<p>Title: Creating high awareness – A study in how a company can create awareness with cost efficient marketing methods. (Skapande av hög medvetenhet – En studie i hur ett företag kan skapa medvetenhet med kostnadseffektiva marknadsförings metoder).</p><p>Authors: Alexander Edlund and Fredrik Hansson</p><p>Aim: Our aim is to reveal the pros and cons of cost efficient marketing and decide which cost efficient method works best in creating awareness. We also want to determine if the methods can be integrated in a successful way to achieve greater awareness.</p><p>Method/Material: We have made a qualitative approach by conducting three in depth interviews with the company Bluetooth SIG’s marketing director Anders Edlund. Our theoretical foundation is mainly built on theory from the databases and library supported by Uppsala University.</p><p>Main results: We discovered that co-branding and PR are the two most cost efficient methods in creating awareness for the company Bluetooth SIG. We also found the possibility of integrating the methods in a way that effectively strengthens and reinforces the awareness. We recommend future research in both areas to further examine our results.</p><p>Number of pages: 32 pages including abstract and references</p><p>Course: FEK C, Bachelors thesis</p><p>University: Department of Business Studies, Uppsala University</p><p>Period: 2007, Spring semester</p><p>Tutor: Olivia Kang</p><p>Keywords: Awareness, cost efficient marketing, integrating, Bluetooth, co-branding, PR, online-marketing, word-of-mouth/buzz marketing</p>

Title: Creating high awareness – A study in how a company can create awareness with cost efficient marketing methods. (Skapande av hög medvetenhet – En studie i hur ett företag kan skapa medvetenhet med kostnadseffektiva marknadsförings metoder). Authors: Alexander Edlund and Fredrik Hansson Aim: Our aim is to reveal the pros and cons of cost efficient marketing and decide which cost efficient method works best in creating awareness. We also want to determine if the methods can be integrated in a successful way to achieve greater awareness. Method/Material: We have made a qualitative approach by conducting three in depth interviews with the company Bluetooth SIG’s marketing director Anders Edlund. Our theoretical foundation is mainly built on theory from the databases and library supported by Uppsala University. Main results: We discovered that co-branding and PR are the two most cost efficient methods in creating awareness for the company Bluetooth SIG. We also found the possibility of integrating the methods in a way that effectively strengthens and reinforces the awareness. We recommend future research in both areas to further examine our results. Number of pages: 32 pages including abstract and references Course: FEK C, Bachelors thesis University: Department of Business Studies, Uppsala University Period: 2007, Spring semester Tutor: Olivia Kang Keywords: Awareness, cost efficient marketing, integrating, Bluetooth, co-branding, PR, online-marketing, word-of-mouth/buzz marketing

