Category: Advertising

As far as optics manufacturers, Mueller Optics is relatively new to the market. Founded in 2003 by Richard Schlampp, Mueller has quickly developed a reputation for high quality scopes at reasonable prices. This has been accomplished through two unique strategies.

For starters, most all the Mueller products are produced overseas. However, this is certainly not new within the optics community. About the only optics company that still makes some of it’s products within the U.S. is Burris Optics. What seems to set Mueller apart from the rest of their competition is how they utilize these parts. Rather than outsource everything to one country, Mueller took a different approach. They searched long and hard for various vendors through the world that manufactured specific optical parts and selected the best that they could find. Each vendor that they use produces a specific item or part that is then shipped to an overseas plant and meticulously assembled. The result is a high quality product built with exacting tolerances. So much so, that Mueller optics offers a lifetime warranty on nearly every item they produce.

The second unique strategy that Mueller employs is done through their advertising (or should I say lack of advertising). Quite simply, Mueller spends very little money on advertising compared to most sports based optical companies. Next time you visit your doctor or dentist, take a moment to flip through any hunting or shooting magazines that they may have in waiting room. I’m willing to bet that you’ll see a number of various ads from different scope manufacturers, but you probably won’t see any ads from Mueller. They prefer to rely on their network of dealers, and word of mouth to effectively advertise their line. In doing so, they have been able to keep the retail costs of their products at a very attractive level.

From a scope product standpoint, Mueller has a scope offering for just about everyone (even bowhunters). Mueller has scopes that are designed for archery, big game, illuminated models, turkey, tactical applications, varmint shooting, rimfires, blackpowder, and nearly any other type of shooting you can imagine. Their most popular models seem to be the APV 4.5 X 14 and the Mueller Eradicator 8.5 X 25. These two have gained quite a following amongst varmint hunters and big game hunters. On a personal level, I have the APV 4.5 X 14 model and have to say that it comes very close to competing with one of my Nikon scopes and my Burris Black Diamond scope at more than half the cost.

Although this may be the first time that you’ve ever heard of Mueller optics, I doubt it will be the last if you are an active shooter or hunter. If you happen to be in the market for a new rifle scope, or are just looking to upgrade, you might want to take a look at a Mueller.

Reaching todays consumer in this complex and confusing media environment is a challenge. The audiences are consumed by their fast- paced lifestyles and technology has also contributed to the changes in their behavior patterns. Consumers can no longer be reached using the same old mediums. Times have indeed changed. But over the past few years, the outdoor advertising industry has evolved yet into a revolutionized and modernized media force that is to be reckoned with. It may even be able to compete aggressively against the 21st century media. While many traditional media segments have struggled to remain competitive during economic changes and developments, out of home advertising has remained unfazed. The reason is simple. Out of home advertising such as Digital Mediaoffers outstanding value for money and a myriad of ways to increase exposure plus a few more advantages.

1. Innovativeness

One of the major reasons why out of home advertising is the one mostly preferred by advertisers and advertising agencies is because of the innovations that have happened with this advertising media over the past decade. Its not just about a pretty picture anymore. It involves the commercials used, displays made and the way they were executed. With advertising, its always recommended to think outside the box and outdoor advertising provides various opportunities and possibilities for advertisers to do just that.

2. Flexibility

Out of home advertising also has the greatest flexibility in terms of being able to transform ideas and imaginations into a reality. With the use of Digital Media, outdoor advertising can be transformed into a new medium wherein advertisements are able to communicate in real- time and effectively engage the consumers. This mediums flexibility is also the main reason why the practice is still alive today.

3. Coverage

Out of home advertising is the unavoidable medium. It is visible from all corners and cannot be turned off or ignored. It can be seen on city buses, bus stops, taxis, trains, train stations, billboards, gymnasiums, parks, malls, and all other public places. And since it is usually placed in public areas, it guaranties a huge amount of exposure from drivers, commuters and passers- by. Through this medium, outdoor advertisers and outdoor advertising agencies are able to make use of a variety of platforms and reach a wide audience without going overboard with their advertising budget.

4. Impact

The purpose of out of home advertising is to get the peoples attention while they drive or walk. It can catch their attention during rush hour wherein people are stuck in traffic, unable to do anything, and probably bored out of their mind. By placing advertisements near the point of purchase, it can effectively remind the audience of the product being advertised at the time just before they purchase.

Out of home advertising is truly a universal and timeless form of advertising. And it will continue to grow, develop and adapt in the future. This is the best platform for advertising because it never gets old. Thus, if you go for out of home advertising, you are aiming for a 100% guarantee of Successful Advertising Campaigns for your companys services or branded products.

An affiliate marketing business has no limits. A company can always get bigger and an affiliate marketer can always make more money. Even running a business from your home will not limit you in any way whatsoever.

