Advertising Promotion and Other Aspects of Integrated Marketing Communications 9th Edition
Shimp Andrews 1111580219 9781111580216
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Chapter 9 Overview of Advertising Management
TRUE/FALSE
1. Advertising is defined as “a paid, mediated form of communication from an identifiable source, designed to persuade the receiver to take some action, now or in the future.”
ANS: T PTS: 1
2. The difference between advertising and public relations is that, for advertising, media exposure is paid for by the advertiser, and for public relations it is not.
ANS: T PTS: 1
3. Most advertising is undertaken by companies that market their brands to other companies (B2B advertising).
ANS: F PTS: 1
4. Over half of world-wide ad spending takes place in the United States.
ANS: T PTS: 1
5. Of the product categories of automobiles, computers and software, drugs, food, personal care items, and telephone service, the category of automobiles has the highest average advertising-to-sales ratio.
ANS: F PTS: 1
6. Smaller competitors in an industry typically have to invest relatively larger percentages of their sales revenues in advertising than do larger competitors.
ANS: T PTS: 1
7. Even though advertising is costly, its effects are certain.
ANS: F PTS: 1
8. Most successful companies are aware that consistent investment spending is the key factor underlying successful advertising.
ANS: T PTS: 1
9. Advertising’s most important function is to increase sales.
ANS: F PTS: 1
10. Advertising is an efficient form of communication, capable of reaching mass audiences at a relatively low cost per contact.
ANS: T PTS: 1
11. Usage expansion advertising consists of teaching new uses for existing brands.
ANS: T PTS: 1
12. Primary demand is creating demand for a specific company's brand.
ANS: F PTS: 1
13. Secondary demand is creating demand for an entire product category.
ANS: F PTS: 1
14. A commercial that creates demand for Mountain Dew is an example of secondary demand.
ANS: T PTS: 1
15. One function of advertising is to increase brand salience, which means enriching the memory trace for a brand such that the brand comes to mind in relevant choice situations.
ANS: T PTS: 1
16. Advertising has not been demonstrated to influence brand switching.
ANS: F PTS: 1
17. There are three basic ways by which companies can add value to their offerings: innovating, altering consumer perceptions, and lowering price.
ANS: F PTS: 1
18. Advertising adds value to brands by influencing perceptions.
ANS: T PTS: 1
19. Advertising’s primary role is at times to facilitate other marcom efforts.
ANS: T PTS: 1
20. Account executives are involved in tactical decision making and day-to-day contact with brand managers and other client personnel.
ANS: T PTS: 1
21. Advertising management generally involves the organization that has a product or service to advertise and an independent agency, or agencies, responsible for creating ads, making media choices, and measuring results.
ANS: T PTS: 1
22. Advertising strategy implementation involves setting objectives, devising budgets, creating messages, and developing the media strategy.
ANS: F PTS: 1
23. Measuring advertising effectiveness often requires that baseline measures be taken before an advertising campaign begins and then afterward to determine whether the objective was achieved.
ANS: T PTS: 1
24. Most of the major U.S. ad agencies are located in Los Angeles.
ANS: F PTS: 1
25. In an in-house advertising operation, the advertiser employs an advertising staff and absorbs the overhead required to maintain the staff’s operations.
ANS: T PTS: 1
26. One advantage of purchasing advertising services a la carte from specialized agencies is potential cost efficiencies.
ANS: T PTS: 1
27. An advantage of using a full-service advertising agency is the ability to obtain negotiating leverage with the media.
ANS: T PTS: 1
28. Media planners are responsible for developing the overall media strategy and purchasing the specific media vehicles for the advertiser.
ANS: F PTS: 1
29. Account management provides the mechanism to link the agency with the client.
ANS: T PTS: 1
30. Management supervisors in a full-service agency are involved in tactical decision making and day-to-day contact with brand managers and other client personnel.
ANS: F PTS: 1
31. Historically, advertising agencies charged a standard commission of 20 percent of the gross amount of media billings.
