Global Branding and Integrated Marketing Communication
Integrated Marketing Communication is a process which involves co-ordination of communication elements in marketing and communication aimed at assisting an organisation to have a consistent and clear communication of its brand. This process improves an image of a co-corporate to its customers and stakeholders.
Integrated Marketing Communication is used in a firm after proper analysis of customer needs and after a review of the market situation Schultz and Kitchen (2000). Customer views and other markets which are a target are relevant to the customers Kotler (2006).
In every organisation, theirs need for marketing and corporate communication which helps an organisation to interact with appropriate markets with an aim of communicating ideas and knowing various perceptions of brands, services and products.
Marketing concept has developed from logic focused transactions and products to development of long term relationships and improvement of resources in order to maintain customer satisfaction on value. This development is aimed at listening, informing and response to customers. Value added services need to positively evolve to provide consistency and clarity Kotler (2006).
In marketing roles, service sectors have systems where communication represents the central element of marketing activities which is a key element in all company functions Ouwersloot and Duncan (2008).
There are models outlined which help increase customer value based on customer, cost, convenience and communication. This models focus on what the customer needs rather than what an organisation can make. This involves understanding customer cost and the most convenient place to buy.
Global Branding and Customer Satisfaction
Customer satisfaction can be defined as an inconsistency between a customer’s awareness and perceptions. Customers in the market, research items before they purchase them. This product assessment enables the customer to make a purchase choice. Most customers end up choosing well-known brands which reduce any purchase risks Smith (1999).Using such models of communication is most preferred rather than using persuasion Kotler (2006).
The goal of Integrated Marketing Communication is to build brands which are preferred by customers and well known to increase chances of purchase which increase brand equity. Integrated Marketing Communication has benefits which provides brand differentiation and improves accountability in a firm which makes customers gain trust with the organisation.
Business environment has changed over the years due to improvement of technology and knowledge transfer Caywood (2012). Due to globalization of trade many firms have responded by using Integrated Marketing Communication to be able to access the market. Globalization has led to a variety of problems such as competition for resources where more customers have immense power in decision making.
Firms have improved their operations in expanding market share which lead to sustainable marketing performance for their customers through shared value. Due to globalization, firms apply marketing strategy which creates profitability with corporate social responsibility. Integrated Marketing Communication involves brand equity and market sensing orientation which brings forth a competitive edge to a product Belch (2009).
For a business to be successful marketing performance is key Belch (2009). Having access to search, experience and credence is a sign of customer loyalty which leads to higher levels of information behavior. This leads to greater integrated strategies which influence marketing outcomes.
Customer value has the ability to respond to need and solve customer problems rather than transfer benefits to customers. Values created by consumers can pay high prices for products based on social issues. This value is usually inferred from customer satisfaction. Consumers may buy a brand from a firm due to additional value on utility which is established by a brand equity strategy Chitty (2012). Due to globalization customers are demanding and willing to pay higher prices for brands which are of quality Caywood (2012).
Importance of Global Branding
For perfect market outcomes there is need for brand identity, which involves brand vision, culture, positioning, personality, relationship and presentation. Brand vision is an idea made to check how a brand will work in a certain environment and how it will make changes in the future of firms and for the consumers.
Brand culture involves assessing visible artifacts, employees and managers values who are involved in the brand making activities. Brand positioning creates positions for a corporate name and takes into account the competitors position. This argument was based on the idea that consumers need brands with a consistent message Ferrell (2011, p.53).
Brand personality is positioned to help stakeholders groups who can appreciate what the brand can do for their firms. Brand relationship means how customers and business associate themselves with the brand. This promotes customer loyalty and helps management know how and why the brand is been used. Brand presentation is a way of coming up with different ways to present the brand which takes into consideration opinions of all involved stakeholders.
Brand equity is the added value on products and services. This is reflected in the way customers feel, think and respond to the brand. It also looks at the pricing, market share and the profitability for the firm. Brand equity is used to look at the financial and strategic aspect of it Kotler (2007, p.240).
