The basic elements of a marketing strategy consist of (1) the target market, and (2) the marketing mix variables of product, price, place and promotion that combine to satisfy the needs of the target market.
Marketing Framework
The basic elements of a marketing
strategy consist of (1) the target market, and (2) the marketing mix variables
of product, price, place and promotion that combine to satisfy the needs of the
target market. The outer circle in Figure 1.1.1 lists environmental
characteristics that provide the framework within which marketing strategies
are planned.

Target consumers
Marketing activities focus on the
consumer. Therefore, a market-driven organization begins its overall strategy
with a detailed description of its target market: the group of people toward
whom the firm decides to direct its marketing efforts. Marketing mix
After marketers select a target
market, they direct their activities towards profitably satisfying that target
segment. Although they must manipulate many variables to reach this goal,
marketing decision making can be divided into four areas: product, price, place
(distribution) and promotion (marketing communication). These 4 Ps of marketing
are referred to as the marketing mix. The 4 Ps blend to fit the needs and preferences
of a specific target market. These are the four variables that a marketer can use and control in different combinations to create value
for customers. Figure 1.1.1 illustrates the
focus of the marketing mix variables on the central choice of consumer or
organizational target markets. 1.
The product strategy involves
deciding what goods and services the firm should offer to a group of consumers
and also making decisions about customer service, brand name, packaging,
labeling, product life cycles and new product development. 2.
The pricing strategy deals with
the methods of setting profitable and justifiable prices. Marketers develop
place (distribution) strategy to ensure that consumers find their products
available in the proper quantities at the right times and places. 3. Place strategy involve decisions related to the distribution
functions and marketing intermediaries (channel members). 4.
In the promotional strategy,
marketers blend together the various elements of promotion to communicate most effectively
with their target market. Many firms use an approach called Integrated
Marketing Communications (IMC) to coordinate all promotional activities so that
the consumer receives a unified, consistent and effective message. Environmental factors. Unlike the
controllable marketing mix elements, the environmental variables frequently lie
outside the control of marketers. Marketers do not make decisions about target
markets and marketing mix variables in a vacuum. They must take into account
the dynamic nature of the five marketing environmental dimensions as shown in
Figure 1.1.1 – competitive, political-legal, economic, technological and
social-cultural dimensions.1. Marketers compete for the same
consumers. So the developments in the
competitive environment will have lot of repercussions.2. The
political-legal environment includes the governing and regulatory bodies
that impose guidelines
to the marketers.
Adherence
to the law of the land is an imperative for a marketer to be a good and
responsible corporate citizen.3. The economic environment dictates
the mood in the target market
participants who take decisions such as to buy or save, to buy now or later. 4. The technological environment can
spell life or death for a marketer
with break-through technologies. Marketers often leap forward or get left
behind owing to the changes in the technological environment.5. The social-cultural environment
offers cues for the marketers to ‘connect’
well with the target market. Failure on part of the marketer to understand the
social-cultural environment will have serious consequences. A marketers can not
afford to rub a society/culture on the wrong side!
Tags : MARKETING MANAGEMENT - Introduction to Marketing
Last 30 days 1305 views