ANS: F PTS: 1
32. The most common advertising agency compensation method today is a labor-based fee system.
ANS: T PTS: 1
33. Outcome-based programs represent the oldest approach to agency compensation.
ANS: F PTS: 1
34. Outcome-based compensation programs encourages agencies to use whatever IMC programs are needed to build brand sales.
ANS: T PTS: 1
35. Whether one chooses to invest or disinvest in advertising a brand depends largely on expectations about how advertising will influence a brand’s sales volume and revenue.
ANS: T PTS: 1
36. In terms of profitability, investing in advertising can be justified only if the incremental revenue generated from the advertising effort exceeds the advertising expense.
ANS: T PTS: 1
37. Most sophisticated companies are willing to place their bets on advertising’s ability to boost revenues and thus enhance profits from the revenue-increase side rather than from the expense-reduction side.
ANS: T PTS: 1
38. Elasticity is a measure of how responsive quantity demanded is to changes in marketing variables such as price and advertising.
ANS: T PTS: 1
39. An ad price elasticity coefficient of 0.15 indicates that a one percent increase in ad expenditures increases volume by 15 percent.
ANS: F PTS: 1
40. Advertising elasticity is, in fact, a measure of advertising strength.
ANS: T PTS: 1
41. Creating better, more creative, and stronger advertising than competitors can lead to increased market shares.
ANS: T PTS: 1
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. _____ is a paid, mediated form of communication from an identifiable source, designed to persuade the receiver to take some action, now or in the future.
a. Public relations
b. Advertising
c. Communications
d. Marketing
e. Marcom
ANS: B PTS: 1
2. To distinguish advertising, which typically is conveyed via print, TV, radio, the Internet, etc., from person-to-person forms of communication, including personal selling and word of mouth, the term _____ communication is used.
a. mediated
b. paid-for
c. commercial
d. technological
e. focused
ANS: A PTS: 1
3. Over half of world-wide ad spending takes place in which country?
a. United States
b. Canada
c. China
d. Germany
e. Japan
ANS: A PTS: 1
4. Which product category has the highest average advertising-to-sales ratio?
a. automobiles
b. computers and software
c. food
d. personal care items
e. drugs
ANS: D PTS: 1
5. Advertising is costly and its effects are often _____.
a. certain
b. uncertain
c. predetermined
d. constant
e. detrimental
ANS: B PTS: 1
6. An ex-CEO at Procter & Gamble one of the world’s largest advertisers aptly draws an analogy between advertising and exercise in that both provide _____.
a. short-term benefits
b. irreversible benefits
c. long-term benefits
d. a learning environment
e. life to its participants
ANS: C PTS: 1
7. Most successful companies are aware that _____ spending is the key factor underlying successful advertising.
a. increased
b. decreased
c. consistent investment
d. maximum
e. minimum
ANS: C PTS: 1
8. Which of the following is an advertising function?
a. informing
b. influencing
c. reminding
d. adding value
e. All of these are correct.
ANS: E PTS: 1
9. Which is NOT a function performed by advertising?
a. persuading
b. reminding
c. adding value
d. assisting production
e. informing
ANS: D PTS: 1
10. Advertising that teaches new uses for existing brands is known as _____.
a. elaboration advertising
b. top-of-mind awareness advertising
c. primary demand advertising
d. usage expansion advertising
e. alternative use advertising
ANS: D PTS: 1
11. An example of usage expansion advertising is _____.
a. a soft drink manufacturer who is the first to introduce a five liter plastic bottle
b. a manufacturer of baking soda promoting a new use for the product
c. a retailer who doubles the promotional budget
d. a retailer that was only using newspaper advertising that is now expanding into radio advertising
e. a gas station advertising that they are open 24 hours a day
ANS: B PTS: 1
12. Creating demand for an entire product category is known as _____ demand.
a. joint
b. elastic
c. derived
d. primary
e. secondary
ANS: D PTS: 1
13. The Dairy Council’s campaign points out that weight-conscious consumers can buy low-fat dairy products. This message is primarily designed to _____.
a. persuade
b. deceive
c. add value
d. inform
e. remind
ANS: D PTS: 1
14. The Beef Council sponsored a variety of advertisements encouraging people to eat more meat. These advertisements were designed to create _____ demand.
a. secondary
b. derived
c. elastic
d. joint
e. primary
ANS: E PTS: 1
15. Which of the following is an example of an advertisement that was designed to create primary demand?
a. "Weekends were made for Michelob."
b. "Orange juice isn't just for breakfast anymore."
c. "Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there."
d. "You're in good hands with Allstate."
e. "Gillette: the best a man can get."
