Determinants of SME International Marketing Communications

ABSTRACT

This research article discusses the factors affecting international marketing communications in small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs). International commitment and brand adaptation in overseas markets were found significantly influencing the effectiveness of international marketing communications. The results suggest that international marketers need to have resources input, such as human and financial, to drive international marketing communications. Brand adaptation also needs to be performed in order to achieve a better international marketing communications. There are two factors affecting international marketing communications suggesting international marketers of SMEs need to be concerned with both internal resource and external factors in international ventures.     

Adaptation of Marketing Mix Elements in International Markets

ABSTRACT

This research identifies the extent to which individual marketing mix elements are adapted for international markets and how company, industry, and market factors influence the level of adaptation. The study is based on a survey of executive-level managers in U.S.-based companies that market products internationally. The survey obtained information on the extent of adaptation across the marketing mix elements and on company, industry, and market factors that influence this process. The results indicate that adaptation is greatest for distribution, followed by price, promotion, and product. Product adaptation is influenced by market factors, price adaptation is influenced by market and industry factors, promotion adaptation is influenced by market factors, and distribution adaptation is influenced by company factors. The results of the research can be used to both understand and manage the extent of adaptation necessary for products in international markets.     

整合营销传播理论在我国休闲业中的应用研究

由于休闲产业极易受其消费者无形的不可量化的因素的影响,当前休闲产业中所使用4Ps和4Cs等传统营销理论已难以适应休闲业急速发展的需求。本文借用整合营销传播理论的理念,从休闲产品合理定位、口径一致的品牌形象塑造,休闲产业社会营销等方面研究了休闲业整合营销传播策略的实施。     

Using Means-End Analysis to Test Integrated Marketing Communications Effects

This article describes a study testing key aspects of the Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) concept, employing means-end analytical techniques. Although the hypothesized effects were not observed, the study is timely and ground-breaking because it contributes a new empirical approach to the IMC body of literature. It may also serve as a catalyst for additional research in the field.     

Integrated Marketing Communications and Market Planning

Abstract

This article links the integrated marketing communications (IMC) concept to the planning process in marketing. Following the current conceptualizations as a combination of various marketing communications tools, IMC strategy is applied to an established strategic market planning model named the Boston Consulting Group (BCG)'s growth-share matrix. Advertising, public relations, sales promotion, and direct marketing are defined as crucial elements for the core scheme. Alternative strategies for brands in different stages are identified from the product portfolio analysis. The view may also be thought of as the ongoing process of building and maintaining brand equity for consumers in the long-term period. Conceptual discussions are expected to help marketers think more strategically as they plan IMC programs for their products or services.     

A Pilot Study Testing Aspects of the Integrated Marketing Communications Concept

This article describes a pilot study testing some aspects of the integrated marketing communications concept. The study is timely and relevant to the field because it employs an empirical approach to addressing the heated controversy over the validity of the integrated marketing communications concept. This controversy is based upon doubt about the theoretical basis for integrated marketing communications and the lack of empirical research in the field identified in the integrated marketing communications literature. In an effort to address the conceptual validity controversy directly, the study adopted the first use of an experimental approach in the integrated marketing communications field. The results of the experiment suggest that messages employing some of the key aspects of an integrated marketing communications strategy (i.e. messages with a common theme that are executed across multiple media in a visually consistent manner) may prompt a stronger attitude towards the brand level than the same messages employing a more traditional strategy (executions with less visual consistency), although other dependent measures were not similarly impacted upon. The study is limited in its scope, but is intended to stimulate more empirical research in the integrated marketing communications field.     

新产品全程营销概论

全程营销强调将市场营销理念贯穿于新产品构思、研发、市场化的全过程。为满足顾客需求,实现公司利益和长远发展目标,应弄清新产品全程营销的内涵,详细分析其全生命周期营销和整合营销的特点,以此为新产品开发管理提供新的思路和方法。     

Allocating a Promotion Budget between Advertising and Sales Contest Prizes: An Integrated Marketing Communications Perspective

This paper develops and analyzes a normative model for allocating a fixed, short-term promotion budget between product advertising and prizes of a rank-order sales contest for a homogeneous sales force when sales are driven by both personal selling effort and advertising. The model provides insights into how the optimal budget allocations vary with the synergy between advertising and selling effort, sales force size, salesperson risk-tolerance, perceived cost of effort, selling effectiveness and sales response uncertainty. The analysis highlights the need for and value of close coordination between marketing and sales management in designing a promotion program involving both advertising and sales force incentives.     

Hospital Marketing and Communications Via Social Media

Social media usage by health care organizations has increased dramatically. Findings from this research show that 95% of the top ranked hospitals use social media. The purpose of this study is to examine whether social media usage varies according to size of hospital and types of services provided. Since social media platforms appeal to different groups of people, this prompts the question of whether certain platforms are more appealing to people who partake in different health services. Findings reveal differences in social media usage depending on the services provided by a hospital.     

An IMC Process Framework for a Communications-Based Services Marketing Model

Integrated marketing communications (IMC) has been presented and examined; and, it has been challenged recently by some researchers questioning its relevance. However, some practitioners and academics still embrace its use. Presented through a case study, this article complements and extends the work of others by showing the importance of attribute identification through comprehensive research. It suggests that the message may be the starting place for measurement of IMC. Senior managers should consider this study's proposed IMC process framework where the product focus or corporate mission statement is the first step for IMC brand message positioning to help improve both short-term and long-term sales and profits.     

