The rapid increase in the expenditure on below-the-line promotions (consumer and trade promotions, direct marketing, sponsorship and public relations) relative to above-the-line advertising (television, radio, print, outdoor and cinema) in South Africa has earmarked a new era of integrated marketing communication strategies across all sectors. Ultimately, this strategic shift has brought about a need to better understand the relationship between above-the-line advertising and below-the-line promotions and to measure the impact of such changes on company sales/profits over the long-term. In the research undertaken amongst 250 senior marketing, brand and product managers of South African brand-owned companies, the relationship between above-the-line advertising and below-the-line promotions in the marketing of South African products and services was investigated across six different economic sectors. It was evident from the findings that most brand-owned companies currently integrate above-the-line advertising and below-the-line promotion activities. The study shows that most brand-owned companies in South Africa combine press, radio and television (above-the-line) with consumer promotions (below-the-line). The most frequently used above-the-line advertising medium is television, which is also seen as the most important mode to support long-term brand building amongst consumers. In turn, print is regarded as the most important above-the-line mode to support trade franchise building. Most frequently used below-the-line modes include direct marketing and public relations. Direct mail and cooperative advertising are seen as the most important below-the-line consumer and trade franchise building modes respectively. Although marketing communication expenditure is positively skewed towards above-the-line adverstising, most recent trends show a gradual increase in the use of below-the-line promotions. To prevent a brand's sales/profits from decreasing over the long-term due to too high below-the-line promotional expenditure, the study encourages a sound balance between above-the-line advertising and below-the-line promotions. Although the ideal ratio of above-the-line advertising to below-the-line promotions is related to the nature of the product and service being marketed, the extent of competitive activity in the market and the frequency of purchase, amongst many other salient factors, the study regards a 60/40 ratio as the most ideal for building long-term brands. On the other hand, a ratio of 35/65 is regarded as the critical point at which company sales/profits may deteriorate because of too high below-the-line promotional spending. In conclusion it can be said that the marketing communication industry of South Africa has entered a period of integrated marketing communication practices which requires sound marketing communication budget strategies conducive to the long-term survival of South African products and services. / Business Management / D. Com. (Marketing Communication)

The rapid increase in the expenditure on below-the-line promotions (consumer and trade promotions, direct marketing, sponsorship and public relations) relative to above-the-line advertising (television, radio, print, outdoor and cinema) in South Africa has earmarked a new era of integrated marketing communication strategies across all sectors. Ultimately, this strategic shift has brought about a need to better understand the relationship between above-the-line advertising and below-the-line promotions and to measure the impact of such changes on company sales/profits over the long-term. In the research undertaken amongst 250 senior marketing, brand and product managers of South African brand-owned companies, the relationship between above-the-line advertising and below-the-line promotions in the marketing of South African products and services was investigated across six different economic sectors. It was evident from the findings that most brand-owned companies currently integrate above-the-line advertising and below-the-line promotion activities. The study shows that most brand-owned companies in South Africa combine press, radio and television (above-the-line) with consumer promotions (below-the-line). The most frequently used above-the-line advertising medium is television, which is also seen as the most important mode to support long-term brand building amongst consumers. In turn, print is regarded as the most important above-the-line mode to support trade franchise building. Most frequently used below-the-line modes include direct marketing and public relations. Direct mail and cooperative advertising are seen as the most important below-the-line consumer and trade franchise building modes respectively. Although marketing communication expenditure is positively skewed towards above-the-line adverstising, most recent trends show a gradual increase in the use of below-the-line promotions. To prevent a brand's sales/profits from decreasing over the long-term due to too high below-the-line promotional expenditure, the study encourages a sound balance between above-the-line advertising and below-the-line promotions. Although the ideal ratio of above-the-line advertising to below-the-line promotions is related to the nature of the product and service being marketed, the extent of competitive activity in the market and the frequency of purchase, amongst many other salient factors, the study regards a 60/40 ratio as the most ideal for building long-term brands. On the other hand, a ratio of 35/65 is regarded as the critical point at which company sales/profits may deteriorate because of too high below-the-line promotional spending. In conclusion it can be said that the marketing communication industry of South Africa has entered a period of integrated marketing communication practices which requires sound marketing communication budget strategies conducive to the long-term survival of South African products and services. / Business Management / D. Com. (Marketing Communication)

In the framework of public auctions the auction-companies work, which on the one hand face the problem of realizing the public auction from the point of view of marketing, on the other hand, at the same time, they try to be visible in the relationship the auctioneer and the auction proposer. It is a closed cycle whose task is to strengthen the marketing potential and, at the same time to increase the financial profit of the firm. The aim of this diplom thesis is focused on the advertising acivities of a smalll auction company, which at present is not very effective. This auction company has been lately rather successful and has proved its vitality, on the contrary, its profits in the form af the auctioneer´s rewards have started to stagnate. One of the reasons may be its lack of financial means which might have been released for the purpose of advertising. That is why, the aim of this diploma thesis is to avaluate the present advertising activities of an auction company. The positive and negative working of a concrete auctioneer in the public auctions market is going to be specified by help of single cases. The aim is also the identifying of the elementary mistakes giving evidences of bad advertising activities of the company. In the conclusion some recommendations concerning advertising activities are defined; their task is to enable small auction companies to make themselves more visible in the public auctions market.

With the aid of a "case study" research design, this thesis analyses the typology of informational services, whose prudent application can influence relations of institutions existing within the drama industry with the broader public. The theoretical part sheds light on the problematic definition of "information services", which is placed in the context of online marketing, and introduces ways, in which this term possesses an added value in the form of affecting the applied processes of public relations within particular institutions. Secondly, it includes basic methodological perspectives on quantitative research, the rules of performing case study research as the selected research design, and last but not least, it describes utilised methods of data collection. The last and most key part of the thesis is based on resulting application of the typology of information services, discussed in the previous parts, and concerns itself with the aforementioned question of their influence on public relation processes of individual institutions. These include the information portal divadlo.cz, which serves caters for the domestic sphere of theatre, and an official web presentation of the Divadlo na Zabradli theatre. The analysis is of inductive nature and is not directed by a previously determined...