ANS: B PTS: 1
16. The National Dairy Council sponsored a series of commercials promoting milk and cheese as healthy foods. This advertising was designed to create _____.
a. secondary demand
b. horizontal demand
c. vicarious demand
d. primary demand
e. joint demand
ANS: D PTS: 1
17. Influencing people to purchase a specific brand is creating _____ demand.
a. elastic
b. inelastic
c. joint
d. secondary
e. primary
ANS: D PTS: 1
18. PepsiCo's commercials that encourage people to purchase Mountain Dew is an example of creating _____ demand.
a. elastic
b. primary
c. secondary
d. derived
e. joint
ANS: C PTS: 1
19. An advertisement that was designed to keep a company's brand fresh in the consumer's memory performs the advertising function of _____.
a. informing
b. persuading
c. adding value
d. reminding
e. assisting other company efforts
ANS: D PTS: 1
20. Making a brand more _____ means enriching the memory trace for a brand such that the brand comes to mind in relevant choice situations.
a. primary
b. secondary
c. salient
d. important
e. valuable
ANS: C PTS: 1
21. How can companies add value to their offerings?
a. innovating
b. improving quality
c. altering consumer perceptions
d. a and b only
e. a, b, and c
ANS: E PTS: 1
22. Advertising adds value to brands by _____.
a. influencing perceptions
b. innovating the offering
c. improving the quality of the offering
d. creating primary demand
e. creating secondary demand
ANS: A PTS: 1
23. A Korean brand of television was perceived as “low quality” by over 70 percent of American consumers who were surveyed. However, after an extensive advertising campaign, the percentage of American consumers who perceived this brand as low quality fell to 20 percent. In this instance, advertising has successfully altered consumers’ perceptions and performed which function?
a. adding value
b. informing
c. persuading
d. reminding
e. assisting other company efforts
ANS: A PTS: 1
24. An advertisement that is designed to presell a company's products and provide salespeople with valuable introductions performs the advertising function of _____.
a. informing
b. persuading
c. adding value
d. reminding
e. assisting other company efforts
ANS: E PTS: 1
25. An advertisement that is designed to encourage you to buy Nike shoes is attempting to stimulate _____ demand.
a. inelastic
b. elastic
c. secondary
d. primary
e. joint
ANS: C PTS: 1
26. Advertising that is designed to deliver coupons and sweepstakes is performing the function of _____.
a. informing
b. influencing
c. reminding
d. adding value
e. assisting other company efforts
ANS: E PTS: 1
27. Customers are known to be more responsive to retailers’ price deals when retailers _____.
a. use rebate offers
b. advertise those deals
c. offer coupons
d. provide additional incentives
e. include in-package premiums
ANS: B PTS: 1
28. _____ is the process of creating ad messages, selecting media in which to place the ads, and measuring the effects of the advertising efforts.
a. Marketing management
b. Advertising management
c. Marcom management
d. Promotion management
e. Advertising
ANS: B PTS: 1
29. Clara’s job responsibilities include the process of creating ad messages, selecting media in which to place the ads, and measuring the effects of the advertising efforts. Clara is involved in _____.
a. marketing management
b. message management
c. marcom management
d. communication management
e. advertising management
ANS: E PTS: 1
30. Advertising strategy formulation involves which activity?
a. setting objectives
b. devising budgets
c. message creation
d. media strategy
e. All of these are correct.