Marketing and public relations: the relationship revisited

This paper reviews the debate within both the marketing and public relations literatures concerning the relationship between the disciplines of marketing and public relations. The paper considers the arguments advanced in the marketing literature, in particular, for a growing convergence between these two disciplines and examines the recent emergence of the concept of'marketing public relations'. Here the paper takes as one starting point an article which identified a number of possible schematic representations of the relationship between the marketing and public relations functions and argues the case for a model of increasing convergence between them.The paper goes on to consider the more recent development of ‘marketing public relations', examining the arguments advanced. The paper argues that from a public relations perspective, the concept of marketing public relations can be seen as an attempt by marketers to ‘hijack’ public relations, incorporating it as an extra element within the promotional mix in order to inform, persuade or remind existing and prospective customers of product or company benefits. It is argued that what some marketers have termed marketing public relations may be no more than the publicity element of public relations practice under a new guise — one perhaps more acceptable than publicity in the societally orientated firms of today. The paper explores two distinct schools of thought — re-examining the relationship between marketing and public relations from both perspectives. The paper suggests that the uneasy symbiosis between these two functions in practice, reflects to a large degree the ambiguity surrounding the relationship between these concepts within much of the literature.     

浅论差异化营销策略在保险产品创新中的运用

目前我国保险产品存在的主要问题是忽视市场定位、产品同构,差异化程度低。差异化营销策略是保险企业实现产品创新的主要策略之一。运用差异化营销策略对保险产品进行创新,才能真正满足保险消费的个性化需求,并从根本上提高保险企业的市场竞争力。     

Character Portrayal: Examining Gender Roles in Television Commercials Targeted at Children in India and the United States

ABSTRACT

Children's market has been growing steadily not only in the United States but also globally. Advertisers have been targeting this segment heavily in recent years. Given the impact of this segment having increased rapidly in recent years, it is imperative for the advertisers to understand and develop effective advertising messages to reach this segment successfully. One of the essential components of advertisement content includes decisions regarding the gender portrayal of the characters. This study examines the depiction of self-presentation behaviors of the characters in commercials shown during the times and on the channels that children watch in India and the United States. The findings indicate interesting similarities and differences between the two countries. Managerial implications and future research directions are offered based on the findings.     

论农产品流通效率的分析框架

本文认为,流通效率是一个总括性、复合多维的概念。农产品流通效率是整个农产品流通过程中各种产出与投入的直接或间接比较,是农产品流通领域中每个环节主体和整体的效率总称。由立场指标、类型指标和具体指标构成的农产品流通效率评价指标体系确定了农产品流通效率分析框架的基础,在此基础上,本文探索性地构建了以农产品流通主体为中心,分别从农产品流通模式、流通结构、流通技术、流通网络布局和流通制度等角度对农产品流通效率进行较为全面综合分析的整体框架。     

Culture and International Marketing: A Sub-Saharan African Context

ABSTRACT

The authors review and extend the culture literature in international marketing by discussing some of the cultural underpinnings pertaining to the sub-Saharan African context. With the use of inductive reasoning, the authors offer several key normative suggestions for international marketing practices. Marketers should focus not only on the end user but also on those who significantly influence the final decision. Sub-Saharan African culture is characterized by long, drawn-out negotiation processes and by contracts and overall sales targets that likely will be dissimilar to those from countries with a linear view of time. Age is relevant when selecting people for negotiation assignments and hiring sales and managerial staff. Because of the importance of “respect,” messages should focus on an individual's need for belongingness rather than on the individual striving for achievement. The authors advocate that advertising appeals should focus on the society and on the individual as a member of the society and not on individual self-enhancement. Context and nonverbal communications are important in personal selling. It is better to establish social trust first in negotiations, personal selling, and buyer–seller interaction.     

Entrepreneurial Orientation,Dynamic Capabilities and International Performance

In order to be able to seize the opportunities that a dynamic operating environment opens up, entrepreneurial firms have to reconfigure their existing asset base and processes. This study explores the effect of an entrepreneurial orientation and a firm's reconfiguring capabilities on international performance by using survey data from 217 manufacturing and service organizations. Our findings indicate that a firm's entrepreneurial orientation and reconfiguring capabilities have an effect on its international performance and provide empirical support for the dynamic capability view of the firm. Entrepreneurial behavior combined with organizational reconfiguring capabilities constitutes a potential source of competitive advantage.     

从国际营销视角探讨中国外贸出口型企业发展

文章通过国际贸易与国际营销的异同,指出中国外贸型企业应该转变传统的、被动的国际贸易观念,树立更富有主动性、创造性的国际营销观念;通过从产品导向转变为顾客需求导向、从价格导向转变为顾客成本导向、从通路导向转变为顾客便利导向以及从促销导向转变为与顾客沟通导向四个具体的观念转变,从而走出国际经济贸易分工中＂微笑曲线＂的最低点,使众多外贸出口型企业成为强大国际贸易实体.     

Marketing Capabilities and Firm Performance: A Hierarchical Model

The resource based theory of the firm (RBV) is briefly reviewed together with its recent application in the marketing literature. Significant contributions by Webster (1992) and Day (1994) are identified and an integration of the two presented as a hierarchical model of marketing capabilities. Three research propositions concerning the relationships between marketing capabilities and performance are developed and tested empirically in the transition economies of central and eastern Europe. In line with expectations from the theory of the RBV, higher order marketing capabilities are seen to be more important than operational capabilities in explaining superior competitive performance. The overall model is shown to be a helpful conceptualization of marketing capabilities and a number of issues for further research are identified.     

论环境标志制度影响下的国际贸易与国际市场营销

环境标志制度为越来越多的国家接受和采用 ,对国际贸易和国际市场营销产生了重大影响。一般的研究将这两个紧密联系的经济活动分别加以讨论 ,难免有失偏颇。本文则将国际贸易与国际市场营销结合起来 ,研究环境标志制度对二者的共同影响。