This book aims to be what every marketing manager needs to know about marketing in today?s competitive markets. The idea was born out of repeated comments from IMD clients that there were gaps in the ?classic? literature where innovations in practice had moved ahead of the discipline at an academic level. Each chapter takes a subject that can be defined as being new or relatively new (for instance value chain marketing, marketing through collaboration with customers, and two-way brand building) and illustrates how new thinking has led to innovations in practice. The book is full of examples of real-world companies who have dealt effectively with the emerging issues, and others who have not. Each chapter ends with managerial highlights and actionable summaries.
The way we relate to brands has changed. Once, brand management was about doing things to people, and choices were made by brand managers not consumers. Now the focus has shifted towards the customer, empowering them to make choices and treating them as individuals rather than an amorphous mass. A consequence of this is increased interest in understanding people as a foundation for brand management. And this is where market research can come in. By drawing on market research to understand consumers, marketers can better understand how to manage their brand. Exploring a spectrum of 12 customer needs and drawing on first-hand research evidence, Kevin Ford provides a proven framework for understanding what people are really looking for from a brand – and delivering it.
The twin forces of ideological change and the technology revolution make globalization the single most important issue facing executives today. But many companies who have developed a presence in the global market now face the challenges inherent in creating a multinational presence with the demands of the «unglobal consumer» who does not have a «one size fits all» need. Here, HBS Professors John Quelch and Deshpande bring together 13 Harvard Business School professors to discuss these and other problems and benefits encountered by executives in global markets. Topics to be discussed include: operating costs of global advertising and marketing services, global product standards; managing global supply chains; global account management; global brands; global knowledge sharing and performance drivers; managing global customers; and social marketing for global economic development.
—Reed Holden, founder, Holden Advisors Corp., www.holdenadvisors.com coauthor, The Strategy and Tactics of Pricing: A Guide to Profitable Decision Making, Third Edition «With Pricing on Purpose, Ron Baker had made an enormous contribution to the better understanding of pricing that will be accessible to anyone who wants to learn. People are intrigued by instances of what they see as idiosyncratic pricing. Sometimes it is idiosyncratic, but oft-times it is fiendishly clever and well researched. So is this book. There are examples that at first sight seem to have nothing to do with the subject at hand, but the learning points are all made and explained in any number of interesting and memorable ways. Pricing on Purpose is a welcome and valuable addition to the learning on pricing and I recommend it to professional pricers, marketers, and anyone interested in capturing the value their business creates.» —Eric G. Mitchell, President, Professional Pricing Society, www.pricingsociety.com «Ron Baker is what I'd call a 'thought giant.' In his first two books he literally began a revolution in the accounting and legal professions. Thousands of professionals in public practice now lead far better, more rewarding lives thanks to him. Now he's broadened his impact in a huge way. Read this book, implement the ideas and you'll never look at your prices or your pricing policies in the same way again. You'll be richer in many ways because of it.» —Paul Dunn, founder and CEO, ResultsNet Australia, coauthor, The Firm of the Future: A Guide for Accountants, Lawyers, and Other Professional Services, www.resultsnetaustralia.com «As a reader of hundreds of business books, I am thrilled when I come across one that has something new to say. Pricing on Purpose does just that. Instead of presenting a set of feel-good items to check off a list, Ron Baker encourages us 'to think with him, not like him.' He methodically builds his argument leading us through the labyrinth of pricing theory and encourages us to look at pricing as the strategic tool that it is rather than taking the lazy cost-based tactical approach of most businesses. To paraphrase Karl Marx in terms of Baker's book, 'Cost-based pricing is the opium of business.'» —Ed Kless, Director, Partner Development and Recruitment, Sage Software «Baker has done it again! Building on the core principles that he advanced in Professional's Guide to Value Pricing and The Firm of the Future, Ron Baker has again evolved thought leadership on the critical dynamics of value and pricing. Baker's latest work, Pricing on Purpose: Creating and Capturing Value, provides real-world examples and practical strategies that provide a framework for pricing optimization. His clarity of purpose and passionate call to action resonates in today's intellectual capital economy.» —Thomas Finneran, Executive Vice President, American Association of Advertising Agencies «We love this book! With detailed research, thorough references, and recommendations for further reading, this could be considered a textbook. That it is so readable and engaging is a triumph. The chapter providing the epitaph for cost-plus pricing is worth many times the price of this book. 'Got price-sensitive customers? Wonder why? Read and stop weeping. Who's in charge of value in your company?' Baker asks. If you can't immediately answer, you'd better read this book. Bravo, Baker!» —Paul O'Byrne and Paul Kennedy, partners, O'Byrne and Kennedy LLP, Chartered Accountants, United Kingdom, www.obk.co.uk "Ron Baker is nothing short of brilliant, and his enthusiasm for pricing is contagious. Pricing on Purpose will add more value to your firm than anything else you could do. As usual in Ron's books, he presents cutting-edge ideas. There is no gr
Agency Account Handling strives to distinguish between good account handling and great account handling. This book will help you understand the wider picture of client servicing, give you satisfied customers and allow you to go home at night with a smile on your face. In reality it may not avoid all the 'blood, sweat and tears' but it will certainly reduce them to a manageable level. Good account handlers know instinctively most of the principles associated with effective client servicing. What results in great account handling is the difference an individual makes, all those little agency touches that add up to a competitive advantage and, essentially, the decision by an individual to concentrate on the right mix of priorities which will produce the most effective results. It should inspire people to strive for satisfied clients, fulfilled professional lives and strong client service departments. «This book is a beacon for account handlers, giving insight, confidence and experience, whether you read it cover to cover or dip into relevant sections. It shines a light on the path to success for burgeoning careers and wily old dogs alike.» –Steve Aldridge, Creative Partner, Partners Andrews Aldridge «Indispensable! A soup-to-nuts analysis of all aspects of account management. A must for any ambitious account handler, from any discipline, who wants to further their career.» –Suki Thompson, Managing Director, The Haystack Group «There is much to recommend Mike's book. First, it fills a gap in the market. I haven't come across anything on great account handling practice, previously. Second, it has terrific depth and breadth. But what makes Mike's book really special is that it is a book to learn from. Having worked with Mike a lot over the last five years I know that he knows his stuff. What I hadn't realised is that he has a rare gift for imparting his stuff in the infectious way that is a pleasure to learn from.» –Malcolm White, Executive Planning Director, Euro RSCG London
Because of the Internet and globalization, the fast moving consumer goods market has been turned on its head and made more competitive than ever. This book synthesizes emerging marketing thinking in the consumer domain with practical advice on how to profit from changes. It illustrates the key issues facing the fast moving consumer goods industry and provides an analysis of cutting-edge management research and academic insight.