ANS: E PTS: 1
31. Rick’s job at a major consumer goods manufacturer is to oversee the process of setting advertising objectives, devising budgets, message creation, and determining media strategy. Rick is involved in _____.
a. formulating advertising strategy
b. implementing advertising strategy
c. account management
d. marketing management
e. implementing marketing strategy
ANS: A PTS: 1
32. _____ deals with the tactical, day-to-day activities that must be performed to carry out an advertising campaign.
a. Marketing management
b. Advertising management
c. Advertising strategy formulation
d. Advertising strategy implementation
e. Measuring effectiveness
ANS: D PTS: 1
33. Gwen works at a consumer-goods manufacturer and deals with the tactical, day-to-day activities that must be performed to carry out an advertising campaign. Gwen is involved in _____.
a. formulating advertising strategy
b. implementing advertising strategy
c. account management
d. marketing management
e. formulating marketing strategy
ANS: B PTS: 1
34. The _____ are involved in tactical decision making and day-to-day contact with brand managers and other client personnel.
a. account executives
b. management supervisors
c. assistant supervisors
d. product managers
e. line managers
ANS: A PTS: 1
35. Message strategies and decisions are most often the joint enterprise of the companies that advertise and their _____.
a. advertising agencies
b. marketing departments
c. advertising departments
d. promotion departments
e. communication consultants
ANS: A PTS: 1
36. Most of the major U.S. advertising agencies are located in _____.
a. Detroit
b. Chicago
c. Los Angeles
d. Dallas
e. New York City
ANS: E PTS: 1
37. Which of the following is a way advertisers can perform the advertising function?
a. purchase advertising services on an as-needed basis from specialized agencies
b. use a full-service advertising agency
c. use an in-house advertising operation
d. a and b only
e. a, b, and c
ANS: E PTS: 1
38. One option for an organization wishing to advertise is to recruit the services of a variety of firms with particular specialties in distinct aspects of advertising. These firms are called _____.
a. specialty firms
b. boutiques
c. cafeteria agencies
d. full-service agencies
e. buffet agencies
ANS: B PTS: 1
39. A full-service advertising agency _____.
a. necessitates employing an advertising staff and absorbing the overhead required to maintain the staff's operations
b. is unprofitable unless a company does a large and continuous amount of advertising
c. has the advantage of complete control over the advertising function
d. perform all the basic functions of advertising for a client
e. does not perform other marcom functions, such as sales promotion and publicity
ANS: D PTS: 1
40. Which of the following is a basic function performed by full-service advertising agencies?
a. creative services
b. media services
c. research services
d. account management
e. All of these are correct.
ANS: E PTS: 1
41. Which of the following is NOT a basic function performed by a full-service advertising agency?
a. account management
b. creative services
c. product research and development services
d. media services
e. research services
ANS: C PTS: 1
42. Which of the following is an advantage of employing the services of a full-service agency?
a. obtaining negotiating leverage with the media
b. ability to contract for services only when they are needed
c. greater control over the advertising function
d. greater control over competitive information
e. more effective advertising
ANS: A PTS: 1
43. Eric is a copywriter employed by a full-service advertising agency. Which function of a full-service agency does Eric’s job fall into?
a. media services
b. account management
c. creative services
d. research services
e. production services
ANS: C PTS: 1
44. Which unit of a full-service advertising agency is charged with the task of selecting the best advertising media for reaching the client’s target market, achieving ad objectives, and meeting the budget?
a. creative services
b. media services
c. research services
d. account management
e. production services
ANS: B PTS: 1
45. ____ are responsible for developing overall media strategy.
a. Account executives
b. Account planners
c. Media planners
d. Media buyers
e. Media directors
ANS: C PTS: 1
46. Addilson is responsible for developing the overall media strategy for his agency’s clients. Addilson is a(n) ____.
a. media planner
b. media buyer
c. creative director
d. account executive
e. account planner
ANS: A PTS: 1
47. ____ procure specific vehicles within particular media that have been selected for an agency’s clients.
a. Account executives
b. Account planners
c. Media planners
d. Media buyers
e. Media directors
ANS: D PTS: 1
48. Carrie works at an advertising agency, and her job is to procure specific vehicles within particular media that have been selected for the agency’s clients. Carrie is a(n) ____.