Sociala medier beskrivs idag som en ny marknadsföringsplattform med en rad olika kommunikationskanaler. Något som är utmärkande för just denna plattform är den makt som ges till konsumenterna i och med att en stor del av kommunikationen numera ligger hos dem. Detta ger företag som skall marknadsföra sig en ny roll och en svårighet uppstår i hur de skall anpassa sitt varumärke efter de nya kanalerna. Baserat på detta problem har studiens syfte formulerats vilket är att ta fram underlag för hur ett företag med B2B-inriktning kan marknadsföra sig och sitt varumärke i olika sociala mediekanaler och hur valet av dessa kanaler påverkar företagets varumärkesvärde. Uppsatsen utgår ifrån fyra huvudområden vilka är marknadsföring, B2B, varumärken samt sociala medier och tillsammans utgör de den teoretiska grunden i arbetet. Studien har genomförts med en kvalitativ metod i form av intervjuer som strävar efter att ge svar på hur ett B2B-företag skall arbeta med marknadsföring i sociala medier för att stärka sitt varumärke. I arbetet har även ett caseföretag vid namn Elanders använts. Det är ett B2B-företag som i nuläget står utan marknadsföring i sociala medier men som har uttryckt en önskan om att påbörja ett arbete med detta. Empirin i studien har framtagits med hjälp av intervjuer och sedan delats upp i två delar. En del som enbart berör företaget Elanders och en annan del som fokuserar på branschkunnigas åsikter om marknadsföring, sociala medier och varumärken. Empirin har sedan analyserats med hjälp av studiens teorier samt modeller. Studien har gett svar på hur B2B-företag kan ta hjälp av sociala medier för att stärka sitt varumärke, men även uppmärksammat vilka fällor som dessa företag bör akta sig för gällande användandet av denna typ av marknadsföring. Vidare har studien kunnat ge konkreta råd om vilka och vilket antal kanaler som anses lämpligt att använda samt hur B2B-företag bör gå tillväga för att upprätthålla kanalerna på bästa möjliga sätt. Studien visar även på relevansen att företaget i ett tidigt stadium tänker ut en tydlig strategi som stämmer överens med dess resterande mål och marknadsföring samt vikten av att det ger någon det huvudsakliga ansvaret för kanalerna. Ett B2B-företag bör även införskaffa kunskap om sökmotoroptimering, tänkbar konkurrens och ha en tydlig bild av kundernas användande av sociala medier. / Social media is today described as a new marketing platform with a series of different communication channels. Something that is especially unique for this platform is the power that has been given to the consumers based on the fact that a great part of the communication takes place through them. This gives the companies who are going to market themselves a totally different role and a difficulty arises in how to adapt their brand after these new channels. The study therefore aims to provide guidelines for how a B2B company can market themselves and their brand in social media channels and how the choice of these channels affects the company’s brand. Marketing, B2B, branding and social media are the four main areas forming this essay, and together they create the theoretical foundation of the work. The study has been made with a qualitative approach with interviews that seeks to provide answers on how a B2B company should work with marketing in social media to strengthen its brand. The study has also used a company named Elanders as a case. Elanders is a B2B company that currently does not market itself in social media but has expressed a desire to do so. The empirical data in the study has been developed by interviews and has then been divided into two parts. One that only address the company Elanders and another one that focus on the opinions of experts regarding marketing, social media and branding. The empirical data has then been analyzed by looking at the theory and the models of the study. As a result we now have answers regarding how a B2B company can strengthen its brand by using social media, but also what kind of traps a company should be aware of regarding the use of this type of marketing. Furthermore, the study give specific advice on which channels to use and how many that are considered appropriate in order to maintain the channels in a successful way. We have in this study also been able to see the relevance of formatting a clear strategy that is consistent with a B2B company’s goals and marketing and the importance to give someone the main responsibility for the channels. It is also beneficial for a B2B company to learn more about search engine optimization, to be aware of potential competition and to have a clear picture of how the customers use social media.

Purpose – Target of this study is to develop a social media framework, the essential “ingredient” for a social media concept for the destination Usedom. The following question is in the centre of this investigations attention:  How to create awareness and dialogue by using Social Media for the destination Usedom taking into account the new Usedom Welcome Visitor Centre that will be open 2011? Methodology/approach – Mainly, an observational approach as research method is used to answer the research question, collecting empirical data not by questioning respondents, but by observing different forms of activity. Writing about social media, to use the Internet for observational research is natural and can be further enhanced due to the accessibility and retrieval of information and cross-validation of the information available from several sources. Findings – Social media marketing eliminates the middlemen and provides destinations with the unique opportunity to have a direct relationship with their customers. In today’s knowledge-society where people want to engage – want to be active – want to create content on their own people talk: online and offline - positive or negative – with or without the destination NOT participating is NO option. In case of the isle of Usedom, the Social media concept should be of listening and outreach character. As a holistic marketing approach where “everything matters” is needed for destinations, online and offline activities need each other. In addition to social media marketing even search engine optimisation, ad words and target mails are important tools for a successful online strategy. Research limitations/implications – Most important is the time limitation. The validity period is limited. A Social Media framework of today is not the social media framework of the future. Social media is changing rapidly. New channels appear - others disappear. Moreover, another limitation is the subjectivity: the author of this study observes the Internet in accordance to the research question and allocates a sample pursuant to her knowledge and experience. Practical implications – Aside from the destinations’ website being adapted by social media elements, Facebook serves as ideal tool to nurture relationships between the customer and the destination by being creative, honest and assessing competitors as partners. As one of the easiest and most versatile social networks for professionals today, Facebook is a profile and presence aggregator, channelling all online activity through one main hub and combining almost every online social tool that can be used. Originality/value – Targeting the destination Usedom, but also being applicable for other German tourist destinations, this study provides both: a theoretical and with ideas filled framework to create awareness and dialogue by using social media as complement to traditional marketing activities. Being the first investigation that has been done for the destination Usedom in the field of social media, this study aims to inspire other tourist destinations as well as students to learn about social media and to further investigate in this field.

