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LEARNING OBJECTIVES
LO 13-2 Explain the hierarchy of effects (AIDA) model and its usefulness to promotional
strategy.
LO 13-4 Identify the key types of social media and their benefits to marketers in
communicating value to customers.
CHAPTER OUTLINE
I. ESSENTIALS OF PROMOTION
A. The Marketing Manager’s Role in Promotional
Strategy
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B. Push and Pull Strategies
C. Internal Marketing
II. HIERARCHY OF EFFECTS (AIDA) MODEL
A. Attention
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D. Action
III. THE ROLE OF DIGITAL MARKETING IN
COMMUNICATING VALUE
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A. Digital Advertising
i. Display Ads
ii. Search Ads
iii. Social Network Ads
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B. E-Mail
C. Organizational Website
i. Dimensions of Website Interface
c. Community
d. Customization
e. Communication
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F. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
G. Mobile Marketing
i. Ads and Website Experiences Designed for
Mobile Devices
iv. Branded Mobile Apps and In-App Based Ads
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IV. MANAGING SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING: NOW
THE CUSTOMER IS INVOLVED IN THE DIALOGUE
A. Types of Social Media
i. Social Networks
a. Facebook
b. Twitter
c. Snapchat
d. LinkedIn
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ii. Viral Marketing
iii. Product and Service Review Sites
iv. Online Brand Communities
B. Assessing the Value of Social Media
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V. SUMMARY
KEY TERMS
promotion Various forms of communication to inform, persuade, or remind.
promotion mix The elements of promotion, including advertising, sales promotion, public
relations (PR), personal selling, direct marketing, and interactive marketing.
public relations (PR) Systematic approach to influencing attitudes, opinions, and behaviors of
customers and others.
personal selling A two-way communication process between salesperson and buyer with the
goal of securing, building, and maintaining long-term relationships with profitable customers.
promotion mix strategies Decisions about which combination of elements in the promotion mix
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AIDA model A model designed to illustrate the hierarchy of effects in the context of customer
response to marketing communications. It states that the effects build in this order: Attention (or
Awareness), Interest, Desire, and Action.
cost per click Digital advertising pricing model in which the marketing manager pays a set
amount each time a customer clicks on a link.
owned media Marketing communication channels that the marketer’s organization has complete
control over.
earned media Digital marketing situation in which either a customer or a commercial entity
(such as a news media organization) chooses to act as a marketing communication channel for
the dissemination of information associated with the marketer’s organization at no cost.
digital advertising The creation and execution of an advertisement via any form of digital
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landing page A distinct type of page on an organization’s website designed for the sole purpose
of getting a customer to take an action that increases the expected value of the customer to the
geolocation marketing The use of geographic data to drive marketing messaging and other
marketing decisions.
branded mobile apps Mobil apps that display a brand’s name and logo prominently throughout
the various screens and features within the app.
in-app ads Ads displayed within apps created and controlled by companies other than the
advertiser (e.g., mobile game apps, social media apps, and nonbranded productivity apps).
social networks Groups of people connected through technology who join together based on
friendships, mutual interest, or some other characteristics.
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
1. This chapter discusses the role of the marketing manager in promotional strategy (Exhibit
13.3 and accompanying discussion). The trend today in both large and small firms is for
much of the promotion function to be outsourced.
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a. Comment on this outsourcing trend. What are the major reasons for the trend? What are
the pros and cons? What is your personal view about outsourcing all or part of
promotion?
As marketing itself becomes more strategic within organizations, more and more of the
tactical or programmatic aspects of marketing that were formerly handled in-house will
b. Assume you are a marketing manager for a firm that outsources promotion to a creative
agency. In what ways does this arrangement impact your job? In particular, concentrate
on how it impacts your marketing planning (being mindful that promotion planning is a
key element of marketing planning). How would you interact with the agency as a
manager representing your firm (assume you have responsibility for the agency
relationship with your company)? That is, what are the key things you should do to
ensure a productive relationship?
