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MARKETING RESEARCH AND MARKETING�MANAGEMENT�(20CB406)

Department: CSBS�Batch/Year: II YEAR / IV SEM�Created by:Dr.S.D. Uma Mageswari�Date: 07.03.2022�

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Table of Contents

Activity based learning

Activity

Topic

Outcome

CASE ANALYSIS

MARKETING AND SELLING DIFFERENCE

Students will understand the difference between marketing and selling

MARKETING ROLE PLAY

DIFFERENT MARKETING TECHNIQUES

Students will be able to create and devise new marketing techniques

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COURSE OUTCOMES

Upon completion of the course, the students will be able to:

  • CO1: Understand the marketing concepts and its evolution
  • CO2: Analyze the market based on segmentation, targeting and positioning
  • CO3: Leverage marketing concepts for decision making on product, price, promotion mix and distribution
  • CO4: Apply the concepts of market research and analyse data using statistical tools
  • CO5: Apply internet marketing strategies for businesses

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UNIT I INTRODUCTION 9

  • Marketing Concepts and Applications: Introduction to Marketing & Core Concepts, Marketing of Services, Importance of marketing in service sector. Marketing Planning & Environment: Elements of Marketing Mix, analyzing needs & trends in Environment - Macro, Economic, Political, Technical & Social Understanding the consumer: Determinants of consumer behavior, Factors influencing consumer behavior

UNIT II MARKET SEGMENTATION AND PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT 9

  • Market Segmentation: Meaning & Concept, Basis of segmentation, selection of segments, Market Segmentation strategies, Target Marketing, Product Positioning Product Management: Product Life cycle concept, New Product development & strategy, Stages in New Product development, Product decision and strategies, Branding & packaging

UNIT III PRICING, PROMOTION AND DISTRIBUTION STRATEGY 9

  • Pricing, Promotion and Distribution Strategy: Policies & Practices – Pricing Methods & Price determination Policies. Marketing Communication – The promotion mix, Advertising & Publicity, 5 M’s of Advertising Management. Marketing Channels, Retailing, Marketing Communication, Advertising.

UNIT IV MARKETING RESEARCH 9

  • Marketing Research: Introduction, Type of Market Research, Scope, Objectives & Limitations Marketing Research Techniques, Survey Questionnaire design & drafting, Pricing Research, Media Research, Qualitative Research Data Analysis: Use of various statistical tools – Descriptive & Inference Statistics, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Multivariate Analysis - Discriminant Analysis, Cluster Analysis, Segmenting and Positioning, Factor Analysis

UNIT V INTERNET MARKETING 9

  • Internet Marketing: Introduction to Internet Marketing. Mapping fundamental concepts of Marketing (7Ps, STP); Strategy and Planning for Internet Marketing Business to Business Marketing: Fundamental of business markets. Organizational buying process. Business buyer needs. Market and sales potential. Product in business markets. Price in business markets. Place in business markets. Promotion in business markets. Relationship, networks and customer relationship management. Business to Business marketing strategy.

20CB406

MARKETING RESEARCH AND

MARKETING MANAGEMENT

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 Curriculum And Syllabus

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  • TEXT BOOKS:
  • Marketing Management (Analysis, Planning, Implementation & Control) – Philip Kotler
  • Fundamentals of Marketing – William J. Stanton & Others
  • Marketing Management – V.S. Ramaswamy and S. Namakumari
  • Marketing Research – Rajendra Nargundkar
  • Market Research – G.C. Beri
  • Market Research, Concepts, & Cases – Cooper Schindler
  •  
  • REFERENCES:
  • Marketing Management – Rajan Saxena
  • Marketing Management – S.A. Sherlekar
  • Service Marketing – S.M. Zha
  • Journals – The IUP Journal of Marketing Management, Harvard Business Review
  • Research for Marketing Decisions by Paul Green, Donald, Tull
  • Business Statistics, A First Course, David M Levine at al, Pearson Publication

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UNIT II MARKET SEGMENTATION AND PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT 9

  • Market Segmentation: Meaning & Concept, Basis of segmentation, selection of segments, Market Segmentation strategies, Target Marketing, Product Positioning Product Management: Product Life cycle concept, New Product development & strategy, Stages in New Product development, Product decision and strategies, Branding & packaging

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The segmentation, targeting, positioning (STP) marketing model

the STP marketing model (Segmentation, Targeting, Positioning) is a familiar strategic approach in modern marketing. It is one of the most commonly applied marketing models in practice, with marketing leaders crediting it for efficient, streamlined communications practice.

STP marketing focuses on commercial effectiveness, selecting the most valuable segments for a business and then developing a marketing mix and product positioning strategy for each segment.

Moreover, segmentation, targeting, and positioning is an audience-focused rather than product-focused approach to marketing communications which helps deliver more relevant messages to commercially appealing audiences.

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Market Segmentation?

Market segmentation is the process of creating customer groups based on common behavioral and consumption patterns. In fact, demographic, psychographic,

behavioral, and geographic similarities cluster customers. Specifically, these four segments break into subcategories to optimize marketing strategy.

Relationship between Market Segmentation, Target Marketing and Positioning

Market segmentation, target marketing and positioning is a chain of events that

result in a well-rounded marketing strategy. All three rely on each other to perform a perfect marketing masterstroke. Marketing segmentation categorizes a customer base according to their interests. This helps marketers target potential customers with relevant products. This, in turn, optimizes their marketing strategy.

Once marketers have the relevant data on customers and their requirements, they can position a product in a way that ticks all the boxes for the user. This way, marketers can position a product or a service effectively and improve conversion rates on their leads.

Benefits of Market Segmentation

The importance of market segmentation is that it makes it easier to focus marketing efforts and resources on reaching the most valuable audiences and achieving business goals.

Market segmentation allows you to get to know your customers, identify what is needed in your market segment, and determine how you can best meet those needs with your product or service. This helps you design and execute better marketing strategies from top to bottom.

1. Create stronger marketing messages

Knowing customers facilitate the development of stronger marketing messages. Generic and vague language can be avoided. Instead, direct messaging that speaks to the needs, wants, and unique characteristics of the target audience can be used.

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  1. Identify the most effective marketing tactics

With dozens of marketing tactics available, it can be difficult to know what will attract the ideal audience. It helps in devising the best suitable marketing strategies that will work best.

  1. Design hyper-targeted ads

On digital ad services, audiences by their age, location, purchasing habits, interests etc may be targeted. Market segmentation will define the audience, and help in creating more effective, targeted digital ad campaigns.

  1. Attract (and convert) quality leads

When the marketing messages are clear, direct, and targeted they attract the

right people. Ideal prospects may be defined and are more likely to convert potential customers into buyers.

  1. Differentiate your brand from competitors

Being more specific about the value propositions and messaging also allows the business to stand out from competitors. Instead of blending in with other brands, brands can be differentiated by focusing on specific customer needs and characteristics.

  1. Build deeper customer affinity

When the customers’ want and need are known, offerings that uniquely serve the audience can be delivered and communicated. This distinct value and messaging leads to stronger bonds between brands and customers and creates lasting brand affinity.

  1. Identify niche market opportunities

Niche marketing is the process of identifying segments of industries and verticals that have a large audience that can be served in new ways.

  1. Stay focused

Targeting in marketing keeps the messaging and marketing objectives on track. It helps in the identification of new marketing opportunities and avoid distractions that will lead you away from your target market.

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Market Segmentation Process

  1. Target Audience / Market and The Size of The Market

Identifying the market and the target audience is the foundation for any marketing campaign. It helps the marketers study the type of consumers included in the target audience section and set expectations according to their needs. It helps organize and plan their marketing strategies as per the size of the target audience’s market and taste.

  1. Set Expectations for the Targeted Audience

Once the target audience and size of the targeted audience are identified, it is necessary to review the needs and requirements of the consumers to meet the demands and expectations of the consumers.

  1. Distinguish the Categories and The Subcategories of Products

Based on the demographic factors of classification of the consumers, it is necessary

for the marketers to subcategorize the products so that the products fit in the requirements for different age groups, different gender and so on.

