University of Westminster “Integrated marketing communications are far from reality in most companies. A number of strong barriers prevent IMC from being implemented quickly and efficiently.”- De Pelsmacker Managing Marketing Communications 2011 Introduction Integrated Marketing Communications, (IMC) has been one of the major communications developments in the last decade of the 20th century (Kitchen & Schultz 1999, 2000) It is regarded as a fundamental paradigm shift in the thinking and practice of marketing communications. Although marketing communications has been used as the umbrella term to group various communication functions, it is IMC that brings strategic integration to these functional areas, to reach consumers …show more content…
Research has confirmed the link between increased integrated marketing communications and increased sales, share and profit (Marketing week 2002a). IMC does not only imply uniformity of communications. While a single theme has to commend, it is perfectly feasible to consider the integration of disparate approaches and messages targeted at a variety of groups.eg. A message targeted to the employees will be different to a message targeted to the shareholders. Some other benefits of IMC (Linton and Morley, 1995) are listed below: Creative integrity Consistent messages Unbiased marketing recommendations Better use of media Greater marketing precision Operational efficiency Cost savings High-calibre consistent service Easier working relations Greater agency accountability While, most companies try and seek these benefits and adopt IMC, they are not always achieved because of difficulties and barriers to achieve them. Some of these benefits have much to do with quality and ability of personnel involved as they have to do with integration. It is true that truly integrated marketing communication is an exception, rather than a rule. 5 Barriers and Obstacles “A lack of IMC, the lack of co-ordinated communications planning & delivery of a consistent message, could lead to multiple portrayals of a brand in the market, even if the brand positioning is the
* Integrated marketing program is a comprehensive plan that communicates and delivers the intended value to chosen customers.
Regarding elements of integrated strengths, brand logo and corporate colours are highly integrated across different channels. What’s more, message strategies and common image are integrated well which showing the same brand image to consumers. In media aspect, TV, print and internet are showing the consistency brand image. However, tagline is the weakest factor which is not coordinated in different channel and lack of effective. Furthermore, direct mail sometimes delivers wrong product messages to different target segments. Last but not least, Bonds did not pay enough attention on product packages and rarely use package to deliver message.
M1- Explain mechanisms that can reduce the impact of communication barriers. In this assignment I will be explaining mechanisms which can reduce the impact of communication barriers. There are different communication barriers in a workplace. These barriers include physical disabilities, background noises, lack of interest, distractions, concentration level, body language, working through different language, the use of inappropriate language and poor spelling and grammar.
Moreover, (Product) RED uses the INTEGRATED MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS (IMC)technology for its marketing campaign. The IMC involves the utilization of all the elements of the marketing mix, which specifically includes
“Racing, competing, it's in my blood. It's part of me, it's part of my life; I have been doing it all my life and it stands out above everything else” says racer Ayrton Senna. For a little over 100 years the International Motor Contest Association (IMCA) has been running races. The IMCA is one of the most popular associations to race dirt track. Dirt track racing provides a pastime for hundreds to thousands of people worldwide.
The importance of developing an integrated marketing communications plan has become even more important in the modern era. With so many different touch points, or ways that a prospect can experience a company 's message or advertisement, it is important that the message be clear and consistent (Business Training Schools, 2011). Developing the proper lines of communication, especially with a new product is vital to a company. In this paper Team C will evaluate factors involved in developing and managing an effective marketing communications plan. We will also discuss advertising and promotion programs. Technology trends available to help market the product is
Marketing is an integrated communications-based process through which individuals and communities are informed or persuaded that existing and newly-identified needs and wants may be satisfied by the products and services of others....
In relation to promotions we believe an Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC) strategy would be the best way to proceed. Through IMC the brand will be able to maintain a personality and attitude that communicates effectively with the target segment. It will also help to build a desirable ‘brand image’ and relationships with consumers and distributors. The marketing activities will be very specific. It will involve a range of communication mediums including advertising, media, public relations and sales promotion.
Marketing is an important area in any company. Integrated marketing is an area of the marketing world. This type of marketing can increase brand value and this allows for a high turnover on the company’s investments. We will review a company and describe the purpose and value of integrated marketing, as well as showing what value the plan adds to the company.
Initial discussions on IMC were based on definitions and theoretical understanding, and this discussion is still taking place. IMC or Integrated Marketing Communications according to Schultz (1993) combine and evaluate strategic role of diverse communications to produce a greater impact. It is a process that produces and applies different communication programs starting with the customer and work back to outline right approaches and procedures to progress throughout these influential programs. Another source sees it as a business process that aims to plan, implement and assess influential marketing communications over time. There isn’t a clear definition for it, each source rely on a different definition however according to all found IMC is identified as a strategic process. It’s composed of three main basics: consumer, channels and evaluation of performances. Consumer gives an idea of how an exchange of information affects message’s form and content. Communication channels analyze each channel in apart to
On the other hand, an important part of a firm’s market program is developing, building and conveying a brand image in marketing communications to influence consumers’ perceptions and create loyal customers. According to Kitchen et al. (2004), “IMC is to enable various messages from different communication channels coming together to create a coherent corporate and brand image”. Furthermore, IMC has been a business strategic process that could contribute to build brand value and affect the consumers’ perception of the brand (Schultz, 2004; Madhavaram et al., 2005), this can change consumers’ awareness and loyalty. Similarly, Reid (2005) provides support that IMC plays an important role that makes company more efficient in building and maintaining brand image and customer relationship. That is, effective communication can facilitate the formation of brand awareness and a positive brand image in the consumer’s mind. In other word, brand image
Like most business plans, the intergerated marketing communications plan begins with an over view of the activity. This is particularly important for intergrated planning as the priorities in the planning process must be identified as should the key tasks across the programme. This is
However, with the introduction of new technologies and advances in information technology communication has been completely revolutionised and same has impacted in organisations in there IMC strategies. “For IMC to really take hold, old assumptions must exit, assumptions about the role of advertising and sales promotion, about the organisation of advertising and public relations departments, about agencies and what they do, about the media, and most of all accountability” (Schultz et al. 1994).
To ensure an effective marketing campaign an Integrated Marketing Strategy must be developed to communicate the brand and work collectively with various tactics to deliver a seamless message to consumers that stand out amongst competition. The objective is to make certain all elements of the marketing communication including, public relations, advertising, online communication, direct marketing, social media, and sales promotions are a collaboration of a unified campaign to effectively promote a product, rather than each tactic working independently, and would not have a maximize effectiveness. Csikósová (2014).
IMC can be defined as an approach to brand communications where the different modes work together to create a seamless experience for the customer and are presented with a similar tone and style that reinforces the brand’s core message (Belch & Belch, 2013). Agencies overcome this challenge by understanding and embracing technology and its effectiveness in solving clients’ problems.