The importance of the marketing manager role is heightened, as that individual will be
the front line person in a firm that is charged with managing all aspects of the outsourced
2. Consider a major purchase you have made recently. Review the AIDA model (Exhibits 13.7
and 13.8) and accompanying discussion.
a. Think back on the process that led up to your purchase and reconstruct the types of
promotion that you experienced during each stage of the AIDA model. Which of the
promotional forms was most effective in your situation, and why?
b. As you reconstruct this purchase experience and the promotional messages you received
during it, what other promotion mix elements that you did not experience at the time
might have been effective in convincing you to make the purchase? At what stage of the
AIDA model would they have been helpful, and in what ways do you believe they might
have impacted your decision process?
If target customers are essentially unaware of an offering, most of the investment in
communication must be in raising awareness and gaining their attention.
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Moving from interest to desire means that a customer has to move past a need and begin
to really want the product. Promotion feeds desire through strong persuasive
communication.
3. Select a B2C company that you are familiar with, along with a product sold by that company.
Identify a particular consumer target market. Imagine you have been tasked with developing
a paid media strategy for the related product to that target.
1. Pick two of the digital ad options listed in the chapter. Explain the concept for each of
the two digital ads (they can be the same or different) and identify the content (text,
imagery, video, and other elements) of each digital ad and explain why the related
concept and content will be an effective match for communicating to your selected
consumer segment. In doing so, be sure to explain how you would use the capabilities
associated with each chosen ad option to effectively target the associated consumer
segment.
Some students will need a definition of an “ad concept”. Sometimes referred to as
“the big idea” Ad executive John O’Toole describes it as:
2. For each of the two selected digital ad options, specify the pricing model that you
believe is most appropriate for the type of ad (that is, cost-per-impression or cost-per-
click). If the pricing models discussed in the chapter do not seem to be appropriate for
the ad option selected, then explain why not and propose an alternative pricing model
(that is, what do you suggest is more appropriate in terms of compensation between
the advertiser and the communication channel).
With cost per impression, the marketing manager pays a set amount each time a
customer is exposed to the promotion.
Under the cost per click model, the marketing manager pays a set amount each time a
customer clicks on a link.
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4. Consider the concept of a landing page and its use in assisting the completion of specific
desirable actions as well as its relationship with other forms of digital marketing
communication. Identify one landing page associated with a display ad as well as one landing
page associated with a search ad where the user is required to submit some information on
the landing page. In your response, make sure to identify the company that each landing page
is associated with.
From a technical standpoint, a landing page is any page on a website that a user is directed
to by clicking on a hyperlink. However, in the context of digital marketing, a landing page is
a. What makes the ad tied to each landing page effective or ineffective in motivating an
individual to click on it?
Some ads will be very direct in telling viewers to click on a box to enter info so that
they can be contacted. Others ads will imply that the information wanted will be
b. Do the ad and the landing page seem well integrated together? If yes, what visual,
textual, and other elements support the connection between the ad and the related
landing page?
c. Put yourself in the shoes of someone who has a legitimate need for the products or
services offered by the organization responsible for each ad and associated landing
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page. Does the landing page do an effective job of motivating the user to fill out the
related form? Are there any particular aspects of the page that serve as potential
motivators or detractors for completing the form?
5. Select a specific branded product associated with a company and assume you are the
marketing manager in charge of mobile marketing strategy for the product.
a. Come up with a simple concept for a branded mobile app and explain how the
specific purpose of the app (or functionality provided by it) fits thematically with
your branded product and how it will help create value for customers.
Branded mobile apps display the brand’s name and logo prominently throughout the
various screens and features within the app. These apps, which are a type of owned
b. Identify a specific mobile app or game (not associated with the brand) that would be a
good fit for the distribution of in-app ads. Explain what characteristics of the app
make it a good fit based on what is known (or assumed) about your branded product’s
target market.