  1. Study or Research the Needs and Behavior of the Targeted Consumers The marketing team must review the needs and preferences of the consumers from each section of society. It will also be easy to come up with a generic marketing strategy if the requirements of the consumers are studied and reviewed carefully.

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5. Strategize the Marketing Campaign

Once the market research of all the necessary factors has been done, and the marketers have accumulated the consumer interest and their behavior, the marketing team, is all set to strategize their campaign for a particular product or service. Different advertisements and promotions, banners, etc., are included to promote the product or the service. The promotion should be done in such a way that it establishes a connection between the consumer and the product or the service as the connection is very important for the success of the campaign.

Market segmentation has been the cornerstone for all the successful brands in the

market, whether the company/marketer was a product based company or a service

provider company. For example, Redmi/Xiaomi has established itself as the most popular and highest-selling mobile phone brand in the market as they did their homework correct. They studied their consumers and their expectations and the sensitivity of the consumers towards the pricing of the phones. After reviewing the market carefully, they came with a successful launch and promotion of the product. Market-Segmentation Procedure

Marketers use a three-step procedure for identifying market segments:

1. Survey stage. The researcher conducts exploratory interviews and focus groups to gain

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insight into customer motivations, attitudes, and behavior. Then the researcher prepares a questionnaire and collects data on attributes and their importance ratings, brand awareness and brand ratings, product-usage patterns, attitudes toward the product category, and respondents’ demographics, geographics, psychographics, and mediagraphics.

  1. Analysis stage. The researcher applies factor analysis to the data to remove highly correlated variables, then applies cluster analysis to create a specified number of maximally different segments.
  2. Profiling stage. Each cluster is profiled in terms of its distinguishing attitudes,behavior, demographics, psychographics, and media patterns, then each segment is given a name based on its dominant characteristic. In a study of the leisure market, Andreasen and Belk found six segments:10 passive homebody, active sports enthusiast, inner-directed self-sufficient, culture patron, active homebody, and socially active. They found that performing arts organizations could sell the most tickets by targeting culture patrons as well as socially active people.

Companies can uncover new segments by researching the hierarchy of attributes that customers consider when choosing a brand. For instance, car buyers who

first decide on price are price dominant; those who first decide on car type (e.g., passenger, sport-utility) are type dominant; those who first decide on brand are brand dominant. With these segments, customers may have distinct demographics, psychographics, and mediagraphics to be analyzed and addressed through marketing programs.

Levels of Market Segmentation

Regardless of whether they serve the consumer market or the business market— offering either goods or services—companies can apply segmentation at one of four levels: segments, niches, local areas, and individuals.

Segment

Characteristic

Segment markets

similar wants, purchasing power, geographical location, buying attitudes, or buying habits

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SEGMENT MARKETS

A market segment consists of a large identifiable group within a market, with similar wants, purchasing power, geographical location, buying attitudes, or buying habits.

Because the needs, preferences, and behavior of segment members are similar

but not identical, marketers are urged to present flexible market offerings instead of one standard offering to all members of a segment. A flexible market

offering consists of the product and service elements that all segment members value, plus options (for an additional charge) that some segment members value. Segment marketing allows a firm to create a more fine-tuned product or service offering and price it appropriately for the target audience. The choice of distribution channels and communications channels becomes much easier, and the firm may find it faces fewer competitors in certain segments.

Example: Delta Airlines offers all economy passengers a seat, food, and soft drinks, but it charges extra for alcoholic beverages and earphones.

Segment marketing allows a firm to create a more fine- tuned product or service offering and price it appropriately for the target audience.

niches

A niche is a more narrowly defined group, typically a small market whose needs are not being well served.

Local Markets

e tailored to the needs and wants of local customer groups (trading areas, neighborhoods, even individual stores).

individuals.

ultimate level of segmentation leads to “segments of one,” “customized marketing,” or “one-to-one marketing.”

Mass customisation

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Niche Marketing

A niche is a more narrowly defined group, typically a small market whose needs are not being well served. Marketers usually identify niches by dividing a segment into subsegments or by defining a group seeking a distinctive mix of benefits. In an attractive niche, customers have a distinct set of needs; they will pay a premium to the firm that best satisfies their needs; the niche is not likely to attract other competitors; the nicher gains certain economies through specialization; and the niche has size, profit, and growth potential.

For example, a tobacco company might identify two subsegments of heavy smokers: those who are trying to stop smoking, and those who don’t care.

Local Marketing

Target marketing is leading to some marketing programs that are tailored to the needs and wants of local customer groups (trading areas, neighborhoods, even individual stores). Citibank, for instance, adjusts its banking services in each branch depending on neighborhood demographics.

Those favoring local marketing see national advertising as wasteful because it

fails to address local needs. On the other hand, opponents argue that local marketing drives up manufacturing and marketing costs by reducing economies of scale.

Moreover, logistical problems become magnified when companies try to meet varying local requirements, and a brand’s overall image might be diluted if the product and message differ in different localities.

Individual Marketing

The ultimate level of segmentation leads to “segments of one,” “customized marketing,” or “one-to-one marketing.”6 For centuries, consumers were served as individuals: The tailor made the suit and the cobbler designed shoes for the individual. Much businessto-business marketing today is customized, in that a manufacturer will customize the offer, logistics, communications, and financial terms for each major account. Now technologies such as computers, databases, robotic production, intranets and extranets, e-mail, and fax communication are permitting companies to return to customized marketing, also called “mass customization.”

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Mass customization is the ability to prepare individually designed products and communications on a mass basis to meet each customer’s requirements.

The Four Types of Market Segmentation

The four bases of market segmentation are:

  • Demographic segmentation
  • Psychographic segmentation
  • Behavioral segmentation
  • Geographic segmentation

Within each of these types of market segmentation, multiple sub-categories further classify audiences and customers.

Demographic Segmentation

Demographic segmentation is one of the most popular and commonly used types of market segmentation. It refers to statistical data about a group of people.

Demographic Market Segmentation Examples

  • Age
  • Gender
  • Income
  • Location
  • Family Situation
  • Annual Income
  • Education

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  • Ethnicity

Where the above examples are helpful for segmenting B2C audiences, a business might use the following to classify a B2B audience:

  • Company size
  • Industry
  • Job function

Because demographic information is statistical and factual, it is usually relatively easy to uncover using various sites for market research.

A simple example of B2C demographic segmentation could be a vehicle manufacturer that sells a luxury car brand (ex. Maserati). This company would

likely target an audience that has a higher income.

Another B2B example might be a brand that sells an enterprise marketing platform. This brand would likely target marketing managers at larger companies (ex. 500+ employees) who have the ability to make purchase decisions for their teams.

Psychographic Segmentation

Psychographic segmentation categorizes audiences and customers by factors that relate to their personalities and characteristics.

Psychographic Market Segmentation Examples

  • Personality traits
  • Values
  • Attitudes
  • Interests
  • Lifestyles
  • Psychological influences
  • Subconscious and conscious beliefs
  • Motivations
  • Priorities

Psychographic segmentation factors are slightly more difficult to identify than demographics because they are subjective. They are not data-focused and require research to uncover and understand.

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For example, the luxury car brand may choose to focus on customers who value quality and status. While the B2B enterprise marketing platform may target marketing managers who are motivated to increase productivity and show value to their executive team.

Behavioral Segmentation

While demographic and psychographic segmentation focus on who a customer is, behavioral segmentation focuses on how the customer acts.

Behavioral Market Segmentation Examples

  • Purchasing habits
  • Spending habits
  • User status
  • Brand interactions

Behavioral segmentation requires you to know about your customer’s actions. These activities may relate to how a customer interacts with your brand or to other activities that happen away from your brand.

A B2C example in this segment may be the luxury car brand choosing to target customers who have purchased a high-end vehicle in the past three years. The B2B marketing platform may focus on leads who have signed up for one of their free webinars.

Geographic Segmentation

Geographic segmentation is the simplest type of market segmentation. It categorizes customers based on geographic borders.

Geographic Market Segmentation Examples

  • ZIP code
  • City
  • Country
  • Radius around a certain location
  • Climate
  • Urban or rural

Geographic segmentation can refer to a defined geographic boundary (such as a city or ZIP code) or type of area (such as the size of city or type of climate).