For products to survive, the market must have proper advertising and marketing activities. Brand awareness is built on product quality. Proper quality of a brand leads to higher returns. Building brand awareness builds a strong brand image Kotler (2006).
Price is an important element in marketing strategy because it provides outgoing costs and creates profit. Customers look at price as the value attached to the product been sold by a firm. Customers expect price to reflect the quality level of the product. Price premiums reflect the brand ability to command a higher price than its competitors. A product with strong brand loyalty is able to push its upper limits which enable a price premium to be achieved Erickson and Johnson (1985).
When final products are made the place for marketing is a major factor, this helps in knowing how effectively it can be distributed to the consumer. Distribution channels need to be in line with the brand expression which involves analyzing customer needs, establishing channel objectives, identifying major channel alternatives and evaluating major channel alternatives Percy (1997).
Promotion of brands is a channel of information and persuasion used in order to sell goods and services in promoting ideas. Promotion also involves advertising through sales promotions and tailored messages that encourage a target audience to respond to the product. It also may involve public relations which maintain good quality relationships with other firms.
The concept of Integrated Marketing Communication which involves promotional activities of communication in the marketing sector seeks to have all of a company’s marketing strategies which promote a consistent and clear image in the market place.
There is need for Integrated Marketing Communication since there are conflicting messages from different places or promotional approaches which may confuse a firm or even the image of a brand. Also the Web cannot be able to be used only to build brands and brand awareness is limited Percy (1997).
Integrated Marketing Communication has enhanced business outcomes from a number of inter-related factors. Customer attitudes towards loyalty have improved patterns arising from clear and consistent experience of brand value. Improvements on customer attitudes and behaviors have had a positive effect on profitability Caywood (2012).
There has been a more effective use of communication media choices where business processes have had an effective flow adding to higher added value. There has been an increase in learning of brand organisation Schultz and Kitchen (2000). Work rate and cohesion and creativity has improved while eliminating stress levels among workers in a firm which has resulted in more cost effective use of agencies and business associates which later produce better results.
Integrated Marketing Communication has led to saving of money as it avoids duplication of graphic which are used in advertisement of sales Percy (1997). Agencies use one channel for all communication and this reduces costs in the firm
It has consequences on firms which are found in marketing communication, performance and stakeholders. Most results achieved show how well Integrated Marketing Communication has worked effectively with regards to public relations, sales promotion, and advertisement and direct marketing Schultz and Kitchen (2000).
Integrated Marketing Communication has a relationship with marketing communication because different functions within the organisation are implemented during marketing campaigns. It has led to saving of costs relating to many facilities within a firm. This enables increased knowledge of brand preference and purchase intention among customers.
With the use of Integrated Marketing Communication it has positively improved operation efficiency and reduced battles within an organisation. Brand performance has also improved due to proper brand reputation, brand knowledge, improved attitudes and customer loyalty Tuckwell (2011).
There are however barriers to Integrated Marketing Communication due to communication with a wide range of organisations. They include rigid organisational structures, time scale conflicts and poor management skills. Some managers protect both their budgets and power base. Lack of experience in the firm about all the marketing communication disciplines is a major barrier to improvement in a firm.
An organisation can be able to implement Integrated Marketing Communication if it takes certain considerations. The size of an organisation maybe one of them .Larger organisation may find it difficult to implement Integrated Marketing Communication unlike smaller organisations who may have less complex brands.
Type of organisation maybe another factor to consider. Service oriented companies are better placed for integration than product based firms. Service firms have a direct link to the customer .Large service manufacturing firms can be able to integrate Integrated Marketing Communication than smaller firms.
The levels of competition and institutional environment have a major role to play in Integrated Marketing Communication implementation. A hostile environment with aggressive competition and technological innovations may lead to positive outcomes in the organisation Schultz (1994)
Competition pushes a firm to increase awareness and brand quality which results in better brand messages. Technology has made firms to push forward in brand awareness which creates a need for integration Waller (2012).
