9.3 The promotional mix
Any particular promotion mix will understandably depend on, among other things, the target market, the type of product, what profit margin we seek and what our competitors are doing.
Therefore, there is no single correct combination of methods used to promote every product or service. A number of factors do however help to decide an appropriate mix for each, for example:
- budget factors: financial limitations of the marketer
- market factors: what the market share is, how much competitive activity, segment of the market
- product factors: the way the product is bought, consumed, perceived, product life-cycle.
The next reading addresses the detail of the promotion mix, developing a budget, and implementing elements of the mix. Please turn to it now.
In your text
Kotler et al. (2004) Chapter 16, pp. 620-626 'Setting the IMC budget and mix'.
Activity 9.1
Outline the difference between designing a promotional mix for a consumer product such as fashion jeans and designing the promotional mix for an industrial service such as port services.