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An example of geographic segmentation may be the luxury car company choosing to target customers who live in warm climates where vehicles don’t need to be equipped for snowy weather. The marketing platform might focus their marketing efforts around urban, city centers where their target customer is likely to work.

TARGET MARKETING

Target marketing is the decision to identify the different groups that make up a market and to develop products and marketing mixes for selected target markets.

Target marketing strategies

Product or Service is designed to suit the needs of the market. At times, the products appeal to all or a section of the market. The product that appeals to everyone falls under the mass marketing strategy. Certain products are manufactured for a particular section of people. This section of people is known as the ‘target audience’. The marketing strategies focusing on the target audience is known as a target marketing strategy.

Based on the response from the market, marketing strategies are designed. The target marketing strategies vary based on the purchasing power of the customer, and the geographical location of the market. The types of target marketing strategies are dependent on multiple factors inclusive of age group, gender, geographical location to name a few.

Designing a target market strategy aids to focus the time and effort of the marketing

team to increase sales in its target group of customers. The different types of target markets need different targeting marketing definition. Based on the target marketing concept, marketing campaigns are designed to catch the customer’s eye. The market targeting and positioning of the product are crucial for doing business. The strategies vary based on the types of target markets.

VARIOUS TARGET MARKETING STRATEGIES

Broadly the target marketing strategies are classified into the following types

  • Mass Marketing
  • Segment Marketing
  • Niche Marketing
  • Micro Marketing

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  • Local Marketing

Few market targeting examples are:

    • Nike with sports shoes targeting sports playing audience.
    • A niche strategy example is Dior. The brand has set itself apart with its unique designs.
    • Lego has a mass market with its appeal to children.
  • Mass Marketing

Mass Marketing involves marketing to the entire population with a single strategy. Mass marketing focuses to reach everyone with maximum exposure to the product.

An attempt is made to spread the message to everyone with mass media such as TV, newspaper, and mobile.

Regularly consumed products like toothpaste and toothbrushes, mass marketing is all that is needed.

  1. Segment Marketing

Segment Marketing known for its differentiated targeting strategy focuses on a section of people known as the ‘target audience’. The target marketing concept is to attract customers to their products. This segment marketing fetches good results for new products entering to market with established organizations. This differentiated marketing is expensive. The differentiated marketing strategy can be designed

uniquely for the different target audiences.

The company needs to design a unique product for the market segment and requires unique marketing campaigns and promotional events. The benefits of target marketing are it enables to manufacture of the products to suit the need of consumers. The marketing campaigns focus on, selling the products where the target audience frequently visits and creates suitable promotional campaigns.

  1. Niche Marketing

Niche marketing also known as concentrated marketing targets a small section of the market. The entire campaign is around this small section of the market. Luxury goods like Rolex and Armani are examples of niche marketing. Niche marketing yields results for small companies with limited production and sales. There are advantages and disadvantages to niche marketing.

Advantages of niche market segment are:

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  • Generates high revenues.
  • Loyal customer base.
  • Competition is less.

Disadvantages of niche marketing are:

  • The market is small.
  • Scope for growth is less.
  • Less competition so keenness to improve is minimal
    1. Micromarketing

Micromarketing focuses on a much smaller section of people than niche marketing. Micromarketing definition is customized marketing or one-to-one marketing. The

products are customized to the requirements of the customer. The micro marketing strategies involve customer tastes, whims, and wishes. A good example of a micromarketing strategy is Etsy.com that focuses on handmade goods taking orders from customers with their specific requirements.

Few micromarketing examples are Uber and Red Bull. Uber used a unique local micromarketing strategy in each city to become visible and expand its customer base. Reb Bull did not focus on its unique point of being an energy drink but as a

lifestyle. Red Bull focused on its target audience ‘youth’ interested in sports.

    • Local Marketing

Local marketing strategy involves nearby and neighborhood areas. The organizations use this marketing strategy to thrive on local connections and make their presence felt. Amazon Local is a good example of a local marketing strategy. The online service providers along with local businesses come up with offers for hotel booking, spa treatments, and restaurant meals at regular intervals. The local companies earn good revenue with sales.

Product positioning

Core strategy is at the hub of marketing strategy. It is where the strengths of a company meet market opportunities. It has two parts:

      • The identification of agroup of customers for whom the firm has a differential advantage; and
      • Positioning itself in the customer's mind.

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Differentiation

Consumers typically choose products and services that give them the greatest value. Thus the key to winning and keeping customers is to understand their needs and buying processes better than competitors do, and to deliver morevalue. To the extent that a company can position itself as providing superior value to selected target markets, either by offering lower prices than competitors door by providing more benefits to justify higher prices. It gains competitive advantage. 2. If a company positionsits product as offering the best quality and service, it must then develop the promised quality and service. Positioning therefore begins with differentiating the company's marketing offer, so that it will give consumers more value than competitors' offers do.

Differentiating Markets

In what specific ways can a company differentiate its offer from those of competitors V A company or market offer can be differentiated along the lines of product, services, personnel or image.

Product Differentiation - A company ean differentiate its physical produet. Companies can also differentiate their products on performance.

Services Differentiation: the firm can also differentiate the services that accompany the produet. Some companies gain competitive advantage through speedy, reliable or careful delivery.

Personnel Differentiation: Companies can gain a strong competitive advantage through hiring and training better people than their competitors do.

Image, Differentiation: Even when competing offers look the same, buyers may perceive a difference based on company or brand images. Thus companies work to

establish images that differentiate them from competitors.

Positioning:

Product positioning is defined as arranging for a product to occupy a clear, distinctive and desirable place relative to competing products in the minds of target consumers and Formulating competitive positioning for a product and a detailed marketing mix. A product's position is the way the product is

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defined by consumers on important attributes - the place the product occupies in consumers' minds relative to competing products.

Benefits of product positioning

  • identifying key benefits of a product and matching them with customers’ needs;

  • finding a competitive advantage even when the market changes;

  • meeting customers’ expectations;

  • reinforcing brand’s name and its products;

  • winning customer loyalty;

  • creating an effective promotional strategy;

  • attracting different customers;

  • improving competitive strength;

  • launching new products;

  • presenting new features of existing products.

Perceptual Mapping: Perceptual maps are a valuable aid to product positioning. A product positioning tool that uses multidimensional scaling of consumers' perceptions and preferences to portray the psychological distance between products and segments.

For example: The perceptual map shows how holidaymakers segment, as well as the possible destinations.

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Basic Steps of Product Positioning Process

The positioning process is important to be identified and followed by any organization which wants to implement its marketing strategy soundly. It is a difficult task to identify and select a positioning strategy and thereby the correct positioning process for an organization.

There are 6 main steps in positioning process. In each of the steps, marketing research techniques can be employed to get the necessary information.

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1– Define your target audience

  • Create a customer profile that describes the company activity. it is important to attract more customers.
  • Conduct market research learn about the target audience through primary and secondary market research.
  • Reassess the offering and profile. 2- Define your main competitors

Then, list the competitors which make the same industry as yours. There are three main types of competitors:

  • A direct competitor offers the same products and services aimed at the same target market and customer base.
  • Indirect Competitor offers the same products and services. but he seeking to grow revenue with a different strategy.
  • Replacement Competitor offers the same products and services that

customers could use instead of choosing your products or services.

  1. Define product features

List the benefits and usage of the product. listing product features help to introduce it in a fine way. The marketers must be well aware of the features and benefits of the products.

  1. Analyze the Customer

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It is the main component of any business plan. Define the target market and decide how to reach them. Use segmentation of the market. There are various approaches to segmentation but out of all benefit segmentation is relevant, which focuses upon the benefits or attributes that a segment believes to be important.

