Integrated Marketing Communications and Promotional Mix

Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC)

  • IMC is a theory emphasizing that the promotional mix should not be viewed in isolation.
  • Promotional activities like advertising and sales promotions are not mutually exclusive.
  • The goal is to optimize the product promotion based on the company's position and product life cycle.

Advertising

  • Involves a cost per thousand views, which is a metric for ad pricing.
  • Marketing and finance departments often have different perspectives on advertising.
  • Audience selection is important; specific audiences require different media types.

Promotional Mix

  • Maximizing the use of all functions is essential to optimize the money spent on promotion.

Practical Example: Toothbrush Producer

  • How to attract customers to your toothbrush over competitors like AquaFresh.
  • Some brands, like Louis Vuitton and Lamborghini, do targeted promotions despite their established status.

Price Sensitivity

  • Price-sensitive buyers may be attracted to promotions like "two-in-one" specials.

Public Relations

  • Public relations activities promote the brand without direct company involvement.

Example: Johnny Walker

  • Replaced the iconic man on the bottle with a woman.
  • Created 250,000 bottles.
  • Launched the initiative as part of a women empowerment campaign.
  • The campaign was successful, with all bottles selling quickly and receiving positive feedback.