This book explores the increasingly important topic of brand building within the one-to-one concept. It explains how to achieve what all marketers dream about a product or service customized for each individual customer that is both a good value for the customer and a profitable venture for the producer. It uses practical tools and case studies to show how a company can optimize its brand marketing resources.
CRM today is much like BPR in the 1990s. It is the strategy of the 21st century. Everyone is jumping on the bandwagon, but few are doing it in a way that will reap long-term benefits. And while billions are being spent worldwide, as yet there is not one case study of a true CRM focused company that is achieving major business success. Why? Three years ago Quest Media introduced the National Customer Service Awards. The philosophy was to research, recognise and reward organisations that were pushing the barriers of customer management to new limits. Written by the editor of Customer Management magazine, this book draws on Quest's research to reflect the current thinking behind today's front-runners in the customer management field. The authors challenge accepted thought processes and give realistic timeframes for implementing the innovative thinking that will produce tomorrow's Customer Management Excellence. * An 'all you need to know about customer management' handbook – draws on the authors' vast experience to help unravel this complex topic * Provides case studies and examples of organisations that are award-winners in their innovative customer management techniques * Includes a glossary of terms and checklists to help readers benchmark their own progress in implementing successful customer management
Brian Smith and Paul Raspin demonstrate a thorough and pragmatic approach to creating and applying sound market insight. Using numerous practical examples, learning points and provocative takeaways, they build on established strategic marketing principles to give you actionable knowledge you can apply your business to create lasting market advantage. Beverley Dipper, Market Insight Manager, Microsoft UK Ltd «I have no hesitation in saying buy this book. It will find a front and centre position in your bookshelf, with plenty of post-its marking pages that you will return to again and again.» Mark Irvine, Strategy Manager, De Beers Diamond Trading Company «A readable and well-founded description of how to generate actionable customer insight and follow it through with passionate and consistent execution» Dag Larsson Global Brand Insight Director, AstraZeneca Creating Market Insight addresses the key strategic issue facing any company: How do we make sense of our market and find those precious nuggets of knowledge that lead to real competitive advantage? Creating Market Insight: Explains how firms tailor their market scanning behaviour to work well in the special conditions of their market Describes the process through which data is translated first into information, and then knowledge Differentiates routine market knowledge from true insight and details how firms turn insight into value Provides a detailed, step-by-step process that enables the reader to emulate the success of insightful firms Creating Market Insight is written for managers who need to need to create value in the real world.
This book provides a clear practical introduction to shareholder value analysis for the marketing professional. It gives them the tools to develop the marketing strategies that will create the most value for business. For top management and CFOs the book explains how marketing generates shareholder value. It shows how top management should evaluate strategies and stimulate more effective and relevant marketing in their companies. The original essence of the first edition has been maintained but obvious areas have been updated and revised, as well as, new areas such as technology have been addressed. The second edition of this book has been written by a ghost writer who has fully updated, enhanced and replaced statistics, case studies and other outdated content with the help of a select advisory panel, each of whom has acted as a subject expert, a guide and as part of a steering committee. The highly prestigious panels of contributors include: Jean-Claude Larréché – INSEAD Veronica Wong – Aston Business School John Quelch – Harvard Business School Susan Hart – Strathclyde Graduate Business School (SGBS) Michael Baker – Emeritus Professor SGBS Tim Ambler – London Business School Tony Cram – Ashridge Table of Contents: PART I Principles of Value Creation 1 Marketing and Shareholder Value 2 The Shareholder Value Approach 3 The Marketing Value Driver 4 The Growth Imperative PART II Developing High-Value Strategies 5 Strategic Position Assessment 6 Value-Based Marketing Strategy PART III Implementing High-Value Strategies 7 Building Brands 8 Pricing for Value 9 Value-Based Communications 10 Value-Based Marketing in the Digital Age