<p>The Internet has opened up new opportunities for companies to market and sell their products online. In the early days of internet marketing and still some of the more widely used methods are Pop-ups and Banners. Earlier research and academic studies have proven these methods of being perceived as irritating and more or less ignored. With this in mind, marketers have been searching to find new and alternative ways of marketing, in addition to the traditional methods. Eventually, when the trend of blogs and communities began growing, so did the companies interests towards them. Because of the new possible forms of marketing online, and due to the companies increasing effort of receiving better value regarding their advertisement budget, the purpose of this thesis is to examine if marketing on sites such as blogs and communities are more positively perceived upon among internet users. In some cases, this has been examined in relation to the more traditional means of online marketing. Furthermore, we examined whether or not the tailoring of advertisements had more effect on users, and if there were any differences in the general perception of blog- and community advertisements among male and female consumers.</p><p>The empirical data needed was gathered quantitatively through an online survey, based on the consumer point of view of this matter. As it became difficult to attain any response from users of internet blogs, the study became more focused on communities and forums. The survey was placed on three communities within current areas of interest; Home electronics, Sports and training, and Family life. Furthermore, a conceptualization was made out of the theoretical chapter, and was used for the analyzing of the data.</p><p>The results indicate that a majority of the respondents are more positive towards advertisements on blogs and communities, as well as customized advertisements within these mediums. It was further found that these advertisements did not disrupt the surfer’s flow as much as traditional mediums. The findings also show that a majority of the respondents are aware of online advertisements in general, and just as many have developed a dislike towards them. However, the male respondents have a more positive view of advertisements on blogs and communities, than the female. The same finding appeared in regard to tailored ads; while male consumers consider these as more acceptable, the female respondents have an indifferent opinion. To the question of why advertisement on these mediums were more regarded upon, the most common response was due to these ads being considered as more related to their interests. Conclusively, tailored ads that are developed and placed in relation to the website and its content have a larger effect on internet users, than do random advertisements.</p>

The Internet has opened up new opportunities for companies to market and sell their products online. In the early days of internet marketing and still some of the more widely used methods are Pop-ups and Banners. Earlier research and academic studies have proven these methods of being perceived as irritating and more or less ignored. With this in mind, marketers have been searching to find new and alternative ways of marketing, in addition to the traditional methods. Eventually, when the trend of blogs and communities began growing, so did the companies interests towards them. Because of the new possible forms of marketing online, and due to the companies increasing effort of receiving better value regarding their advertisement budget, the purpose of this thesis is to examine if marketing on sites such as blogs and communities are more positively perceived upon among internet users. In some cases, this has been examined in relation to the more traditional means of online marketing. Furthermore, we examined whether or not the tailoring of advertisements had more effect on users, and if there were any differences in the general perception of blog- and community advertisements among male and female consumers. The empirical data needed was gathered quantitatively through an online survey, based on the consumer point of view of this matter. As it became difficult to attain any response from users of internet blogs, the study became more focused on communities and forums. The survey was placed on three communities within current areas of interest; Home electronics, Sports and training, and Family life. Furthermore, a conceptualization was made out of the theoretical chapter, and was used for the analyzing of the data. The results indicate that a majority of the respondents are more positive towards advertisements on blogs and communities, as well as customized advertisements within these mediums. It was further found that these advertisements did not disrupt the surfer’s flow as much as traditional mediums. The findings also show that a majority of the respondents are aware of online advertisements in general, and just as many have developed a dislike towards them. However, the male respondents have a more positive view of advertisements on blogs and communities, than the female. The same finding appeared in regard to tailored ads; while male consumers consider these as more acceptable, the female respondents have an indifferent opinion. To the question of why advertisement on these mediums were more regarded upon, the most common response was due to these ads being considered as more related to their interests. Conclusively, tailored ads that are developed and placed in relation to the website and its content have a larger effect on internet users, than do random advertisements.