It is not an easy task to start an affiliate marketing business. The industry may have an unlimited profit potential but that does not mean that you can buy a computer and instantly start earning cash. Learning is the first step to becoming a successful affiliate marketer and the learning process must not be overlooked.

Where do you start?

1. Start by choosing a profitable niche. There are countless profitable niches out there so make sure to choose something that you are comfortable with and would enjoy working with. Be careful not to choose something with too much competition. Every aspect of the internet already has enough competition as it is and you do not want to create unnecessary competition for yourself.

Choosing a niche can prove to be a very difficult task. Start with a big topic and continue to narrow it done until you have a specific niche that you have reason to believe is profitable.

Make sure that your niche is not too broad or too small. For example, electronics is far too broad of a niche. Computer would be a good niche and Dell or Apple computers may be a better one. Choosing a specific model of a Dell computer that is customized to your personal liking is far too small of a niche.

2. Do not limit yourself and your potential earnings by using websites companies provide for you. Create your own website! If you have no idea how to create a website, then pay a professional to do it for you.

The only time it is a good idea to use a website that a company provides for you is during the time in which your website is being created. This will give you more practice in affiliate marketing and will bring you a small amount of income while you wait for your website to be finished.

Many websites can help you create a website if you have no idea how to do it and do not have the money to pay a professional. You will be able to create a respectable website using methods that can be found on the internet but when you have enough money, hiring a professional could be the key factor that separates you from other similar companies.

Find a reputable hosting website to use so you can maximize the benefits these companies provide for their customers. Top hosting companies are competitively priced with all hosting companies but they will provide features for your website that other companies cannot. You also want to use a large hosting company because they have the resources to give your website the fastest loading web pages possible.

3. Start to create an email list from the beginning. Keep in contact with potential customers and offer them discounts every so often. Do not constantly bother them by sending them emails advertising your service. Creating a healthy business relationship with your customers is very important.

If done correctly, your email list will become a valuable asset to your company. Not only will it be worth thousands of dollars but it will provide you with the comfort of knowing you always have options.

4. Make sure to branch out and explore your opportunities. One website in one niche is just going to limit your business and if that niche fails, your entire company will fail. Once you have comfortably established one niche on one site, continue to establish more. This is why affiliate marketing businesses have no limits. They can go as far as someone is willing to take them.

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Nikes marketing strategy rested entirely upon a brand image which is favourable and has evolved into a great multinational enterprise over time. The favourable brand image has been kept afloat due to the strong association with the Nikes logo which is quite distinctive and the slogan Just Do It which has been used in advertisement for quite some time. The company has been known to invest heavily in advertisements and brand promotion (Fill C, 2005 p.54).

Market Segmentation
Most of the consumers of Nikes products are mainly sportsmen. This is so because of the utility that comes with the products. An athlete is more likely to go a sports shoe designed and marketed by Nike more than a person who detests sporting and exercises. Nike targets these consumers by agreements between Nike and athletic teams, colleges athletic teams1 etc for product sponsorship and eventual promotion to the members of these teams. In this way, Nike is able to reach a wide number of consumers and consumers who are more likely to buy. Even though others are likely to buy the products, Nike pays specific emphatic targeting to the athlete more than any group of individuals even though it also targets the youth who have embraced the hip hop culture (Mercer David, 1996, pp 171).

Targeting strategies
Nike lays a number of strategies to target their immediate consumers; athletes and other sportsmen. The targeting strategies include among others the sponsorship of products by professional athletic teams, celebrity athletes and college athletic teams. This strategy is specifically successful because of its ability to reach a large number of athletes. If the athletic team manager prescribes a specific type of track shoes made by Nike, the trainees have no option other than to buy them. The teams can as well buy the track shoes in bulky and supply them to the team members.
The second strategy that Nike applies is the designing of product destination. It does this by associating success with the product. For example, when a celebrity athlete sponsors a specific brand of athletic shoes, the brand will be associated with success. This psychological effect is reinforced with advertisements that affirm this position.
Finally, Nike targets the consumers who are likely to develop product intimacy; those who care more about the utility and quality of the product than the price. In this way, the pricing is not affected too much in a bid to accommodate a large number of consumers. However, price has also been factored in Nikes marketing strategies as shall be seen later in this paper (Frank, 2004, p.173)

Pricing Strategies
As stated in the foregoing section, Nike targets the consumers who embrace product intimacy and thus care less about the product. This has enables Nike to set relatively higher prices than its competitors. This is a strategy that calls for higher pricing points so as to push the perceived product value. It has been established that consumers who consider a product to be of high quality are likely to pay the high price more often and consistently. Once consumers develop product intimacy, they come to associate their person with the product and will pay whatever price quoted on the product provided it has the Nike logo on it.
Another very important thing to note is the fact that Nike uses the vertical integration pricing strategy in which they take ownership of the participants at channel levels that differ and they also engage in multifarious channel level operations both in a bid to control costs and thus influence pricing function (Goldman S, 2000, pp154)