  1. Make unique selling suggestions

Product should have USP (unique selling propositions) and marketers must know what best their product can do. To make USP follow these tips:

    • Describe Your Target Audience.
    • Explain the Problem You Solve.
    • List the Biggest Distinctive Benefits.
    • Define Your Promise.
    • Combine and Rework.
    • Cut it Down.
  • Promote your brand

You may want to promote your brand and building a fine image for it. you could do it by using these steps:

    • Create a brand image, or logo.
    • Network.
    • Advertise.
    • Build business partnerships with other organizations.
    • Rely on the power of social networks.
    • Offer freebies.
    • Develop relationships with your customers.
    • Encourage customers to talk about their experience using your business.
  • Make the positioning Decision

To make positioning decision that helps you in branding your business and marketing your product we introduce you some steps:

    • Make economic analysis.
    • Positioning helps you to implies commitment.
    • Try to introduce your services and prevent adding services you don’t have.
    • Symbols or sets of symbols must be considered.
  • Monitoring the position

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It is necessary to monitor the position, for that you have the variety of techniques that can be employed it can be on the basis of some tests and interviews which will help to monitor any kind of change in the image. step by step you could improve your business by monitoring your position.

Product positioning strategies

  • Characteristics-based positioning

  • Pricing-based positioning

  • Use or application-based positioning

  • Quality or prestige-based positioning

  • Competitor-based positioning

While a lot of time is devoted to product development, only a few companies think about how consumers will perceive the product when it’s already in the market.

Product positioning is about understanding the products to introduce to the masses. That’s why it’s critical to pay attention to what your customers think. Let’s explore the key strategies that will help you define the position of your product.

  • Characteristics-based positioning. Brands give certain characteristics to their products that aim at creating associations. It’s done to make consumers choose based on brand image and product characteristics. Let’s take the automobile industry, for example. A person who worries about safety will probably choose Volvo because of the brand’s positioning. At the same time, another customer who pays attention to reliability would prefer Toyota.

  • Pricing-based positioning. This strategy involves associating your company with competitive pricing. Brands often position themselves as those that offer products or services at the lowest price. Let’s take supermarkets, for example. They can afford to provide customers with products for lower prices because of the lower costs they pay for shipping and distribution, huge

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turnover, and a large procurement of goods. As a result, many consumers already know the supermarkets with attractive prices and choose them without considering other options.

  • Use or application-based positioning. Companies can also position themselves by associating with a certain use or application. People who adhere to a healthy lifestyle create a great demand for products that help increase performance in the gym. Hence, many businesses offer nutritional supplements. These brands sell supplements that are high in calories, vitamins, and minerals.

  • Quality or prestige-based positioning. The brands we are talking about now don’t concentrate on their price point; they focus on their prestige or high quality instead. Sometimes, it’s the reputation that makes a brand attract customers. Let’s take Rolex, for example. This famous watch brand is associated with achievement and excellence in sport and is popular among powerful and wealthy people.

  • Competitor-based positioning. The strategy involves using competitors’ alternatives to differentiate products and highlight their advantages. It helps brands distinguish their products and show their uniqueness.

Errors of product positioning

  • Obvious Aspects of the Product Features
  • Living in the Future
  • Diluting the Positioning Strategy
  • Over Positioning
  • Short-term Gains
  • Doubtful Positioning
  • Positioning on the Wrong Attributes
  • Over / under / confused / doubtful positioning

Introduction to Product Development

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In this fast-changing world we are experiencing change in our daily life and at marketplace too. Customer needs, wants, and expectations are changing more rapidly. Customers are increasingly demanding advance features, appealing designs, better quality, and reliability in products. To meet the changing demands of customer, business organisations are investing heavily in research and development (R&D). Business organisations are updating existing products and developing new products to satisfy changing customer needs, wants, and expectations.

The development of competitive new products is a prerequisite for every business organisation to be successful. Samsung has outperformed Nokia in the global mobile-phone market and become the global leader. Samsung updates its existing mobile phones and brings new mobile phones more frequently at competitive low price with advance features, appealing designs, better quality and reliability. Nokia failed to satisfy changing customer needs, wants, and expectations, and lost its market position.

DefinitionProductDevelopment In general, the Product Development can be defined as "creating, innovating, or developing entirely a new product , or presenting an existing product with enhanced utility, improved features, more appealing design, better quality

and reliability to satisfy the requirements of its end-users

Meaning of Product Development Product means a good, service, idea or object created as a result of a process and offered to serve a need or satisfy a want. Development means the act or process of growing, progressing, or developing.

Product

introduce

Development is a process of improving the existing product or to a new product in the market. It is also referred as New Product Development.

The functions of product development are as follows:

:-

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  1. Creation of an entirely new product or upgrading an existing product,
  2. Innovation of a new or an existing product to deliver better and enhanced services,
  3. Enhancing the utility and improving the features of an existing product,
  4. Continuous improvement of a product to satisfy rapidly changing customer needs and wants.

Product Development Process

Product development process is a crucial process for the success and survival of any

business. Today, businesses are operating in a highly dynamic and competitive environment. Business organisations have to continuously update their products to conform to current trends. The product development process starts from idea generation and ends with product development and commercialisation. Following are the steps in the process of product development.

  1. Idea Generation - The first step of product development is Idea Generation that is identification of new products required to be developed considering consumer needs and demands. Idea generation is done through research of market sources like consumer liking, disliking, and competitor policies. Various methods are available for idea generation like - Brain Storming, Delphi Method, or Focus Group.
  2. Idea Screening - The second step in the process of product development is Idea Screening that is selecting the best idea among the ideas generated at the first step. As the resources are limited, so all the ideas are not converted

to products. Most promising idea is kept for the next stage.

  1. Concept Development - At this step the selected idea is moved into

development process. For the selected idea different product concepts are developed. Out of several product concepts the most suitable concept is selected and introduced to a focus group of customers to understand their reaction. For example - in auto expos different concept cars are presented, these models are not the actual product, they are just to describe the concept say electric, hybrid, sport, fuel efficient, environment friendly, etc.

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  1. Market Strategy Development - At this step the market strategies are developed to evaluate market size, product demand, growth potential, and profit estimation for initial years. Further it includes launch of product, selection of distribution channel, budgetary requirements, etc.
  2. Business Analysis - At this step business analysis for the new product is done. Business analysis includes - estimation of sales, frequency of purchases, nature of business, production and distribution related costs and expenses, and estimation of profit.
  3. Product Development - At this step the concept moves to production of finalised product. Decisions are taken from operational point of view whether

the product is technically and commercially feasible to produce. Here the research and development department develop a physical product.

  1. Test Marketing - Now the product is ready to be launched in market with brand name, packaging, and pricing. Initially the product is launched in a test market. Before full scale launching the product is exposed to a carefully chosen sample of the population, called test market. If the product is found acceptable in test market the product is ready to be launched in target

market.

  1. Commertialisation - Here the product is launched across target market with a proper market strategy and plan. This is called commercialisation phase of product development.

New product development

In business , new product development (NPD) is the complete process of bringing a new product to market.

New product development is described in the literature as the transformation of a market opportunity into a product available for sale and it can be tangible (that is, something physical you can touch) or intangible (like a service, experience, or belief).

NEW PRODUCT PLANNING :

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As a firm’s offerings enter the maturity and decline stages of the product life cycle, it must add new items to continue to prosper.

Alternative Product Development Strategies :

IMPORTANCE OF NPD:

  1. To replace obsolete products;
  2. To maintain and increase the growth rate/sales revenue of the firm;
  3. To utilise spare capacity;
  4. To employ surplus funds or borrowing capacity; and
  5. To diversify risks and face competition.

PROCESS : NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

Step 1: Generating

Utilizing basic internal and external SWOT analyses, as well as current marketing

trends, one can distance themselves from the competition by generating ideologies which take affordability, ROI, and widespread distribution costs into account. Lean, mean and scalable are the key points to keep in mind. During the NPD process, keep the system nimble and use flexible discretion over which activities are executed. You may want to develop multiple versions of your road map scaled to suit different types and risk levels of projects.

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Step 2: Screening The Idea

Wichita, possessing more aviation industry than most other states, is seeing many new innovations stop with Step 2 – screening. Do you go/no go? Set specific criteria for ideas that should be continued or dropped. Stick to the agreed upon criteria so

poor projects can be sent Because product development

back to the idea-hopper costs are being cut in

early on.

areas like

Wichita, prescreening product ideas,means taking your Top 3 competitors’ new innovations into account, how much market share they’re chomping up, what benefits end consumers could expect etc. An interesting industry fact: Aviation industrialists will often compare growth with metals markets; therefore, when Boeing is idle, never assume that all airplanes are grounded, per se.

