Impact of Service-Dominant Logic on Strategic Marketing and Relationship Marketing

The Stephen Vargo and Robert Lusch paper “Evolving to a New Dominant Logic for Marketing” (2004, Journal of Marketing) redefines and redirects the age-old economic view of goods and services. Their paper states, “Over the past several decades, marketing has been evolving toward a new dominant logic… The evolving logic represents a shift away from the exchange of tangible output (goods) toward the exchange of services, which are defined as the application of specialized competences (knowledge and skills), through deeds, processes, and performances for the benefit of another entity or the entity itself.” This philosophy of marketing argues that firms are not really providing goods, but are actually rendering a service to consumers through their goods. This new service-dominant logic view of marketing has already made a huge impact on both the strategic marketing and relationship marketing of firms and will continue to further impact future marketing strategy. For nearly Continue reading

Green Marketing: Importance and Challenges

Environmental issues have gained importance in business as well as in public life through out the world. It is not like that a few leaders of different countries or few big renowned business houses are concerned about the day to day deterioration of oxygen level in our atmosphere but every common citizen of our country and the world is concerned about this common threat of global warming. So in this scenario of global concern, corporate houses has taken green-marketing as a part of their strategy to promote products by employing environmental claims either about their attributes or about the systems, policies and processes of the firms that manufacture or sell them. Clearly green marketing is part and parcel of over all corporate strategy; along with manipulating the traditional marketing mix (product, price, promotion and place), it require an understanding of public policy process. So we can say green marketing covers Continue reading

What is Stealth Marketing? Meaning, Techniques and Examples

Due to the fact that new generations of consumers are becoming less drawn to the conventional, in your face advertising, advertising industries have created a more ‘under the radar’ approach of advertising. This is done by making consumers believe that they are responding to a promotion, rather than an advertisement. This promotional advertising is a more subtle approach of communication, as much of the public does not want to be associated with the obvious advertisement of products. This way, consumers don’t feel like they are being sold something, rather they feel like they are discovering something. This approach is called stealth or covert marketing, which employs marketing activities easily into consumer’s lives without awareness. These campaigns stay away from traditional advertising, where consumers are continuously aware that they are being sold something. This new form of advertising is discreet when communicating messages to consumers, working best by “flying below the Continue reading

Event Planning Concept in Event Management

The planning function is involved in micro-level event coordination activities such as liaison with the creative team discussing, facilitating and arranging for the technical specification viz., sound, light, stages and sets. Short-listing artists and stand by artists in tune with the dictates of the creative guys/gals is one of the most challenging tasks in the event planning function. Event planning also involves checking out alternative arrangements for locating the event, the venue, the conditions for the event and gathering information to assist in taking a decision on whether the event would be held indoors or outdoors. While at the last task, understanding the requirements of licenses, clearances, etc. and arranging for the same as and when required is a fundamentally responsible task that the event coordinator is burdened with. Deciding soft issues such as whether the show is to be a ticketed, non-ticketed, fully or partially sponsored is also part Continue reading

What Is Customer Lifetime Value (CLV)?

While some companies aim to grow their customer base, the successful ones recognize the importance of increasing customer lifetime value. Loyal customers offer more value to your business‐generating over 10x more revenue. Customer lifetime value is an important concept to understand from a marketing standpoint.  The cost of obtaining a customer and gaining that first sale is often much higher than the costs of maintaining the relationship with the customer. Customer lifetime value (CLV) is a critical metric used to estimate the value of each customer you acquire. It validates whether you’re actually producing a profit. Several companies strive to increase customer lifetime value because they believe it’s a good indicator of business performance. Companies use the metrics such as customer life time value (CLV) to understand the importance of a certain type of customer towards the business and give a greater insight of the expected future revenue as well Continue reading

Seven Steps in Organizing a Successful Event

To market events (Read: Event Management — A Modern Strategic Marketing Tool), one should be well organized, with the required infrastructure that the target clientele will find it worthwhile to invest their time and resources in anticipation of assured results. To achieve this objective, a suitable event strategy should be designed and developed for organizing a successful event. There are seven important steps in organizing a successful event. Step 1: Planning Prior planning prevents poor performance. No event manager should be complacent or procrastinating. Nothing should be left to chance, only to regret later. Planning, hence, is essential for organizing a successful event  in all respects. Before starting any event, a bit of research would help. One should start sufficiently early so that there will be ample time to complete the assigned project. It would help to have a briefing note or a checklist listing out the objectives and goals Continue reading