Managing Brand Equity in an Integrated Marketing Communication Strategy : - A Case Study in the FMCG industry of the effectiveness and synergies of digital marketing channels.

Sammanfattning: Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to add empirical findings of IMC strategies utilizing digital- and traditional marketing communication channels to build and maintain brand equity in the FMCG industry. More specifically awareness, associations/image and sales that are said to be critically affected by communication are the focus of the study. Research Question: Are digital marketing communication channels in an IMC strategy effective in creating awareness, associations and sales within the FMCG industry? Methodological approach: An exploratory case study was adopted utilizing a mix of data sources. An interview with the Nordic Marketing Manager at the focal firm combined with multiple-source secondary data was used to give the context of the IMC strategy. A survey was then conducted with 269 respondents, thus the study measures the outcome on an individual level. Findings: The findings show that the digital marketing communication channels have little or no direct effects on awareness, associations and sales. When looking at light – heavy category users it is found that the traditional marketing communication channels have a greater effect on the lightest users. Social media from others than the firm was found to have greater effects on awareness for heavier category users. Synergy effects were found for social media from the focal firm and others. Although the touchpoints that gained synergy effects were unexpected: Seen at work, tasted at work, sample from i.e. friends and family and seen on shelf. Further research is needed. Contribution: This study moves beyond the laboratory setting of most previous research, allowing study of the touchpoints in business practice/part of an IMC strategy. Some touchpoints studied seem to be part of a novel notion not studied in previous research i.e. in store activites. More touchpoints are studied than in most previous research found.