a. media planner
b. media buyer
c. creative director
d. account executive
e. account planner
ANS: B PTS: 1
49. Sam works for a full-service advertising agency. His job includes studying the buying habits of clients’ customers, their purchase preferences, and their responsiveness to advertising concepts and finished ads. Sam most likely works in _____.
a. account management
b. media services
c. research services
d. the creative department
e. sponsorship management
ANS: C PTS: 1
50. _____ act as liaisons so that the client does not need to interact directly with several different service departments and specialists in a full-service advertising agency.
a. Account managers
b. Account planners
c. Media managers
d. Account directors
e. Client managers
ANS: A PTS: 1
51. _____ are involved in tactical decision making and day-to-day contact with brand managers and other client personnel.
a. Management supervisors
b. Account executives
c. Client managers
d. Account planners
e. Project managers
ANS: B PTS: 1
52. Rebecca's position at an advertising agency has her involved in tactical decision making and day-to-day contact with brand managers and other client personnel. Rebecca is a(n) _____.
a. line manager
b. product manager
c. assistant supervisor
d. management supervisor
e. account executive
ANS: E PTS: 1
53. _____ are involved in getting new business for the agency and working with clients at a strategic level.
a. Management supervisors
b. Account executives
c. Project managers
d. Advertising managers
e. Account planners
ANS: A PTS: 1
54. Lucille's position at an advertising agency has her involved in getting new business for the agency and working with clients at a strategic level. Lucille is a(n) _____.
a. line manager
b. senior vice-president
c. assistant supervisor
d. management supervisor
e. account executive
ANS: D PTS: 1
55. Account executives report to _____.
a. regional managers
b. senior vice-presidents
c. the chief executive officer
d. the board of directors
e. account managers
ANS: E PTS: 1
56. Which of the following is a form of advertising agency compensation?
a. commissions from media
b. labor-based fee system
c. outcome-based programs
d. a and b only
e. a, b, and c
ANS: E PTS: 1
57. In the past, what was the standard media commission paid to advertising agencies?
a. 5 percent
b. 10 percent
c. 15 percent
d. 20 percent
e. 25 percent
ANS: C PTS: 1
58. Creative Advertising Agency buys $100,000 of magazine advertising space for its client. Using the historical standard media commission rate, how much will the agency be compensated for this media buy?
a. $5,000
b. $10,000
c. $15,000
d. $20,000
e. $25,000
ANS: C PTS: 1
59. The most common method of compensation for advertising agencies today is _____.
a. a labor-based fee system
b. a standard commission of 10 percent of the gross amount of the billing
c. a standard commission of 15 percent of the gross amount of the billing
d. a standard commission of 20 percent of the gross amount of the billing
e. outcome-based programs
ANS: A PTS: 1
60. A compensation system in which agencies carefully monitor their time and bill clients a fee based on time commitment is known as a(n) _____.
a. commission-based system
b. input-based system
c. labor-based fee system
d. outcome-based program
e. performance-based system
ANS: C PTS: 1
61. _____ represent the newest approach to agency compensation.
a. Fee-based programs
b. Outcome-based programs
c. Contingency-based programs
d. Outsource-based programs
e. Commission-based programs
ANS: B PTS: 1
62. Which agency compensation method is closely aligned with the advertiser’s sales?
a. Media-commission system
b. Labor-based fee system
c. Outcome-based programs
d. Investment-based programs
e. Equity-based programs
ANS: C PTS: 1
63. A firm’s sales volume is obtained by which of the following equations?
a. Revenue – Expenses
b. Marginal Profit – Marginal Costs
c. Price Production Units
d. Trial + Repeat
e. Marginal Revenue Production Units
ANS: D PTS: 1
64. Whether one chooses to invest or disinvest in advertising a brand depends largely on expectations about how advertising will influence a brand’s sales volume and _____.
a. revenue
b. variable cost
c. discretionary cost
d. marginal cost
e. price
ANS: A PTS: 1
65. In terms of profitability, investing in advertising can be justified only if the incremental revenue generated from the advertising effort exceeds the _____.