Step 3: Testing The Concept

As Gaurav Akrani has said, Concept testing is done after idea screening.And it is important to note, it is different from test marketing. Aside from patent research, design due diligence, and other legalities involved with new product development; knowing where the marketing messages will work best is

often the biggest part of testing the concept. Does the consumer understand, need, or want the product or service?

Step 4: Business Analytics

During the New Product Development process, build a system of metrics to monitor progress. Include input metrics, such as average time in each stage, as well as output metrics that measure the value of launched products, percentage of new

product sales and other figures that provide valuable feedback. It is important for an organization to be in agreement for these criteria and metrics.

Even if an idea doesn’t turn into product, keep it in the hopper because it can prove to be a valuable asset for future products and a basis for learning and growth.

Step 5: Beta / Marketability Tests

Arranging private tests groups, launching beta versions, and then forming test panels after the product or products have been tested will provide you with valuable information allowing last minute improvements and tweaks. Not to mention helping

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to generate a small amount of buzz. WordPress is becoming synonymous with beta testing, and it’s effective; Thousands of programmers contribute code, millions test it, and finally even more download the completed end-product.

Step 6: Technicalities + Product Development

Provided the technical aspects can be perfected without alterations to post-beta products, heading towards a smooth step 7 is imminent. According to Akrani, in this step, The production department will make plans to produce the product. The marketing department will make plans to distribute the product. The finance department will provide the finance for introducing the new product. As an example; In manufacturing, the process before sending technical specs to machinery involves printing MSDS sheets, a requirement for retaining an ISO 9001 certification (the organizational structure, procedures, processes and resources needed to implement quality management.) In internet jargon, honing the technicalities after beta testing involves final database preparations, estimation of server resources, and planning automated logistics. Be sure to have your technicalities in line when moving forward.

Step 7: Commercialize

At this stage, your new product developments have gone mainstream, consumers are purchasing your good or service, and technical support is consistently monitoring progress. Keeping your distribution pipelines loaded with products is an integral part of this process too, as one prefers not to give physical (or perpetual) shelf space to competition. Refreshing advertisements during this stage will keep your product’s name firmly supplanted into the minds of those in the contemplation stages of purchase.

Step 8: Post Launch Review and Perfect Pricing

Review the NPD process efficiency and look for continues improvements. Most new products are introduced with introductory pricing, in which final prices are nailed down after consumers have ‘gotten in’. In this final stage, you’ll gauge overall value

relevant to COGS (cost of goods sold), making sure internal costs aren’t overshadowing new product profits. You continuously differentiate consumer needs as your products age, forecast profits and improve delivery process whether

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physical,

- See more

or digital, products are being perpetuated. at: http://www.innovationexcellence.com/blog/2013/05/27/8-step-

process-perfects-new-product-development/#sthash.mhG2FZAV.dpuf

Step 1: Generating

Utilizing basic internal and external SWOT analyses, as well as current marketing trends, one can distance themselves from the competition by generating ideologies which take affordability, ROI, and widespread distribution costs into account. Lean, mean and scalable are the key points to keep in mind. During the NPD process, keep the system nimble and use flexible discretion over which activities are executed. You may want to develop multiple versions of your road map scaled to suit different types and risk levels of projects.

Step 2: Screening The Idea

Wichita, possessing more aviation industry than most other states, is seeing many new innovations stop with Step 2 – screening. Do you go/no go? Set specific criteria for ideas that should be continued or dropped. Stick to the agreed upon criteria so

poor projects can be sent Because product development

back to the idea-hopper costs are being cut in

early on.

areas like

Wichita, prescreening product ideas,means taking your Top 3 competitors’ new innovations into account, how much market share they’re chomping up, what benefits end consumers could expect etc. An interesting industry fact: Aviation industrialists will often compare growth with metals markets; therefore, when Boeing is idle, never assume that all airplanes are grounded, per se.

Step 3: Testing The Concept

As Gaurav Akrani has said, Concept testing is done after idea screening.And it is important to note, it is different from test marketing. Aside from patent research, design due diligence, and other legalities involved with new product development; knowing where the marketing messages will work best is often the biggest part of testing the concept. Does the consumer understand, need,

or want the product or service?

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Step 4: Business Analytics

During the New Product Development process, build a system of metrics to monitor progress. Include input metrics, such as average time in each stage, as well as output metrics that measure the value of launched products, percentage of new product sales and other figures that provide valuable feedback. It is important for an organization to be in agreement for these criteria and metrics. Even if an idea doesn’t turn into product, keep it in the hopper because it can prove to be a valuable asset for future products and a basis for learning and growth.

Step 5: Beta / Marketability Tests

Arranging private tests groups, launching beta versions, and then forming test panels after the product or products have been tested will provide you with valuable information allowing last minute improvements and tweaks. Not to mention helping to generate a small amount of buzz. WordPress is becoming synonymous with beta testing, and it’s effective; Thousands of programmers contribute code, millions test it, and finally even more download the completed end-product.

Step 6: Technicalities + Product Development

Provided the technical aspects can be perfected without alterations to post-beta products, heading towards a smooth step 7 is imminent. According to Akrani, in this step, The production department will make plans to produce the product. The marketing department will make plans to distribute the product. The finance department will provide the finance for introducing the new product. As an example; In manufacturing, the process before sending technical specs to machinery involves printing MSDS sheets, a requirement for retaining an ISO 9001 certification (the organizational structure, procedures, processes and resources needed to implement quality management.) In internet jargon, honing the technicalities after beta testing involves final database preparations, estimation of server resources, and planning automated logistics. Be sure to have your technicalities in line when moving forward.

Step 7: Commercialize

At this stage, your new product developments have gone mainstream, consumers are purchasing your good or service, and technical support is consistently monitoring

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progress. Keeping your distribution pipelines loaded with products is an integral part of this process too, as one prefers not to give physical (or perpetual) shelf space to competition. Refreshing advertisements during this stage will keep your product’s name firmly supplanted into the minds of those in the contemplation stages of purchase.

Step 8: Post Launch Review and Perfect Pricing

Review the NPD process efficiency and look for continues improvements. Most new products are introduced with introductory pricing, in which final prices are nailed

down after consumers have ‘gotten in’. In this final stage, you’ll gauge overall value relevant to COGS (cost of goods sold), making sure internal costs aren’t overshadowing new product profits. You continuously differentiate consumer needs as your products age, forecast profits and improve delivery process whether physical or digital, products are being perpetuated.

NPD PROCESS STRUCTURE

The NPD process consists of a series of activities that firms employ in the complex process of delivering new products to the market. Every new product will pass through a series of stages from ideation through design, manufacturing and market introduction. The development process basically has three main phases:

  1. Fuzzy front-end (FFE) is the set of activities employed before the formal and well defined NPD or stage-gate process.
  2. Product design starts with the development of the new product and it ends at pre-commercialization analysis stage.
  3. Fuzzy back-end or commercialization phase represent the action steps where the production and market launch occur.

NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

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:

Idea Generation

The first step in the new product development process is idea generation in which a number of new ideas are searched. Following are some of important sources that are used to obtain new ideas about the product.

  • Internal sources (executives, engineers, etc.)
  • Customers
  • Suppliers
  • Competitors
  • Distributors
  • Others

In the internal environment, the engineers, executives, salespersons and scientists (etc.) are motivated to think of getting some new ideas. Communicating with customers regarding complaints and market surveys are also helpful in the accumulation of new ideas. In this step different ideas are searched only without examining their practicability and profitability.

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Idea Screening

In this step the accumulated ideas are analyzed in order to pick the best ideas while dropping the bad ones. It is obvious that for every new idea of a product, certain costs would definitely be incurred especially in the later steps. Also, it is not appreciable to search a lot of ideas, but the good thing is that the searched ideas are profitable one. So in this step the nominated committee evaluates all the searched ideas on the following criteria to check their relative feasibility.

  • Is the new product beneficial for the customers and society?
  • Is it fruitful for the business itself?
  • Or is it in accordance with the objectives and mission of business?
  • Does the business possess the required skill employees and technology for manufacturing it? etc..