A Internet vem transformando a maneira como as pessoas compram e buscam por informações sobre produtos. Para locais onde as ofertas físicas apresentam algum tipo de restrição, os canais online podem trazer mudanças ainda mais significativas, já que oferecem aos consumidores um sortimento virtualmente ilimitado. O objetivo deste trabalho foi o de analisar a influência do número de habitantes de uma cidade em relação à predisposição à seleção e compra de produtos de uma empresa que administra campanhas de divulgação pela Internet para venda por atacado. As cidades foram divididas em três grupos conforme o número de habitantes e as principais métricas de performance das campanhas online foram comparadas entre os grupos através de análises de estatísticas descritivas, ANOVA e testes post hoc. Os grupos apresentaram diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre si em todas as etapas do processo de busca e compra. A principal diferença encontrada foi no momento em que os usuários preencheram cadastros no site, demonstrando interesse nos produtos. Nesta etapa, os consumidores de municípios de menor porte se cadastraram proporcionalmente mais do que o dobro dos de cidades de porte intermediário e mais de três vezes em relação ao grupo das maiores, o que impactou diretamente no custo por venda realizada e nas taxas absolutas de vendas. / The Internet has been changing the way people buy and search for new products. In places where the assortment in brick-and-mortar stores is restricted, online channels may represent a significant change in the landscape, due to the fact that they carry virtually unlimited offers. The aim of this study is to analyze the influence of the number of inhabitants of a city on their likelihood of selecting and purchasing products from a company which runs online marketing campaigns for resellers. The cities were divided in three groups according to the population size. In addition, the main metrics for online campaigns were compared among groups through descriptive statistics, ANOVAs and pot hoc tests. There was a statistically significant difference among the groups in all steps of the search and purchase process. The main difference was found when the users fill in the forms in the website, demonstrating interest in the product. In this stage, customers from smaller cities showed a registering rate which was more than twice as much higher than the medium-sized cities group and more than three times the amount of the larger cities group, which led to a direct impact on the cost-per-sale and absolute sales rates.

The objective of this thesis is to investigate the potential of multi channel distribution in the sweets industry and derive specific recommendations. The aim is to identify what are chances and risks, and how to make chances more probable while avoiding risks. An empirical study is carried out which utilizes the perspectives of customers and sales persons as well (triangulation). The main results are that the benefits of multi channel marketing do not materialize for customers for low valued sweets, but that multi channel marketing is valuable in the sweets industry only for highly valued products, like precious pralines. Here multi channel marketing may generate new customers, or it may contribute to sales in existing channels. This kind of synergy may arise if channels do not compete but are closely interlinked. This is the most important chance since this kind of synergy adds to the convenience of customers (thereby raising sales) and reduces the risks of channel conflicts, cannibalization, and conflicts with retailers.

A Internet vem transformando a maneira como as pessoas compram e buscam por informações sobre produtos. Para locais onde as ofertas físicas apresentam algum tipo de restrição, os canais online podem trazer mudanças ainda mais significativas, já que oferecem aos consumidores um sortimento virtualmente ilimitado. O objetivo deste trabalho foi o de analisar a influência do número de habitantes de uma cidade em relação à predisposição à seleção e compra de produtos de uma empresa que administra campanhas de divulgação pela Internet para venda por atacado. As cidades foram divididas em três grupos conforme o número de habitantes e as principais métricas de performance das campanhas online foram comparadas entre os grupos através de análises de estatísticas descritivas, ANOVA e testes post hoc. Os grupos apresentaram diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre si em todas as etapas do processo de busca e compra. A principal diferença encontrada foi no momento em que os usuários preencheram cadastros no site, demonstrando interesse nos produtos. Nesta etapa, os consumidores de municípios de menor porte se cadastraram proporcionalmente mais do que o dobro dos de cidades de porte intermediário e mais de três vezes em relação ao grupo das maiores, o que impactou diretamente no custo por venda realizada e nas taxas absolutas de vendas. / The Internet has been changing the way people buy and search for new products. In places where the assortment in brick-and-mortar stores is restricted, online channels may represent a significant change in the landscape, due to the fact that they carry virtually unlimited offers. The aim of this study is to analyze the influence of the number of inhabitants of a city on their likelihood of selecting and purchasing products from a company which runs online marketing campaigns for resellers. The cities were divided in three groups according to the population size. In addition, the main metrics for online campaigns were compared among groups through descriptive statistics, ANOVAs and pot hoc tests. There was a statistically significant difference among the groups in all steps of the search and purchase process. The main difference was found when the users fill in the forms in the website, demonstrating interest in the product. In this stage, customers from smaller cities showed a registering rate which was more than twice as much higher than the medium-sized cities group and more than three times the amount of the larger cities group, which led to a direct impact on the cost-per-sale and absolute sales rates.