a. production expense
b. operational expense
c. discretionary expense
d. advertising expense
e. commission expense
ANS: D PTS: 1
66. The case for investing in advertising is based on the belief that it can increase profitability and thus increase revenue beyond the incremental advertising expense by _____.
a. increasing sales volume
b. enabling higher selling prices
c. reducing promotion costs
d. a and b only
e. a, b, and c
ANS: D PTS: 1
67. Effective advertising should build sales volume by enhancing brand equity, both by _____ and by _____.
a. building brand knowledge; increasing trial
b. providing information; including a reason to buy
c. including a sales promotion offer; reminding consumers
d. increasing brand loyalty; using a credible endorser
e. increasing brand awareness; enhancing brand image
ANS: E PTS: 1
68. When firms choose to reduce advertising expenditures if a brand is performing well or during periods of economic recession, this is referred to as _____.
a. disinvesting
b. disintermediation
c. divesting
d. discharging
e. harvesting
ANS: A PTS: 1
69. Advertising’s long-term role has been described as “Strong advertising represents a deposit in the brand equity bank.” By “strong” is meant the advertising _____.
a. is repeated at least three times
b. provides sufficient product information as well as an emotional appeal
c. includes convincing arguments for purchase
d. is different, unique, clever, and memorable
e. is credible, informative, and humorous
ANS: D PTS: 1
70. _____ is a measure of how responsive the quantity demanded is to changes in marketing variables such as price and advertising.
a. Profitability
b. Elasticity
c. Production
d. Disinvesting
e. Connectivity
ANS: B PTS: 1
71. The _____ says that sales volume, or quantity, typically increases when prices are reduced, and vice versa.
a. elasticity model
b. sales-price curve
c. law of inverse demand
d. converse sales law
e. sales demand equation
ANS: C PTS: 1
72. In general, there are four combinations of advertising and price elasticities. Which of the following is NOT one of the combinations?
a. grow volume via price discounting
b. increase advertising and/or discount prices
c. maintain the status quo
d. build image via increased advertising
e. decrease prices and advertising expenses
ANS: E PTS: 1
73. In a situation where demand is more advertising elastic than price elastic it is advisable to _____.
a. maintain the status quo
b. build image via increased advertising
c. grow volume via price discounting
d. increase advertising and/or discount prices
e. decrease advertising and discount prices
ANS: B PTS: 1
74. It is possible to translate the idea of advertising “strength” into numerical values by capitalizing on the concept of _____.
a. advertising elasticity
b. return on investment
c. share of market
d. advertising variance
e. competitive analysis
ANS: A PTS: 1
ESSAY
1. Edwin L. Artzt, former chairman and CEO of Procter & Gamble, draws an analogy between exercising and advertising. Explain the meaning of this analogy, particularly in reference to brand equity.
ANS:
Mr. Artzt is pointing out that advertising, like advertising, provides long-term benefits. Moreover, like exercise, it is easy to stop advertising or postpone it because there is no immediate penalty for the interruption. Advertising momentum is like exercise. Stop exercising, and you will lose conditioning and probably gain weight. Stop advertising, and your brand likely will lose some of its equity and market share as well.
PTS: 1
2. List and describe the five functions of advertising.
ANS:
Advertising’s functions include:
1. Informing. One of advertising’s most important functions is to publicize brands. Advertising makes consumer aware of new brands, educates them about a brand’s distinct features and benefits, and facilitates the creating of positive brand images. Another valuable information role is teaching new uses for existing brands, called usage expansion advertising.
2. Influencing. Effective advertising influences prospective customers to try advertised products and services by influencing primary demand (i.e., demand for a product category) and secondary demand (i.e, demand for a company’s brand).
3. Reminding and increasing salience. Advertising keeps a brand fresh in the consumer’s memory. Advertising increases salience, increases interest in mature brands, and influences brand switching.
4. Adding value. Advertising adds value to brands by influencing perceptions.
5. Assisting other company efforts. Advertising is just one member of the marcom team. It can be used as a vehicle for delivering coupons and sweepstakes or assist the sales force by preselling a company’s products.