Concept Development and Testing

When a business organization selects a potential idea, it converts it into a product concept to test the feasibility.

A product idea is simply an idea that seems practical to be converted into actual products.

The product concept is the version of that idea in some practical details. The product image is the position of the product in the minds of customers.

So the business develops its concept of product and tests its profitability by conducting surveys in the market. Main concept or rough picture of the new product is shared with the customers to check its practicability. The detailed physical presentation of the new product can increase its reliability.

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Marketing Strategy

When the product concept of any product ideas is effectively tested, then

a marketing strategy is prepared for it. This marketing strategy contains a statement divided into three parts.

The first part includes target market, sales, market share, market positioning, and profit goals for the coming few years. The second part includes strategy about planned price, budget for the first year and distribution of the new product.

The third part describes estimated sales in the long run along with the profit and the strategy of the marketing mix.

Business Analysis

When the product concept is passed along with its marketing strategy, the business analysis is conducted in the overall attractiveness of the proposal. It analyzes the costs, sales and projected profits of the new product in order to check its feasibility with the organization’s objectives. When the new product is passed in this step, it enters into the stage of product development.

Product Development

Before the product development step of a new product development process, the product is only in a crude form of concept, picture or words. But in this step the business takes a big jump of investment and its Research and Development team starts converting the words or picture into physical reality. For this purpose a sample prototype is prepared that contains the main features of the product to further check the practicability in its functions.

Test Marketing

When the sample product passes the functional tests, its test marketing is started, in which it is marketed to the customers to check its further practical potential before manufacturing in large scale. For this purpose the business develops a proper

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marketing program that takes into account all the practical elements of marketing mix like pricing, advertising, distribution, budget, Branding and Packaging.

Commercialization

This is the last step of the new product development process in which the new product is manufactured and offered on a large scale for profit purpose. It is also important as the business has to incur the high cost and faces real challenges, like when to launch the new product and where it should be launched? etc.

Product Life cycle Management

A product life cycle is the length of time from a product first being introduced to consumers until it is removed from the market. A product’s life cycle is usually broken down into four stages; introduction, growth, maturity, and decline.

Importance of product life cycle in business includes various points to determine the marketing strategies related to the particular product. The Importance are:-

1. It works as a forecasting tool,

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  1. It works as a planning tool,

  • It works as a control tool,

  • It provides for marketing programs,

  • It provides an estimate for profits,

  • It helps in the development of new products.

Stages of the Product Life Cycle

The four major stages of the

product

life

cycle

are as follows:-

  1. Introduction,
  2. Growth,
  3. Maturity, and
  4. Decline.

Introduction Stage

At this stage, the product is new to the market and few potential customers are aware of the existence of the product. The price is generally high. The sales of the product are low or may be restricted to early adopters. Profits are often low or losses are being made, this is because of the high advertising cost and repayment of developmental cost. At the introductory stage:-

  • The product is unknown,
  • The price is generally high,
  • The placement is selective, and
  • The promotion is informative and personalized.

Growth Stage

At this stage, the product is becoming more widely known and accepted in the

market. Marketing is done to strengthen the brand and develop an image for the product. Prices may start to fall as competitors enter the market. With the increase in sales, profit may start to be earned, but advertising cost remains high. At the

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growth

stage:-

  • The product is more widely known and consumed,
  • The sales volume increases,
  • The price began to decline with the entry of new players,
  • The placement becomes more widely spread, and
  • The promotion is focused on brand development and product image formation.

Maturity Stage

At this stage, the product is competing with alternatives. Sales and profits are at their peak. Product range may be extended, by adding both withe and depth. With the increases in competition, the price reaches its lowest point. Advertising is done

to reinforce the product image in the consumer's minds to

increase purchases. At maturity Stage:

  • The product is competing with alternatives,
  • The sales are at their peak,
  • The prices reach to its lowest point,
  • The placement is intense, and
  • The promotion is focused on repeat purchasing.

Decline Stage

At this stage, sales start to fall fast as a result product range is reduced. The product faces reduced competition as many players have left the market and it is expected that no new competitor will enter the market. Advertising cost is also reduced. Concentration is on remaining market niches as some price stability is expected there. Each product sold could be profitable as developmental costs have been paid at an earlier stage. With the reduction in sales volume, overall profit will also reduce.

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At

decline

stage:-

  • The product faces reduced competition,
  • The sales volume reduces,
  • The price is likely to fall,
  • The placement is selective, and
  • The promotion is focused on reminding.

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PRODUCT DECISIONS

Product related decisions form one of the 4Ps of marketing mix. These decisions include introduction of new products, Improvement of existing products, planned elimination of obsolete products and, packaging and branding.

According to Philip Kotler “A product is anything tangible or intangible that can be offered to a market for attention, acquisition use or consumption that might satisfy a need or want”.

Product Decisions are vital marketing decisions to be made at various levels. These decisions broadly cover:

  • New Product Development
  • Modification or Elimination of existing ones
  • Variants and Visual elements
  • Product Mix and Line, etc.

Levels of product

  1. Core or Generic Product: It is the raw product that satisfies the customer’s primary need. The core product is at its raw form, not bearing any brand name and remains undifferentiated.

For example: – Wheat is a grain that one can consume.

  1. Basic Product: The core products differentiated from the rest become the basic product. It adds some necessary features to the products like Brand Name, Packaging and Label, etc.

For example: – Fortune Chakki Fresh Atta (wheat flour).

  1. Expected Product: These products include the key features that customers look forward to. It also contains standard features that a product should have.

For example: – Chapati is prepared from wheat flour.

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  1. Augmented Product: To differentiate products from competitors, companies add distinctive features to them. These additions depend on the market survey conducted for the product. They try to create a Unique Selling Proposition (USP) for their products. For example -Brown Bread and Cookies.
  2. Potential Product: It refers to all the possible features that a product can have in the future. These features depend on the market conditions and economic changes.

Product Classifications

Generally products are classified into two types, on the basis of three characteristics: durability,

tangibility, and consumer or industrial use, namely

  1. Consumer Products and
  2. Industrial Products.

5 levels of product

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Consumer goods

i) Based on shopping Efforts

convenience goods

  • usually purchased frequently, immediately, and with a minimum of effort
  • Ex. newspapers;

shopping goods

  • the customer, in the process of selection and purchase, characteristically compares on the basis of suitability, quality, price, and style
  • Ex. furniture

specialty goods

  • unique characteristics or brand identification. buyers are willing to make a special purchasing effort.
  • Ex. Cars

unsought goods

  • consumers do not know about or do not normally think of buying
  • Ex.Smoke detectors.

ii) Durability

Durable

  • tangible goods

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and Tangibility

  • survive many uses (such as refrigerators).
  • require more personal selling and service,
  • command a higher margin, and
  • require more seller guarantees.
  • Services are intangible, inseparable,

variable, and perishable products (such as haircuts or cell phone service),

  • require more quality control, supplier credibility, and adaptability.

Non durable

  • tangible goods
  • normally consumed in one or a few uses (such as soap).
  • consumed quickly and purchased

frequently

  • availability in many locations,
  • charge only a small markup, and
  • advertise heavily to induce trial and build preference.

Industrial goods

Materials and parts

  • Raw materials natural products

,

farm

products,

Manufactured materials

and parts

  • component materials (iron)
  • component parts (small motors);
  • price and supplier reliability are important

Capital items

  • are long-lasting goods
  • facilitate developing or managing the

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PRODUCT MIX

A product mix (also called product assortment) is the set of all products and items that a particular marketer offers for sale.

The product mix of an individual company can be described in terms of width, length, depth, and consistency.

  • The width refers to how many different product lines the company carries.
  • The length refers to the total number of items in the mix.

PRODUCT MIX OF COCA COLA

finished product.

  • include two groups: installations

(such as factories) and equipment (such as trucks and computers),

  • sold through personal selling.

Supplies services

and

business

are short-lasting goods and services that facilitate developing or managing the finished product.

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  • The depth of a product mix refers to how many variants of each product are offered.
  • The consistency of the product mix refers to how closely related the various product lines

are in end use, production requirements, distribution channels, or some other way.

