Integrated marketing communications

: suitability in B2B markets : the case of the brand da terra

Abstract

As it is often said: “If you don’t see it, it doesn’t exist”. In this sense, the relevant choice of promotion tools has gained importance as a differentiating instrument for companies, in order to become popular and acquire a solid degree of reputation and status. Being the choice of more relational communication tools quite common among business markets, it is starting to be questioned if the use of those tools is sufficient alone or, if it is reasonable for business actors to reach out to other communication instruments typically used in consumer markets. This dissertation focuses, firstly, on the specificities of business markets, the communication molds within this field and the changing views regarding this matter, based on studies of other authors. Secondly, there will be an analysis to the promotion practices of a business-to-business brand that operates within the homeware industry, in light of good practices studied. Thirdly, it is discussed the appropriateness of communication channels outside businesses comfort zone – namely public relations and interactive marketing – highlighting the relevance of an integrated marketing communications’ approach. Finally, some suggestions regarding the brand’s current promotion strategy are proposed, which overall manifest themselves in potential gains in terms of brand awareness. The results show that there is a tendency to focus on somewhat more relational communication tools and, thus, facing the nature of the business, it is recommended to the company under study the continuous usage of those instruments. Nevertheless, there is also evidence of room for improvement, namely, the parallel (integrated) use of promotion tools characteristic of consumer markets.

Date of Award	7 Dec 2016
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	João Luís Andrade Serra Moreira de Campos (Supervisor)