Best Case Studies on Integrated Marketing Communication
Integrated marketing communications (IMC) is defined as the coordination and integration of all marketing communications tools, avenues, and sources in a company into a seamless program designed to maximize the impact on customers and other stakeholders. The program covers all of a firm’s business-to-business, market channel, and internally-directed communications — James G. Hutton
Previously we explained Integrated Marketing as a concept. In this series, we aim to further bolster your understanding of integrated marketing by evaluating case studies of companies that have taken an integrated marketing communication approach.
Highlighted below are case-studies of different brands and companies that exhibit an integrated marketing communication approach.
Integrated Marketing Communication Case Study #1 — Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American technology company.
It develops, manufactures, licenses, supports and sells computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services.
Their mission is to “empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.”
Integrated Marketing Communication Channels:
Print and Media are a pivotal part of Microsoft’s marketing strategy. Microsoft spends upwards of $1.5 Billion for Print and Media alone.
One of its ingenious print advertising campaigns for Microsoft’s Office 365 software includes the WiFi enabled promotion on the Forbes magazine.
A sleek router with a battery placed within the magazine gave its subscribers free wifi for 15 days. This gimmick ensured that the reader had to keep the magazine with him at all times and contributed multiple exposures of the ad to the reader.
Currently, Microsoft is undertaking a slow shift from traditional media to social media and other online platforms.
A Microsoft Integrated Marketing Communication Approach:
Microsoft has been continuously taking up several Artificial Intelligence projects and has placed AI high up in its product portfolio.
To promote its AI offerings, Microsoft teamed up with Carlsberg to use AI to speed up the process of brewing new flavors of the beer.
They have marketed this project using the integrated marketing approach using a multitude of channels.
Video Promotions across — Facebook and Youtube
PR — Articles in well-read newspapers like the Financial Times.
Integrated Marketing Communication Case Study #2 — Emirates
Emirates started with two leased aircraft in 1985 and currently operates 265 aircraft to over 155 destinations.
Traditional Media
Commercials and print advertisements in significant media highlight the airline’s new products, routes, and aircraft.
The airline actively sponsors a bunch of sports events like soccer, horse racing, tennis. In addition to that, it has signed a sponsorship deal with large football clubs like Arsenal. Its presence in the Asian Football Confederation has also ensured the middle eastern airline high level of visibility across Asia.
Owned Media
Publishes two in-flight magazines to reach its customers.
The best-of-its-class in-flight entertainment system that allows the airline to publicize its latest offers, partners, and services.
An official retail website for customers to buy merchandise.
Millennial Appeal:
The airline is adopting a sustainable environmental strategy to protect natural resources and reduce air pollution.
Being a step ahead and ensuring that their fleet is up-to-date with the latest, most fuel-efficient aircraft.
Emirates uses a variety of marketing communication tools in an integrated way to deliver one message:
The high quality of its services.
This message is the underlying theme of all its marketing activities.
All of these communication tools have helped Emirates to appeal to a large number of travelers all over the world and to create a stable, positive image about its services.
Here’s an example of one of their integrated marketing communications: Print Advertisement Campaign
Emirates: Hello Tomorrow — Television Campaign
Integrated Marketing Communication Case Study #3 — Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo is a financial services giant and world’s third largest bank.
Over the past few years, the company was inundated in big scams. They have turned to complete integrated marketing and rebranding efforts to win back the trust of their customers and stakeholders.
Their latest integrated marketing campaign is called ‘This is Wells Fargo’
Integrated Marketing Communication Channels
Integrated Marketing Communication Approach:
Ads themed around the development of Control Tower, a feature that provides customers with secure and centralized access to their account information.
Another ad features Financial Health Bankers who provide financial advise targeted towards millennials. These ads are supplemented by tweets like these that offer security tips to their customers.
The company offered a comprehensive description of the ‘This is Wells Fargo’ campaign through a 2-page print ad in the Wall Street Journal.
Thus Well Fargo combined the above-integrated marketing communication channels to develop a well-rounded campaign that was very well received by its audience.
All the communication highlights the confluence of people and technology which is vital to transforming Wells Fargo’s customer experience.
Integrated Marketing Communication Case Study #4 — Taco Bell
Taco Bell is one of the large restaurant chains that fall under the umbrella of Yum! Brands Inc. A couple of other brands that fall under its ambit are KFC and Pizza Hut.
Taco Bell, a Mexican-cuisine inspired fast food chain, operates with over 6650 restaurant chains and has approximately 46 million customers in a week.
Amongst the chains under the Yum! Brands portfolio, Taco Bell was at the helm in terms of profitability. They had some great advertising campaigns like the “Yo Quiero Taco Bell” campaign that starred a Chihuahua with an attitude who grew into a pop-culture icon. The ads created the highest advertising awareness for the chain and positioned Taco Bell as a cool place to eat.
This changed after the recession. By 2011 Taco Bell was coming off its 3-year slump when the marketers at Taco Bell decided to change things up.
DraftFCB, Taco Bell’s advertising agency, designed an integrated marketing campaign to position TB as a multicultural experience of food.
Integrated Marketing Communication Approach:
Taco Bell launched a new campaign slogan, “Live Más” (más is Spanish for “more”), to make the brand attractive and relevant to young, and cross-cultural consumers.
Rolled out new products and an upscale menu to penetrate the market of health-conscious customers.
Co-Branding with Doritos to launch the famous DLTs (Doritos Locos Tacos)
Integrated Marketing Communication Activities:
A huge buzz created by the integrated marketing effort made DLTs responsible for nearly a quarter of the Taco Sales.
They consequently posted an 8% increase in sales.
A commercial based on a Youtube video of a customer who drove 900 miles to try the DLTs.
A montage of Instagram posts in which customers were trying the DLTs for the first time.
Influencers were identified amongst the fans and were invited to try the DLTs which motivated them to spread the word about DLTs through their social media channels.
A 60 second Super Bown Ad on the Live Mas theme which featured a bunch of senior citizens sneaking out of their retirement home to party and after a long night of crazy pursuits they finish at Taco Bell for a bite before heading back.
This ad received a lot of attention on social media and drove a lot of traffic towards the brand.
Launched a Taco Bell Mobile Ordering and Payment App.
Testing out platforms like Periscope to catch the attention of Generation Z. Ex. Using Periscope to live stream the launch of a new product
Taco Bell has now started the Taco Bell Live Mas Scholarship supports innovators, creators, and dreamers who want to make a difference in the world.
Integrated Marketing Communication Channels Used:
Taco Bell combed through their social media feeds to find user-generated content that they broadcasted on their TV spots, seamlessly integrating two channels which were until then believed to be incompatible.
Conclusion:
From the above campaigns, we can conclude that traditional and digital channels were leveraged for their respective strengths. In a few settings, digital and traditional channels are also used to supplement each other through a campaign.
The universal marketing mix — Product, Price, Place, and Promotions. An integrated marketing communication plan executed by the above companies encapsulates all the above components of the marketing mix into a single well-ordered plan.
Originally published at https://www.paperflite.com.
