9. Marketing objectives and strategy Flashcards
Marketing objectives:
- Increase market share
- Increase revenue
- Build a brand
The product life cycle:
- Introduction
- growth
- Maturity and saturation
- Decline
Introduction (Product life cycle)
- At the start of the stage, the product will be launched and sales will be low as it is new to the market
- Costs are incurred when the product is launched
- It may be necessary to build a new production line or plant
- A business is also likely to spend in promotion to make consumers aware of the new product
Growth (Product life cycle)
- Once the product is established and consumers are aware of it, sale may begin to grow rapidly
- Unit costs may fall as production increases so the produc becomes more profitabile.
- If it a new product and there is a rapid growth in sales, competitors will launch there own versions, therefore leading to a slowdown of the rise in sales.
Maturity and saturation (Prooduct life cycle)
- Growth in sales will end and the product has become established with a stable market share.
- Sales will have reached the maximum point and competitors will have entered the market to take advantage of profits.
- Some firms will be forced out of the market as there are too many firms compeating for consumers.
- Many business use extension strategies to extend the life of their product.
Decline (Prodcut life cycle)
- For the majority of the products, sales will eventually decline, usually due to a change in in consumers taste, new technology or the introduction of new products.
- Profit is still possible if a high price can be charged and there are low costs in promotion or other costs.
Extension strategies:
Product adjustments and Promotion
Product adjustment (extension strategies)
- Updating the product (new car models)
- Making improvements (computers are faster and more memory)
- Extend product range (crisps having new flavours)
- Changing the packaging to give the impression the product has changed
Promotion (extension strategies)
- Advertise many uses
- Finding new markets such as serve in another region or country
- Investment in advertising can boost sales
- Encourage more frequent use of the product
Advantages of product life cycle
- Give managers the ability to forecast product direction and plan for timely execution of relative competitive moves
- Helps to formulate marketing mix decisions
- Explanatory tool
- Determine when it’s reasonable to eliminate declining products
Disadvantages of product life cycle
- Difficult to foresee transitions
- Difficult to determine what stage the porduct is in
- Not all products go through every stage
- Product may remain in stage for a long time
Product portfolio
Made up of product lines (grouped of similar products gouped together)
Product development process
- Generate ideas
- Analysis
- Development
- Test marketing
- Launch
Product desing mix
- Function
- Economic manufacture
- Aesthetics
Design mix & social trends
- Waste Minimisation
- Design for Re-Use
- Recycling
- Ethical sourcing
Social trend adaption benefits
- Less Wastage & higher EOS
- Products are more likely to be popular
- Social Trend USP
- Good corporate citizen
What is promotion?
Use of Advertising, Personal Selling, Sales Promotion, Direct Mail and Sponsorship to Inform & Persuade Consumers to Buy Products.
Above the line promotion:
- Television
- Newspapers and magazines
- Cinema
- Radio
- Posters and billboards
- Internet
Below the line promotion
- Sales promotion: Incentives used to encourage people to buy products
- Public relations: to increase sales by improving image of business
- Merchandising and packaging: Eye-catching and likely to encourage sales
Types of promotion using technology
- Online Targeted advertising
- Viral Advertising
- Social Media
- E-Newsletters
Choosing promotional Method Factors
- Cost
- Market/Audience Size
- Market profile
- Form of message being communicated
- Legal/ Geographical Constraints
- Other Aspects of Marketing mix
Branding
Differentiating products by creating an identifiable image and clear expectations about a product
Factors for setting price
- Cost of production
- Price elasticity of demand
- Competitors Prices
- Stage in Product life cycle
Factors Determining Price elasticity
- Necessary product
- Number of similar products
- Consumer Loyalty
- Price in proportion of consumers incomes
- Time