Distribution Strategies
Distribution strategies embraced by an organization can either give them an edge in market or make them lag behind the winners in the market. The more efficient the product distribution is the more sales and thus more profits. The delivery of the right product and at the right time to the consumer not only effects utility but also leads to high degree of consumer satisfaction and loyalty. Nike distributes its products on level basis. The high priced premium products are given to certain distributors while leaving the low priced to be sold at highly discounted prices at mega retail stores such as Wal-Mart. Whereas Reebok embraced a limited distribution strategy Nike ventured more into a global3 market capitalization (Jeannet J, 2000, pp 44).

Promotional and Communication Strategies
Apart from Nike selling quality products which have lead to a high degree of customer loyalty, the promotional strategies that the company employs are simply superb. Nike has contracted a number of professional and celebrity athletes which have managed to draw a considerable attention to their products. Some of the sportsmen signed by Nike include soccer stars such as Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos, Basketballers such as Jermaine O’Neal and Lebron James2, triathlete Lance Armstrong and golf superstar Tiger Woods. This has created a relatively high degree of Nike products awareness. Besides the signing of celebrity sportsmen to promote their products, Nike has also employed a great deal of advertisements through the mass media. Nike employs a selective- demand advertisement focused on the high priced shoes used for traditional sports (Goldman S, 2000, pp154).

Conclusion
Nike has remained and continues to remain at the top of production and distribution of sports gear and equipment. However, it should be noted that competitive pressure cannot allow Nike to sleep at the top. The recent Reebok- Adidas merger poses a great challenge to devise new marketing strategies to continue leading or recede to oblivion. The following recommendations are suggested in a situation where marketing management is competent. These include:
Increased market share through a new product development, competent pricing strategies, advertisement and other sound promotional activities.
Restructure market dominance by driving away competitors mainly through fierce promotional strategy coupled by pricing function that will make the market quite unattractive for the competitors.
Increased social responsibility to strengthen the image of the company
Diversification of market through factoring the Asians and Black Americans in their product promotion besides doing a research to establish the tastes of these groups.
Venture into new distribution channels especially in international markets
Different pricing strategy so as to open up a new market segments.

All the above show a competent marketing management can hoist organizations top become market leaders and making the market leaders maintain their competitive edge in the market through adherence to marketing ethics, marketing plans and well thought out and formulated marketing strategies.

The projective techniques are used to overcome the barriers of rationality, logicality and politeness, which often play an important role in case of direct questioning. In direct questioning people often tend to give politically correct answers that are considered right by many. Also they try not to hurt the researcher and thus avoid negative answers. In case of projective techniques, an indirect approach is adopted. Instead of asking questions, the respondents are subjected to different test. These include the associations test, sentence completion test and thematic appreciation test.

Association tests attempts to get an immediate response to a stimulus such to get an immediate responses to a stimulus such as a word or picture by asking the respondent to say the first thing that comes to his mind. Sentence completion tests are an extension of the association test. Here the respondents are given incomplete test use pictures, which are shown to respondents. They are asked to tell stories about the pictures. These descriptions and interpretations are analyzed to find out about their attitudes.
In depth interviewing the respondent is first put at ease by the researcher while he tries to build up a rapport with the respondents. Then the respondents are asked leading or probing questions to bring out his underlying subconscious reaction to the brand or organization advertised. The questions are never structures and the interview is always conducted in a free and cordial manner. The flexibility and freeness brings out many facts. Which usually are hidden beneath the conscious mind of the respondent? Depth interviewing needs to be conducted by highly skilled and trained psychologists to be able to fully explore the attitude of respondents.

One often face the problem of artificiality a while conducting pre-testing. This problem is easily overcome during post-testing. Post-tests attempt to measure the actual effect of real advertisements in real situations. This is a more practical approach to measure the effectiveness of car mat advertisements. Different types are conducted as part of post-testing advertisements.
Whatever the purpose of a car mat advertisement, its first task is to be seen, read, or heard. Every advertisement uses some means or other to get attention and hold it. Here comes the first big hurdle recognition. This is simply a matter of identifying an advertisement that one has seen before. Recognition is a necessary condition for effective advertising. If advertisements cannot pass this hurdle, it will probably not be effective. Recognition tests are usually used for print ads.

While many types of recognition have been designed for the car mats advertisements. The starch recognitions test sends newspaper or magazine to respondents and then sends interviews to conduct the tests. Starch tests usually finds out the recognition rates of various elements of the ads like the visual or illustration, headline, logo, body copy, color, size, shape etc.