Marketing

he shift to Individualized Relationship Marketing (IRM) is one of the key preliminary findings from the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Council’s new thought leadership initiative, “Precision Promotion: Timely, Targeted and Trackable” sponsored by the InfoPrint Solutions Company, a joint venture between IBM and Ricoh. Using more personalized, relevant and precise customer communication is a key strategy marketers intend to leverage to achieve greater revenue and profitability from existing customers.

Fewer product differences, a barrage of repetitious brand promises, and a marketplace “fish bowl” are fast making the customer “experience” the next frontier where the battle for the hearts, minds, and wallets of customers will be fought.

When marketers create campaigns targeted to a particular group of consumers, it is essential to understand the reference group(s) one uses for their consumer purchases. In the case of the Hispanic market, ascertaining the reference group used for various products can be difficult for “U.S. Hispanics who maintain cultural ties, but also live within the context of the U.S. mainstream culture”.

When making a purchasing decision, a person’s cultural identity decides the outcome of the choice. A person can have multiple cultural identities, depending on the connections they have with people. Cultural identity is attained through reference groups and individuals whom they relate with, having certain traits in common.

The Federal Trade Commission testified before two subcommittees of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee about the results of an FTC study released in July on food marketing to children and adolescents.

This paper discusses development of brand names for materials, including textiles, building products, coating and binding substances, and other functional materials. The discussion is illustrated with numerous brand names. Famous brand names and generic names for materials are analyzed to show how they were constructed. Also discussed are important trademark issues for materials, including genericide, semantic positioning, and ingredient/component names.

This white paper is designed to outline a process for developing a digital strategy or “roadmap” for a brand. The goal is to combat the tendency for some marketers to approach digital from an execution-centric perspective. The following is a starting point for creating a more strategically driven digital planning process.

Despite this past week, the year 2008, in general, has been an excellent one for developing nations. China, Brazil, Russia, India and other historically troubled economies continue to enjoy burgeoning middle and upper classes that are spending money on purchases they could not afford in the past.

In contrast, this has not been a good year for developed nations. The United States, and now every country tied to America’s radioactive financial service industry, is suffering because deluded borrowers and irresponsible lenders were circulating money they never actually had.

Chief Marketing Officers at many of the biggest brands in the nation are seeing a major shift in the marketing landscape. Almost two-thirds (63%) of the 175 marketing executives surveyed see an increase in their spending on interactive/digital marketing while 59% report a decrease in traditional marketing spend.

AcuPOLL has developed a white paper that details the methodology further, showcasing benefits to brand executives who are often under increased pressure to fast track the best ideas and get them to market.