The relationship between Integrated Marketing Communication and the financial outcomes is very elaborate since it has improved on how price ranges are managed. It promotes the markets in terms of finance by making a variety of products in the market firms. Such products include products, ETFs equities and derivatives.
Integrated Marketing Communication helps in market firms where it provides regulatory and technological improvements since it deals with equity and derivative market products. It has an order entry control which prevents entry of erroneous orders which affect the financial market negatively. This requirement prevents anomalous traders in the market and builds customer faith in such products which turns into better profits Ferell (2011).
Market Integrity Rules have guidelines which are very clear and consistent based on cancellation of erroneous policies and systems. Integrated Marketing Communication supports such rules so as to make sure that products in the market are efficient.
Where there are complex financial products markets are supposed to cancel them after a mutual consent has been made Belch (2009). Integrated Marketing Communication focuses on technical resources which are in the markets. This process ensures executions of financial products are at their best.
Price is the value attached to a financial product which is a major factor when it comes to Integrated Marketing Communication. When a participant trades, there are not aware that some traders are at fault. It helps the market operator in controlling anomalous orders and prices which disrupt the market Percy (1997).
Market operator control improves the market integrity which helps participants to have a view of what constitutes best practice controls. Integrated Marketing Communication helps in controlling cancellations which is very beneficial in derivatives markets in reducing risk where market operator’s controls may fail for one reason or another Caywood (2012). With such public action of thresholds it allows participants to develop trading strategies.
Derivatives markets are controlled from Integrated Marketing Communication to ensure efficiency and transparency. This gives participants an opportunity to help in market transaction which results in price movement. Price movements expose markets to loss due to lack of consistency. Integrated Marketing Communication favors predictability on how erroneous trades can be handled. The market policy recognizes different needs of different products markets which are appropriate for cash equity. Greater commercial certainties are usually in line with the degree of flexibility to provide price formation and protects the interests of retail investors.
There are errors which happen on option and strike price. Such errors are cancelled with consent from both participants involved Ferrell (2011). High frequency trading firms have a high turnover and high capacity.
Market making strategies display relevant market platforms which seek to increase profits on quotes accepted by investors. Prices are adjusted by investors after massive public enquiries. With risk premiums, factors like trade fees and clearing fees are factors which are determined Smith (1999).There are arbitrage strategies which seek to profit from price from products such as futures, equities and ETFs.
Integrated Marketing Communication has an effect on market integrity where market participant’s benefit from competition among trading firms which may include retail investors Caywood (2012).Competition in the market place promotes efficiency. This leads to pricing modes and market data which promote efficiency and controls pricing imbalances in the market.
Integrated Marketing Communication has a major impact on quality of markets which has continued to contribute significantly to liquidity in financial products. There is a properly targeted relief from short selling restriction which mitigates uncertainty which secures the product.
When it comes to price investor protection infrastructure costs can upgrade placements on orders connecting to each exchange as well as best execution obligation. With reduced enforcement and compliance costs, a participant performance can enforce it to avoid uncertainty. Attention to cost is high which is monitored from a range of points by the market operator.
Price transparency increases higher trading volumes which are borne by investors as providers of liquidity including market makers. Placing orders in such market contributes to the important public good of price discovery and formation.
Market capitalization is defined as valuation of a firm based on its share price and the total number of available stocks. Firms calculate this by multiplying the current market price of the firms share with the outstanding shares. This helps customer and investors know the risks of brands which they have a share in.
Integrated Marketing Communication uses financial strategic Integration where data is used to drive such planning for example product offerings. Collection of customer preference towards a product is collected to establish preference. Integration is achieved among all stakeholders to establish value chain. This helps to achieve customer satisfaction together with attaining a firm’s objective Belch (2009).
With Integrated Marketing Communication developments such as return on customer profitability, value, customer migration rates and market share it establishes a platform for marketing investments which impacts on consumer minds, market performance and increases value for their shareholders.
Integrated Marketing Communication has had a positive impact on many organisations relationships with other organisations. It has improved customer attitudes, customer loyalty and retention. Brand performance also impacts on financial outcomes when it comes to returns in a firm.
