Chp 14: integrated marketing communications Flashcards
LO1: define integrated marketing communications
represents the promotion dimension of the 4Ps; encompassing a variety of communication disciplines - general advertising, personal selling, sales promotion, public relations, direct marketing, and digital media - in combination to provide clarity, consistency, and maximum communicative impact
LO1: what does IMC provide firm
best means to reach target audience with desired message, and enhances the value story by offering clear + consistent message
LO1: 3 components of IMC
consumer/target market, channel/vehicles through which message is communicated, evaluation of results of communication
LO1: 7 steps in communication process
1) sender
2) transmitter
3) encoding
4) communication channel
5) receiver
6) noise
7) feedback loop
LO1: define sender
firm from which an IMC message originates; sender must be clearly identified to the intended audience
LO1: define deceptive advertising
representation, omission, act or practice in advertisement that is likely to mislead consumers acting reasonably under the circumstances
LO1: define transmitter
agent or intermediary with which the sender works to develop the marketing communications
LO1: example of transmitter
firm’s creative department or advertising agency
LO1: define encoding
process of converting sender’s ideas into a message, which could be verbal, visual or both
LO1: define communication channel
medium - print, broadcast, internet - that carries the message
LO1: define receiver
person who reads, hears, or sees and processes the info contained in the message or advertisement
LO1: define decoding
process by which receiver interprets sender’s message
LO1: 2 points to receiver step
1) Sender hopes person receiving it will be the one for whom it was originally intended
2) decoding occurs
LO1: define noise
any interference that stems from competing messages, a lack of clarity in message, or flaw in the medium; a problem for all communication channels
LO1: 1 point to noise
Any difference between encoding (what sender intends to say) and decoding (what receiver hears) is likely due to noise
LO1: define feedback loop
allows receiver to communicate with sender and informs sender whether message was received and decoded properly
LO1: 1 point to feedback loop
Feedback can include customer’s purchase of items, complaint or compliment, redemption of coupon/rebate, etc
LO1: process of communication
1) Sender (firm) -> transmitter encodes message -> communications channel (media) -> receiver (consumer) decodes message
2) Noise going to all parts
3) Feedback to sender (firm) and from receiver (consumer) decoding message
LO1: 2 ways consumers perceive communication
1) receivers decode messages differently
2) senders adjust messages according to medium and receivers traits
LO1: 2 points to receivers decode messages differently
1) Different people shown same message will often take different meanings from it
2) Sender has little control over what meaning any individual receiver will take from the message
LO1: 1 point to senders adjust messages according to medium and receivers traits
Marketers make adjustments to their messages and media depending on whether they want to communicate with suppliers, shareholders, customers or general public
LO2: list steps in planning IMC campaign
1) identify target audience
2) set objectives
3) determine budget
4) convey message
5) evaluate and select media
6) create communication
7) assess impact
LO2: 2 points to identify target audience
1) Firms must keep in mind that target audience may not be same as current users of product
2) Conduct research to identify target audience and use that info to set tone for advertising program and help them select media they will use to deliver message to that audience
LO2: 4 points to set objectives
1) Advertising objectives derived from overall objectives of marketing program and clarify specific goals the ads are designed to accomplish
2) objectives/goals are crucial since they serve as standard against which success of failure is measured
3) All marketing communications aim to inform, persuade and remind customers
4) Overarching strategy for objectives is push vs pull, but also consider nature of market (consumer vs business), nature of product (simple vs complex) and stage of product life cycle
LO2: short term objectives
generating inquiries, increasing awareness, promoting trial
LO2: long term objectives
increasing sales, market share, customer loyalty
LO2: 4 budget methods
1) objective and task
2) competitive parity
3) % of sales
4) affordable budgeting
LO2: define objective and task budgeting method
communication budget is set based on cost of specific tasks required to achieve stated communication objectives
LO2: 2 points to objective and task budgeting methods
1) Process entails setting objectives, choosing media and determining costs for each product or service
2) Limitations: can be difficult to identify specific tasks that will achieve the objectives and as a result is most difficult method
LO2: define competitive parity budgeting method
method of determining communications budget in which firm’s share of communication expenses is in line with its market share
LO2: 2 limitations to competitive parity budgeting method
1) prevents firms from exploiting unique opportunities or problems they confront in market
2) if all competitors use this method to set budgets, their market shares will stay approx the same over time
LO2: define % of sales budgeting method
based on fixed % of forecasted sales
LO2: 2 limitations of % of sales budgeting method
1) assumes % used in past or by competitors is still appropriate for firm
2) does not take into account new plans (eg to introduce new line of products in current year)
LO2: 1 point to % of sales budgeting method
Since everyone needs to eat, grocery stores can use small % for this
LO2: define affordable budgeting
based on what is left over after other operating costs have been covered.
LO2: 3 points to affordable budgeting
1) Marketers forecast sales and expense (excluding communication) during budget period. The difference between forecast sales - expense + desired profit is applied to communication budget.
2) Limitation: assumes communication expenses do not stimulate sales and profit & generally results in underspending and may not accomplish sales objectives
3) Often used by small firms
LO2: what to consider in advertising
Firms must consider role advertising plays in attempt to meet overall promotional objectives, and expenses vary over course of PLC with higher spending during introduction phase, less money spent on advertising in B2B marketing contexts than B2C
LO3: explain step 4: convey message
Determine key message to communicate to target audience + what appeal would most effectively convey message.
LO3: 3 points to the message
1) Provides target audience with reasons to respond in desired way
2) Starting point is tout key benefits of product/service
3) Should communicate product’s problem solving ability in clear and compelling fashion
4) unique selling proposition
LO3: define unique selling proposition
strategy of differentiating a product by communicate its unique attributes; often becomes common theme or slogan of entire advertising campaign
LO3: 1 point to selling proposition
Selling proposition must be unique to brand, meaningful to consumer and sustainable over time
LO3: 2 types of appeals
1) rational
2) emotional
LO3: define rational appeals
helps consumers make purchase decision by offering factual info and strong arguments built around relevant issues that encourage consumers to evaluate brand favourably on basis of key benefits it provides