PTS: 1
3. Describe the advertising management process from the advertiser’s perspective.
ANS:
Advertising management is the process of creating ad messages, selecting media in which to place the ads, and measuring the effects of the advertising effects. Thus, the process consists of three sets of interrelated activities: advertising strategy, strategy implementation, and assessing ad effectiveness. Advertising strategy formulation involves four major activities: (1) setting objectives, (2) devising budgets, (3) message creation, and (4) media strategy. Strategy implementation deals with the tactical, day-to-day activities that must be performed to carry out an advertising campaign. Finally, only by evaluating results is it possible to determining whether objectives are being accomplished.
PTS: 1
4. Identify situations where an advertiser would use in-house advertising operations, full-service advertising agencies, and a la carte arrangements. Your answer should include a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of each of the three alternatives.
ANS:
Message strategies and decisions most often are the joint enterprise of the companies that advertising (the clients) and their advertising agencies. In general, advertisers have three alternative ways to perform the advertising function: use an in-house operation, purchase advertising services on an ad-need basis from specialized agencies, or select a full-service advertising agency.
Maintaining an in-house operation necessitates employing an advertising staff and absorbing the overhead required to maintain the staff’s operations. This arrangement is unjustifiable unless a company does a large and continuous amount of advertising.
Advertisers can purchase advertising services a la carte. That is, rather than depending on a single full-service agency to perform all advertising and related functions, an advertiser may recruit the services of a variety of firms with particular specialties in creative work, media selection, production, advertising research, and so on. Advantages include the ability to contract for services only when they are needed and potential cost efficiencies. A disadvantage is that specialists (so-called boutiques) sometimes lack financial stability and may be poor in terms of cost accountability.
Full-service agencies perform at least four basic functions: (1) creative services, (2) media services, (3) research services, and (4) account management. Advantages include acquiring the services of specialists with in-depth knowledge of advertising and obtaining negotiating leverage with the media. The major disadvantage is the loss of control over the advertising function.
PTS: 1
5. Describe the various forms of advertising agency compensation.
ANS:
There are three basic methods by which clients compensate agencies for services rendered:
1. Commissions from media. Historically, U.S. advertising agencies charged a standard commission of 15 percent of the gross amount of billings. The 15 percent compensation system has been a matter of some controversy, and today only a fraction of advertisers still pay a 15 percent commission. Rather, a reduced commission system has experienced increased usage.
2. Labor-based fee system. This is the most common compensation method today, and agencies monitor their time and bill clients an hourly fee based on time commitment.
3. Outcome- or performance-based programs. These represent the newest approach to agency compensation and are based on covering costs and incentive payments that are tied to a brand’s performance goals. This systems encourages, indeed demands, agencies to use whatever IMC programs are needed to build brand sales.
PTS: 1
6. In general, we can consider four combinations of advertising and price elasticities. Discuss the implications of each of these situations.
ANS:
Situation 1 (maintain the status quo): Consider a situation where consumers have well-established brand preferences. The market would not be very price elastic or advertising elastic. Profits would be maximized by basically adhering to the status quo and maintaining the present price and advertising levels.
Situation 2 (build image via increased advertising): In a situation where the market is more advertising elastic than price elastic, it is advisable to spend relatively more on advertising increases than price discounts. This situation is likely for new products, luxury goods, and products characterized by symbolism and imagery.
Situation 3 (grow volume via price discounting): This situation is characterized by mature consumer goods markets where consumers have complete information about most brand in the category and brand switching is frequent. Because brands are little differentiated, the market is more price than advertising elastic. Profit increases are obtained more from price discounts than advertising investments.
Situation 4 (increase advertising and/or discount prices): This is a situation where the market is both price elastic and advertising elastic. This would be expected when brands in the product category are inherently differentiable and for products that are seasonal. In this situation, informative advertising can influence consumers’ beliefs about product attributes, but because brands are similar, consumers also are eager to compare prices.
PTS: 1