Integrated Marketing Communication has positive relationship with market outcomes and financial outcomes which is enabled with customer loyalty, brand awareness and brand quality.
The Integrated Marketing Communication concept has many driving factors and effects. It is customer based to maintain customer loyalty. It has benefits in brand communication and marketing and on stakeholders and agency relationships.
Due to development in business more research is been done on Integrated Marketing Communication to be used as a tool for brand awareness. The boom of social media is a major boost especially with support from smart phones is driving more business to use the internet which has become a powerful tool for marketing. This creates a perfect platform for implementation of Integrated Marketing Communication since it enhances interaction in social networks. It therefore has a positive effect on market outcomes and financial outcomes because brands are of quality and this increases customer loyalty which promotes sales. Integrated Marketing Communication therefore should be a priority in many firms as it boosts sales in a firm and ensures customer loyalty.
Market outcomes are based on customer loyalty to a brand which depends on advertisement of a product, promotion and brand awareness in the market. Customer satisfaction is key and is established after information has been collected to determine which brands are more preferable.
Integrated Marketing Communication is a very important aspect in any firm as it helps to coordinate other agencies that interact with the firm in promoting certain brands. This helps to access price fluctuations and what the customers want. Firms can customize on products so as to satisfy customer needs. Integrated Marketing Communication reduces major costs and therefore promotes positive financial outcomes in terms of increased revenue. With effective use of Integrated Marketing Communication firms have a better chance of increasing returns and creating an efficient platform for their business.
It has revolutionized the market industry where customers have more information and easier accessibility to firms. This creates an easier way of doing business and more is achieved. Customers have been able to set their own prices on products they require. Integrated Marketing Communication is a better tool which should be used in the market place.
References
Belch, G. E. (2009). Advertising and promotion: an Integrated Marketing Communications perspective. Sydney, McGraw-Hill Australia.
Belch, G. E., & Belch, M. A. (2012). Advertising and promotion: an Integrated Marketing Communications perspective. New York, McGraw-Hill.
Caywood, C. L. (2012). The handbook of strategic public relations and integrated communications. Maidenhead, McGraw-Hill Professional.
Chitty, W. (2011). Integrated Marketing Communication. South Melbourne, Vic, Cengage Learning.
Ferrell, O. C., & Hartline, M. D. (2011). Marketing strategy. Australia, South-Western Cengage Learning.
Kotler, P., Pfoertsch, W., & MICHI, I. (2006). B2B brand management. Berlin, Springer.
Ouwersloot, H., & Duncan, T. (2008). Integrated Marketing Communications. London, McGraw-Hill Education (UK) Ltd.
Percy, L. (1997). Strategies for implementing Integrated Marketing Communications. Chicago, Ill, American Marketing Association.
Saxena, R. (2009). Marketing management. New Delhi, Tata McGraw-Hill.
Schultz, D. E., & Kitchen, P. J. (2000). Communicating globally an integrated marketing approach. Lincolnwood, Chicago, Ill, NTC Business Books.
Schultz, D. E., Tannenbaum, S. I., & Lauterborn, R. F. (1994). The new marketing paradigm. Lincolnwood, Ill., USA, NTC Business Books.
Shin, K.-Y. (2013). The executor of Integrated Marketing Communications strategy: Marcom manager’s working model. Berlin, Springer.
Smith, P. R., Pulford, A., & Berry, C. (1999). Strategic marketing communications: new ways to build and integrate communications. London, Kogan Page.
Tuckwell, K. J. (2011). Integrated Marketing Communications. Toronto, Pearson Prentice Hall.
Waller, D. (2012). Developing your Integrated Marketing Communication plan. North Ryde, N.S.W., McGraw-Hill.
A great write on global branding, obviously not everything has been covered but this is still an amazing project to post, especially for free. I do have a marketing assignment coming up shortly so I will use some of the references appropriately. Thanks, James
Hi, thanks for another positive reply. Can you ensure you reference this post and any references properly if you undertake a similar project. Thanks, Steve