These “inapp” ads offer opportunities for marketing managers to communicate with
customers through ads that feature a mix of text, image, and video elements.
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6. You are the marketing manager for the Tesla Model 3 and have been tasked with developing
an effective social media strategy. Review the discussion of social media and consider the
following:
a. Develop a concept for an online brand community for Tesla Model 3 enthusiasts.
Outline the specific features that the brand community will have as well as the value
of the specific features to the community members and to Tesla.
Brand communities allow customers and prospects to engage in meaningful
interaction about the product and related interests. Students should consider
b. Identify specific social networking platforms that you would use in the development
of a social media strategy for Tesla, explain the reasons why you would use each of
the selected platforms, identify the specific ways that you would use each one, and
list the specific outcomes that you would use to determine the effectiveness of your
overall social media strategy across those platforms.
Tesla founder Elon Musk is a charismatic figure that is frequently making news,
making Twitter a logical choice. Facebook offers a logical “meeting place” for the
MANAGEMENT DECISION CASE:
How Oreo Uses Social Media to Market Milk’s Favorite Cookie
This case should help convince students that virtually any product (certainly any consumer
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can use social media: advertising, customer feedback, consumer research, handling complaints,
product suggestions, and sales promotion (coupons). Another way to open the discussion of this
case would be a poll in class to validate findings reported in the case regarding the best way to
eat Oreos.
Questions for Consideration
1. How should Oreo’s success in social engagement be evaluated? What metrics would be most
useful? Consider both the usage-specific metrics that a social media provider might supply
as well as outcome-based measures. What are the pros and cons of relying on one of these
types of measures vs. the other?
Usage-specific metrics may be provided by the social media tools, by consultants or ad
agencies, or developed in-house. Facebook provides a set of metrics including: “people
talking about this”, organic reach, engagement, influence, and share of voice.
4
These
2. While growing their social media presence, Oreo continues to advertise in traditional media.
Why is it important to ensure that messages are consistent among platforms? What specific
tactics could be used to ensure this consistency?
Failure to coordinate marketing communications is at least a missed opportunity and at
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A TV ad can include a link to the company website. A YouTube video can end with a tagline,
“Follow us On Twitter.”
Failure to coordinate messaging can result in messages that are in conflict in either
information or tone, which can be confusing to customers. The solution to ensuring
coordination involves organizational structure, policy and basic communications. Each
3. Although most of Oreo’s social media efforts are directed towards adults, many Oreo lovers
are children. To what degree should Oreo also have a focus on marketing directly to
children? What are the risks and ethical considerations of such an approach? Are there
approaches to marketing Oreos to children that would stand up to ethical scrutiny? (Hint:
Among other issues, consider the trend toward childhood obesity.)
Marketing to children (for any product) must be done with care for both ethical and legal
reasons. Oreo was the #2 kids brand in 2016 and #1 in 2015.
5
Their success has of course
led to criticism that they are contributing to the serious problem of childhood obesity. Years
before the extent of the obesity problem was understood, Oreo’s parent Nabisco aggressively
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SUGGESTED VIDEO
Social/Mobile/Online: SBC (4:01 minutes)
Description: Specialized Bicycle Components, Inc. (SBC) caters to the cycling enthusiast. The
company uses social media in a variety of ways, seeking to engage riders interested in various
aspects of biking. This video explains SBC’s philosophy for social media use, and offers several
examples.
1. SBC is effectively using social media to strengthen their brand community, but has made a
conscious decision not to offer their bicycles via their websites or other digital channels. Do
you agree with this strategy? Why or why not?
Student answers will vary.
Quality bicycles are being successfully sold over the internet (see
1
John O’Toole, (1985) The Trouble with Advertising, 2nd ed. New York: Random House, p. 131, quoted in George
E. Belch & Michael A. Belch (2018) Advertising & Promotion: An Integrated Marketing Communications
Perspective, 11th Ed, New York, McGraw-Hill Education.