. However, at the very outset, it is important to appreciate that the nature of subject is such Continue reading
Emotional Marketing
Emotional marketing is a highly successful method that is used by marketers to both attract and retain customers. The main aim of emotional marketing is to connect to customers’ hearts. It is seen that emotional thoughts stimulate people’s minds faster than rational thoughts. Emotional marketing is all about considering the feelings and needs of customers and finding ways to take advantage of the same to achieve higher volumes of sales. Most marketers are now adopting emotional marketing technique because of the realization that the emotional route can be effectively used to change consumers’ attitude towards their products. Now-a-days companies are using emotional advertisements to evoke favorable reaction from consumers. Emotion based marketing offers competitive advantages to marketers in developing strong relationship with consumers. Many of the advertisements these days have a strong element of emotion touch to them, which draws consumers to connect with the brands being advertised. For Continue reading
Solomon Model of Comparison Process – Model of Consumer Behavior
Solomon Model of Comparison Process explains some of the issues that are addressed during each stage of the consumption process (Prepurchase issues, Purchase issues, Postpurchase Issues). The ‘exchange’, in which two or more organizations or people give and receive something of value, is an integral part of marketing. He also suggested that consumer behavior involves many different actors. The purchaser and user of a product might not be the same person. People may also act as influences on the buying processes. Organizations can also be involved in the buying process. Much of marketing activity, they suggest, concentrates on adapting product offerings to particular circumstances of target segment needs and wants. It is also common to stimulate an already existing want through advertising and sales promotion, rather than creating wants. The value-expressive function is employed when a consumer is basing their attitude regarding a product or service on self-concept Continue reading
Brand Licensing
Licensing is a contractual agreement whereby a company allows another firm to use its brand name, patent, trade secret or other property for a royalty or a fee. Licensing also assists companies in entering global markets with minimal risk. Essentially, a firm is ‘renting” another brand to contribute to the brand equity of its own product. A strong brand often has associations that may be desirable in other product categories. To capitalize on this value, a firm may choose to license its name, logo or other trademark item to another company for use on their products and merchandise. Traditionally, licensing has been associated with characters such as Garfield the cat, Barney the dinosaur, and Disney’s Mickey Mouse or celebrities and designers such as Maratha Stewart, Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger. Recently more conventional brands such as Caterpillar Harley Davidson, Coca-Cola and other have licensed their brands. Licensing can be quite Continue reading
Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) – Definitions, Process, Importance and Barriers
Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) is a marketing concept of the 1990’s. It will be necessary for survival in the 21st century. The advent of integration is causing marketers to take a fresh look at all the components of marketing, specifically the unique dimension that public relations bring to the marketing mix. Public relations people in turn are seizing the opportunity that integration offers them to make a difference where it counts most to their companies and clients — on the bottom line. IMC is the culmination of the shift that began in the post — World War II period, from selling what the companies make to making what the consumers want. IMC is focused on what to know about product and services, not what the marketers want to tell them in order to sell them. Integrated Marketing Communication is defined as the coordination and integration of all marketing communication tool, Continue reading