These four product-mix dimensions permit the company to expand its business by (1) adding new product lines, thus widening its product mix; (2) lengthening each product line; (3) deepening the product mix by adding more variants; and (4) pursuing more product-line consistency.

Product line

This refers to a range of closely-related products belonging to the same class. They are sold to the same customers, having identical attributes marketed by the same distribution channel but for different segments. The product decision relating to a product line are:

  1. Line Stretching: Companies seeking high market share and market growth will carry longer lines. Ex: Toyota launched Lexus; Nissan launched Infinity; and Honda launched Acura.
  2. Line Filling: the business strategy where the firm plans to increase the number of products in the existing product line.

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Managers must periodically review the entire product line for pruning, identifying weak items through sales and cost analysis. They may also prune when the company is short of production capacity or demand is slow.

BRANDING, PACKAGING, AND LABELLING IN MARKETING

Introduction

There are millions of products and services all over the world, each claims to be the best among their category. But, every product is not equally popular. Consumer doesn't remember every product, only few products are remembered by their name, logo, or slogan. Such products generate desired emotions in the mind of consumer. It is branding that makes product popular and known in the market; branding is not an activity that can be done overnight, it might takes months and even years to create a loyal and reputed brand.

Branding gives personality to a product; packaging and labelling put a face on the product. Effective packaging and labelling work as selling tools that help marketer sell the product.

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Today in this post we'll learn - meaning of branding, types of brand, strategies of branding, meaning of packaging and labelling, and importance of packaging and labelling.

Definition of Branding

According to American Marketing Association - Brand is A name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one sellers good or service as distinct from those of other sellers. The legal term for brand is trademark. A brand may identify one item, a family of items, or all items of that seller. If used for the firm as a whole, the preferred term is trade name.

According to Philip Kotler - Brand is a name, term, sign, symbol, design, or a combination of them, intended to identify the goods or services of one seller or group of sellers and to differentiate them from those of competitors

Branding is a sellers promise to deliver a specific set of features, benefits and services consistent to the buyers.

Meaning of Branding

Branding is a process of creating a unique name and image for a product in the mind of consumer, mainly through advertising campaigns. A brand is a name, term, symbol, design or combination of these elements, used to identify a product, a family of products, or all products of an organisation.

Branding is an important component of product planning process and an important and powerful tool for marketing and selling products.

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Elements of Branding

Brand includes various elements like - brand names, trade names, brand marks, trade marks, and trade characters. The combination of these elements form a firm's corporate symbol or name.

  • Brand Name - It is also called Product Brand. It can be a word, a group of words, letters, or numbers to represent a product or service. For example - Pepsi, iPhone 5, and etc.
  • Trade Name - It is also called Corporate Brand. It identifies and promotes a company or a division of a particular corporation. For example - Dell, Nike, Google, and etc.

o Brand Mark - It is a unique symbol, colouring, lettering, or other design element. It is visually recognisable, not necessary to be pronounced. For example - Apple's apple, or Coca-cola's cursive typeface.

o Trade Mark - It is a word, name, symbol, or combination of these elements. Trade mark is legally protected by government. For example - NBC colourful peacock, or McDonald's golden arches. No other organisation can use these symbols.

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o Trade Characters - Animal, people, animated characters, objects, and the like that are used to advertise a product or service, that come to be associated with that product or service. For example - Keebler Elves for Keebler cookies , Amul Butter

Branding Strategies

There are various branding strategies on which marketing organisations rely to meet sales and marketing objectives. Some of these strategies are as following :-

  • Brand Extension - According to this strategy, an existing brand name is used to promote a new or an improved product in an organisation's product line. Marketing organisations uses this strategy to minimise the cost of launching a new product and the risk of failure of new product. There is risk of brand diluting if a product line is over extended.
  • Brand Licensing - According to this strategy, some organisations allow other organisations to use their brand name, trade name, or trade character. Such authorisation is a legal licensing agreement for which the licensing organisation receives royalty in return for the authorisation. Organisations follow this strategy

to increase revenue sources, enhance organisation image, and sell more of their core products.

  • Mixed Branding - This strategy is used by some manufacturers and retailers to sell products. A manufacturer of a national brand can make a product for sale under another company's brand. Like this a business can maintain brand loyalty through its national brand and increase its product mix through private brands. It

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can increase its profits by selling private brands without affecting the reputation and sales of its national brand.

o Co-Branding - According to this strategy one or more brands are combined in the manufacture of a product or in the delivery of a service to capitalise on other companies' products and services to reach new customers and increase sales for both companies' brands.

What Is Packaging?

Packaging is the act of enclosing or protecting the product using a container to aid its distribution, identification, storage, promotion, and usage.

In simple terms, packaging refers to designing and developing the wrapping material or container around a product that helps to

  • Identify and differentiate the product in the market,
  • Transport and distribute the product,
  • Store the product,
  • Promote the product,
  • Use the product properly.

Importance Of Packaging

As an essential marketing subset, packaging forms the core distribution, storage, and sales tool that can be a part of the product itself or an external container made of varied materials.

Packaging is an essential element both for the seller and the customer. While the seller use it as a tool to distribute, store, and promote; the customer uses it as an important identification and usage tool.

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Importance Of Packaging For The Seller

  • Distribution: Good packaging makes it possible for the seller to transport the product from the manufacturing unit to the final selling point and then to the customer. The seller uses different packaging for the same – transport packaging to transport the products and consumer packaging to aid the consumer in consuming the product.
  • Storage: Warehousing comes with its own risks of product spoilage, spillage,

and mishandling. Proper packaging helps the seller store and assort the products better.

  • Promotion: Packaging forms a vital marketing element that the brand uses to differentiate the product using attractive, colourful, and visually appealing packages and inform the buyer about the product’s performance, features, and benefits.
  • Safety: Good packaging aids in product safety before it reaches the final consumer. For example, a Tetra Pak prevents the milk from getting spoilt before its expiry date.

Importance Of Packaging For The Buyer

  • Identification: Packaging and labelling help the customers identify the product and differentiate it from other products in the market.
  • Usage: Often, packaging, like that of a toothpaste, that forms a part of the product aids in its usage and consumption.
  • Safety: It also protects the consumer from the dangers that the product comes with. For example, an acid bottle protects the user from getting acid burns.

Functions Of Packaging

Packaging plays a crucial role from the time a product is developed to the time a product is fully consumed. These functions of packaging include:

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  1. Contains the product: Most products need to be contained either during transportation, storage, or consumption. Packaging makes sure the product is contained as and when required.
  2. Protects the product: Packaging protects the product and its quality, features, utility, etc. from being damaged or contaminated during transportation, storage, and consumption.
  3. Aids product handling and usage: Proper packaging aids product handling and makes it easy to transport, ship, and even use the product.
  4. Differentiates the product and makes it stand out: Packaging makes it easier for the customer to identify and differentiate it from other products.

Moreover, attractive packages have a property to stand out and attract customers towards it.

  1. Forms a part of product marketing strategy: An attractive and/or informative package makes the product stand out and have a promotional appeal. Packaging also acts as the final touchpoint that helps in product promotion and sale.
  2. Provides customer convenience: Packaging is also a convenience tool that makes it convenient for the customer to carry, transport, and use the product.
  3. Acts as a communication medium: Packaging along with labelling helps communicate the brand identity, brand message, and product and company information to the customer.
  4. Adds to the aesthetic value: Packaging can make a simple product look attractive or a unique product look ordinary. It’s an important aesthetic touchpoint that can make or break a sale.

Types Of Packaging

Usually, packaging can be categorised into three types depending upon its usage and purpose. These types are:

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Primary Packaging

Primary packaging, also referred to as consumer packaging, is in direct contact with the product and is intended for the customer to identify, gain product knowledge, and to aid product consumption.

It’s the base packaging that emphasises both utility and appearance.

It is the primary layer like the plastic pouch, cardboard box, etc. containing the finished product, that protects and preserves the finished product from contamination and tampering, while including aesthetic elements that make the product stand out.

Besides aiding identification, differentiation, and consumption, primary packaging also acts as a promotional tool to attract more customers at the point of sale by making the product look more appealing.

