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Challenges in the Era of Globalization - iaabd

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Proceed<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> 12th Annual Conference © 2011 IAABD<br />

Is onl<strong>in</strong>e communication <strong>the</strong> only way to lunch and develop brand now and <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> future?: Case<br />

study from mobile communication from UK and Nigeria<br />

Abstract<br />

N. Gladson Nwokah gladsonnwokah@yahoo.com<br />

Department <strong>of</strong> Market<strong>in</strong>g, Faculty <strong>of</strong> Management Sciences<br />

Rivers State University <strong>of</strong> Science and Technology Nigeria.<br />

Juliet Gladson-Nwokah juglad@yahoo.com<br />

Department <strong>of</strong> Market<strong>in</strong>g, School <strong>of</strong> bus<strong>in</strong>ess<br />

Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori Nigeria.<br />

The purpose <strong>of</strong> this paper is to participate and make a positional argument on <strong>the</strong> on-go<strong>in</strong>g debate that “onl<strong>in</strong>e<br />

communications is <strong>the</strong> only way to go to launch and develop brands now and <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> future, all o<strong>the</strong>r forms <strong>of</strong><br />

communications are redundant <strong>in</strong> 2010”. A descriptive research approach was adopted s<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>the</strong> nature <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

research is on argumentative and requires supportive evidence based on <strong>the</strong>ory and practice. Relevant literature<br />

was surveyed from academic and practitioners; and evidence from trade journals, <strong>in</strong>ternet and flyers were used as<br />

<strong>the</strong> basis for argument. In depth studies <strong>of</strong> three B2C firms <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> mobile telecommunications <strong>in</strong>dustry were explored<br />

and <strong>the</strong>ir market<strong>in</strong>g communications strategies were identified and discussed with reference from <strong>the</strong>oretical brand<br />

models. The essay found that, <strong>the</strong>re are three basic modes <strong>of</strong> communications – <strong>of</strong>fl<strong>in</strong>e, onl<strong>in</strong>e, and mobile, currently<br />

be<strong>in</strong>g utilised by various organisations to launch and develop <strong>the</strong>ir brands. Based on <strong>the</strong> f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs from <strong>the</strong> three <strong>in</strong>depth<br />

studies discussed, <strong>the</strong> author disagreed with <strong>the</strong> proposition but concluded with recommendations that ra<strong>the</strong>r<br />

than focus<strong>in</strong>g on one mode <strong>of</strong> communication, a B2C organization can use mix media tools <strong>of</strong> communication to<br />

launch and develop brands as well as <strong>in</strong>tegrat<strong>in</strong>g communications message contents <strong>in</strong> all <strong>the</strong> media. This will not<br />

only enhance <strong>the</strong>ir communication efficiency and effectiveness, but will also strategically position <strong>the</strong> brand<br />

effectively to all categories <strong>of</strong> customers and f<strong>in</strong>ally, <strong>in</strong>crease return on <strong>in</strong>vestment (ROI).<br />

Introduction<br />

The pre-<strong>in</strong>dustrial society, which was predom<strong>in</strong>antly agrarian, could be argued to be a ‘natural’ society, or<br />

a society very close to nature <strong>in</strong> all ramifications. Market<strong>in</strong>g activities <strong>in</strong> such society orig<strong>in</strong>ated<br />

fundamentally from man’s <strong>in</strong>teractions with nature as a part <strong>of</strong> nature itself, for <strong>the</strong> ma<strong>in</strong> purpose <strong>of</strong><br />

feed<strong>in</strong>g and tak<strong>in</strong>g care <strong>of</strong> man’s immediate personal well-be<strong>in</strong>g. Market<strong>in</strong>g communications were<br />

predom<strong>in</strong>antly <strong>of</strong>fl<strong>in</strong>e as emphasis and communications contents were more on <strong>the</strong> brand attributes and<br />

qualities. Fewer emphases were made to customers’ values as competitions were less. Market<strong>in</strong>g<br />

communication tools were more <strong>of</strong> personal or one-to-one or <strong>of</strong>fl<strong>in</strong>e word <strong>of</strong> mouth communications.<br />

Later o<strong>the</strong>r media for <strong>of</strong>fl<strong>in</strong>e communications such as televisions (TV), radio, newspapers, posters, flyers,<br />

c<strong>in</strong>ema and direct mails emerged and <strong>the</strong>se were predom<strong>in</strong>ant which encouraged a “push” approach<br />

(Rowley, 2004). Communications were not targeted and non-<strong>in</strong>teractive; thousands <strong>of</strong> people could be<br />

contacted and <strong>in</strong> most cases could be <strong>of</strong>fensive to some listen<strong>in</strong>g audience who may not be <strong>in</strong>terested <strong>in</strong><br />

such communications. At this early period brand was seen as a name, symbol or a shape/comb<strong>in</strong>ation <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong>se elements that are used for recognis<strong>in</strong>g and dist<strong>in</strong>guish<strong>in</strong>g various products and services <strong>of</strong> a<br />

company or a group <strong>of</strong> companies from competitive companies (Vukasovic, 2009).<br />

494

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