O canal online de vendas de varejo por meio da Internet tem mostrado impressionante crescimento em termos de uso por parte dos consumidores desde o início dos anos 2000 até 2011, com boas perspectivas de trajetória ascendente para os próximos anos. Essa evolução realça a importância de se realizar planejamento estratégico de negócios que leve em conta o advento da era digital. A segmentação de mercado, tema central deste estudo, é o primeiro requisito para a formulação das estratégias de marketing das empresas, segundo Lambin (2000). Wedel e Kamakura (2000) e Kotler e Keller (2006) são as principais referências para os conceitos de segmentação utilizados neste estudo. Com uma amostra por conveniência formada por 743 consumidores do Brasil, procurou-se investigar, em uma primeira etapa, de caráter exploratório, aspectos ou fatores relacionados ao comportamento de aquisição de produtos no contexto do varejo online. Foi encontrada, principalmente, uma significante relação positiva entre o tempo desde a primeira compra online e maiores frequências de compra anuais pela Internet, o que sugere a importância da familiaridade e confiança para uso mais frequente do canal. A segunda e a terceira etapas foram baseadas principalmente em um modelo proposto por Overby e Lee (2006), que sugere a existência de relações de dependência entre \"intenção de compra\" versus \"valores associados à utilização do canal online\" e \"preferência por determinado site\". Na segunda etapa, de caráter correlacional, foi verificado que os dados coletados se ajustaram adequadamente ao modelo em questão por meio do uso de modelagem de equações estruturais. O objetivo da terceira etapa era verificar a existência de diferenças nas relações de dependência entre os fatores quando são considerados diferentes grupos de consumidores. Conforme recomendações de Hahn et al. (2002), isto foi feito por meio do uso das técnicas de mistura finita em PLS (FIMIX-PLS) e posteriormente por análise de multigrupos em PLS (PLS-MGA) (Henseler et al., 2009). Foram encontradas diferenças significantes para a importância de fatores ao se considerarem os seguintes segmentos: \"feminino\" (as mulheres deram mais importância para o \"valor utilitário\" do que o observado para a amostra total), \"pessoas que dão pouca importância à familiaridade com a loja online\" e \"pessoas que compram online 1 ou 2 vezes ao ano\" (essas pessoas deram mais importância ao \"valor hedônico\" que o observado para a amostra total) e \"compradores de livros\" (que deram menos importância para a preferência que o observado para a amostra total). A análise das diferenças nas relações entre os fatores contribuiu para a atribuição de avaliações de \"grau de resposta\" para cada segmento em relação aos fatores estudados. O grau de resposta é um dos critérios mais críticos para uma segmentação de mercado eficaz e consequentemente pode gerar subsídios importantes para o planejamento estratégico de marketing no contexto do varejo online. / The online retail channel has shown impressive growth in terms of its use by consumers since the beginning of years 2000 up to 2011, with good perspectives of growth for the next years. This growth enhances the business-oriented importance of carrying through strategic planning that takes into account the advent of the digital age. Market segmentation, a central theme of this study, is the first requisite for the formulation of marketing strategies by companies according to Lambin (2000). Wedel and Kamakura (2000) and Kotler and Keller (2006) are the main references for the concepts of segmentation mentioned in this study. With a convenience sample formed by 743 Brazilian consumers, the purpose was to investigate, with an exploratory character at a first stage, aspects or factors related to consumer behavior when purchasing products in the context of online retailing. The main finding of this stage was a significant positive relation between \"the time since the first online purchase\"(time since adoption of the channel) and greater annual frequencies of purchase on the Internet. This suggests the importance of familiarity and confidence for generating more frequent use of the online retail channel by consumers. Second and third stages of this study were mainly based on a model proposed by Overby and Lee (2006) which suggests the existence of dependence relationships between \"purchase intention\" versus \"values associated to the use of online channel\" and \"preference for determined online site\". The second stage had correlacional character, and it was verified that the collected data were adjusted adequately to the model in question by means of using structural equation modeling. The objective of the third stage was to verify the existence of differences in dependence relationships among the studied factors when different groups of consumers were considered. Finite mixtures in PLS (FIMIX-PLS procedures) and multi-group analysis in PLS (MGA-PLS) were made following recommendations of Hahn et al. (2002) and Henseler et al. (2009) respectively. Significant differences for the importance of factors for different segments were found: \"feminine\" (women gave more importance to the \"utilitarian value\" when compared the total sample), \"people who give little importance to the familiarity with the online store\" and \"people who buy online 1 or 2 times per year\" (these groups gave more importance to hedonic value when compared to total sample) and finally \"book purchasers\" (who gave less importance to preference when compared to total sample\"). Analysis of the differences in the relationships among the studied factors contributed for evaluating the \"responsiveness\" criterion for each segment. Responsiveness is one of the most critical criteria for effectiveness of any market segmentation and consequently this contribution can generate important subsidies for strategic marketing planning in the context of online retailing.