Some examples of primary packaging are:

  • Laminated pouches for dry fruits
  • Plastic containers for fruits
  • Tin cans for soft drinks
  • Laminated tubes for beauty products
  • Composite cans for chips

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Often, removing the primary packaging of a product affects the product’s quality or attribute.

Secondary Packaging

Secondary packaging forms the second packaging layer that the customers don’t usually see. Its main use is to group and hold together individual units of the product to deliver large quantities of that product to the point of sale.

It collates smaller product units into a single pack and aids in inventory management (grouping and identification) before the product is showcased to the customer.

Some examples of secondary packaging are:

  • Plastic ring that holds soda cans together, and
  • Cardboard box containing multiple individual boxes of cereal, etc. Removing secondary packaging doesn’t affect the product’s quality or attributes.

Tertiary Packaging

Tertiary packaging, also referred to as bulk or transit packaging, is used to group a large quantity of a particular product to transport it from point A to B.

The main objective of this packaging is to make it easier to transport heavy loads or large quantities of a product easily and securely, while facilitating easy storage and handling.

Some examples of tertiary packaging are:

  • Wooden pallets used in freight shipping
  • A stretch-wrapped pallet containing a large quantity of secondary packaged goods.

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Packaging Advantages

Packaging comes with its own set of advantages. These are:

  • It protects the product from any physical harm and damage.
  • It helps increasing sales as it adds to the aesthetic value of the product.
  • It keeps the product hygiene by preventing adulteration and hampering.
  • Some specialised packaging also prevents the products from going bad.

Packaging Disadvantages

While packaging forms an important element of a product, it comes with its own disadvantages. These are:

  • Packaging can be deceptive and may trick the customer into getting a wrong perception of the product.
  • It adds to the cost. Packaging can add to the cost of the product, which the customer eventually bears.
  • It adds to the waste that can turn hazardous, especially if it is plastic.

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Case Study 1

  • Neinor Homes, a residential development company in Spain, was having trouble with their sales in one of their development areas in Las Rozas, Madrid – in which they have lots of competitors in the real estate market.
  • So, LOVE SEES IT, a branding agency certified by Sortlist, came up with the proposal to launch a brand positioning project that tugs at the heartstrings of the people who live in Madrid – position the brand in a wider scope to reach more audiences.
  •  Their branding campaign is called “Adiós Princesa” (Goodbye Princess) which helped their target audience, who have grown so accustomed to their current neighbourhood, bid goodbye to their childhood streets and favourite squares; their past – positioning the brand in a way that appeals to the bittersweet sensation of leaving a familiar place. 
  •  The branding campaign was able to convey that the brand understands how challenging it can be to leave a place full of pleasant memories, but it’s good to embrace changes, especially if it’s about leading a better life, such as relocating to an even better place – emphasising the quality brought by the product.

  • As the video gets widely shared by their target market – organically – they also directed them to a landing page where clients can choose to receive a customised farewell letter that they can use to create their own goodbye to their neighbourhood – helping buyers add a personal touch as they embark on their new journey. 
  •  
  • What was the product positioning strategy used in the case?
  • What are the unique features of the strategy used by LOVE SEES IT?
  • According to you, what is the result of the strategy?

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Case study 2

  • Read the case carefully and answer the following questions.
  • P & G has 9 different brands of washing powder for different segments.
  • 1. Tide is 'so powerful, it cleans down to the fibre'. It's the all-purpose family detergent for extra-tough laundry jobs.
  • 2. Cheer with Colour Guard gives 'outstanding cleaning and colour protection. 3. Oxydol contains bleach. It 'makes your white clothes really white and your coloured clothes really bright.
  • 4. Gain, originally P & G's 'enzyme' detergent, was repositioned as the detergent that gives you clean, fresh-smelling clothes - it 'freshens like sunshine'.
  • 5. Bold is the detergent with fabric softener. It 'cleans, softens and controls static'. Bold liquid adds 'the fresh fabrie softener scent*.
  • 6. Ivory Snow is 'Ninety-nine and forty-four one hundred ths percentages pure'. It's the 'mild, gentle soap for diapers and baby clothes'.
  • 7. Dreft is also formulated for baby's nappies and clothes. It contains borax, 'nature's natural sweetener' for 'a clean you can trust'.
  • 8. Dash is P & G's value entry. It 'attacks tough dirt', but 'Dash does it for a great low price'.
  • 9. Era Plus has 'built-in stain removers'. It 'gets tough stains out and does a great job on your whole wash too'.
  • By segmenting the market and having several detergent brands, P & G has an attractive offering for customers in all import suit preference groups. All its brands combined hold a market share much greater than any single brand could obtain.
  • 1. Why does P & G spread its marketing effort across so many brands rather than concentrating on one ?
  • 2. When a company like P & G has so many brands, many of them often do not make money. That being the case, why do you think it keeps the loss-making brands?
  • 3. If you were in competition with P & G, would you match it brand for brand, concentrate on fewer segments or try to find new ones?
  • 5. Suggest alternative segments for P & G to enter and suggest how the
  • brands for Chat segment should be promoted.

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Case study 3

  • Choose a product of your choice, and explain the life cycle stages of the same. Also explain the STP strategy for the same.

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Question Bank

  • Part A
  • Why product development is considered as lifeblood of any business unit?
  • 2. Define market segmentation. What are the characteristics of a market segment?
  • 3. Illustrate demographic segmentation with suitable examples.
  • 4.Describe the four distinct stages of product life cycle and illustrate appropriate
  • marketing strategies during each stage. (8)
  • 5) Distinguish between product motive and consumer patronage motive.
  • 6)Explain different sources of product ideas with case examples (6)
  • 7) Explain test marketing with real life example. (4)
  • 8)Explain in detail segmentation, targeting and positioning in marketing. (10)
  • 9)Explain various factors affecting consumer behaviour (5)
  • 11) Explain the importance of extending maturity stage of Product life cycle. (5)
  • 12) Explain different sources of new product ideas. (5)
  • 13)How do you describe the different levels of segmentation? (5 )
  • 14) Enumerate the bases for segmentation. (5 )
  • 15) What do you mean the consumer behavior? ( 3)
  • 16) How do you enumerate the marketing strategies for different stages of product life cycle? (7 )
  •  17)How the cultural factors influence the consumer behavior? (5 )
  • 18)How do you understand the importance of controllable factors directed by top management? (7 )

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  • 19)How do you describe the different levels of segmentation? (5 )
  • 20) Enumerate the bases for segmentation. (5 )
  • 21) What do you mean the consumer behavior? ( 3)
  • 22) How do you enumerate the marketing strategies for different stages of product
  • life cycle? (7 )
  • 2 What are the qualities of a good segmentation? PO2,PO4
  • 3 List out the steps involved in segmentation process PO2,PO4
  • 4 Describe the methods in market segmentation PO2,PO4
  • 5 Who is consumer? PO2,PO4
  • 6 What is target market? PO2,PO4
  • 7 What is positioning? PO2,PO4
  • 8 What is consumer market segmentation? PO2,PO4
  • 9 What is consumer market? PO2,PO4
  • 10 How to select target market. PO2,PO4
  • 11 Describe segmentation and targeting as a basis for strategy formulation? PO2,PO4
  • 12 What is positioning strategy? PO2,PO4
  • 13 Explain communicating a positioning strategy? PO2,PO4
  • 14 What are the steps in developing and communicating strategy? PO2,PO4
  • 15 What is segmentation and targeting? PO2,PO4
  • 16 What are the factors affecting segmentation? PO2,PO4
  • 8 Define market segment PO2,PO4
  • 19 What is strategy formulation? PO2,PO4
  • 20 Explain policies of strategy formulation.

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  • 1 What is a product?
  • 2 What is the need of product management?
  • 3. Define product management
  • 4 What are the constituents of a product?
  • 5 What is core product?
  • 6 What is expected product?
  • 7.What is augmented product?
  • 8 What is actual product?
  • 9 What is product line?
  • 10 Write about product mix?
  • 11 Define new product
  • 12 What is new product development?
  • 13 Explain about classification of new product.
  • 14 List out advantageous and disadvantageous of new product
  • 15 What is product life cycle?
  • 16 What are the stages in product life cycle?
  • 17 Is PLC a tool?
  • 19 PLC as a tool for marketing strategy?

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