When you understand the concepts you learned in this module you will know how organizations can effectively manage their brands, promote their products, and reach their target audiences in the digital age.

Part 1: The Evolving Role of Digital Brand Management and Promotion Management

Analyze the evolving role of digital brand management and promotion management. In your analysis, consider the following:
How has the rise of digital media impacted brand management and promotion management?
What are some of the key challenges that organizations face in managing their brands and promoting their products in the digital age?
Part 2: Consumer Buying and the Purchasing Process

Describe consumer buying and the purchasing process. In your description, consider the following:
What are the different stages of the purchasing process?
What factors influence consumer buying behavior?
How can organizations use this knowledge to effectively market their products and services with digital media?
Part 3: Critique of IMC Strategies

Critique how organizations use IMC to support their marketing strategies and campaigns domestically and in foreign settings. In your critique, consider the following:
What are some of the key challenges that organizations face in implementing IMC strategies?
What are some examples of effective IMC strategies that organizations have used to support their digital media marketing campaigns domestically and in foreign settings?

 

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.

God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

Let’s explore the evolving landscape of digital brand management, consumer buying, and integrated marketing communications (IMC).

Part 1: The Evolving Role of Digital Brand Management and Promotion Management

The rise of digital media has fundamentally transformed brand management and promotion, shifting power towards consumers and demanding a more dynamic and interactive approach.

  • Impact of Digital Media:

    • Increased Reach and Engagement: Digital channels offer unprecedented reach, allowing brands to connect with vast audiences globally. Social media, search engines, and email marketing enable targeted campaigns and personalized interactions.

Let’s explore the evolving landscape of digital brand management, consumer buying, and integrated marketing communications (IMC).

Part 1: The Evolving Role of Digital Brand Management and Promotion Management

The rise of digital media has fundamentally transformed brand management and promotion, shifting power towards consumers and demanding a more dynamic and interactive approach.

  • Impact of Digital Media:

    • Increased Reach and Engagement: Digital channels offer unprecedented reach, allowing brands to connect with vast audiences globally. Social media, search engines, and email marketing enable targeted campaigns and personalized interactions.
    • Two-Way Communication: Digital platforms facilitate two-way conversations with consumers. Brands can gather feedback, address concerns, and build relationships in real-time.
    • Data-Driven Insights: Digital marketing generates vast amounts of data, providing insights into consumer behavior, preferences, and campaign effectiveness. This data can be used to optimize strategies and personalize experiences.
    • Content Marketing: Digital media has fueled the rise of content marketing, where brands create valuable and engaging content to attract and retain their target audience.
    • E-commerce and Direct-to-Consumer: The internet has enabled the growth of e-commerce, allowing brands to sell directly to consumers and bypass traditional retail channels.
  • Key Challenges:

    • Brand Reputation Management: Online reviews, social media mentions, and viral content can quickly impact a brand’s reputation. Organizations need to be vigilant in monitoring and responding to online conversations.
    • Data Privacy and Security: Collecting and using consumer data raises ethical concerns about privacy and security. Organizations must comply with regulations and build trust with consumers.
    • Keeping Up with Technology: The digital landscape is constantly evolving, with new platforms and technologies emerging regularly. Organizations need to stay up-to-date and adapt their strategies accordingly.
    • Measuring ROI: Measuring the return on investment of digital marketing campaigns can be challenging. Organizations need to track the right metrics and attribute value to different channels.
    • Fragmentation and Clutter: The sheer volume of digital content and channels makes it difficult for brands to stand out and capture consumer attention.

Part 2: Consumer Buying and the Purchasing Process

Understanding the consumer buying process is crucial for effective marketing.

  • Stages of the Purchasing Process:

    1. Problem Recognition: The consumer recognizes a need or want.
    2. Information Search: The consumer searches for information about potential solutions.
    3. Evaluation of Alternatives: The consumer compares different options based on price, features, and benefits.
    4. Purchase Decision: The consumer chooses a product or service and makes a purchase.
    5. Post-Purchase Behavior: The consumer evaluates their purchase and experiences satisfaction or dissatisfaction.
  • Factors Influencing Consumer Buying Behavior:

    • Cultural Factors: Culture, subculture, and social class influence consumer preferences and buying habits.
    • Social Factors: Reference groups, family, and social roles impact purchasing decisions.
    • Personal Factors: Age, occupation, lifestyle, and personality affect consumer choices.
    • Psychological Factors: Motivation, perception, learning, beliefs, and attitudes play a role in buying behavior.
  • Using Knowledge for Effective Marketing:

    • Targeted Advertising: Digital media allows for precise targeting based on demographics, interests, and online behavior.
    • Personalized Content: Brands can tailor content and offers to individual consumers based on their preferences and past purchases.
    • Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Optimizing website content for search engines helps consumers find products and services easily.
    • Social Media Marketing: Engaging with consumers on social media platforms builds brand awareness and loyalty.
    • Influencer Marketing: Partnering with influencers can reach specific target audiences and build credibility.

Part 3: Critique of IMC Strategies

IMC involves coordinating all marketing communications to deliver a consistent and persuasive message.

  • Key Challenges in Implementing IMC:

    • Channel Fragmentation: The proliferation of digital channels makes it difficult to create a cohesive message across all touchpoints.
    • Data Integration: Integrating data from different sources is essential for understanding consumer behavior and personalizing communications, but it can be technically complex.
    • Measuring Effectiveness: Tracking the effectiveness of IMC campaigns across multiple channels requires sophisticated analytics.
    • Maintaining Consistency: Ensuring consistent branding and messaging across all channels is crucial for building brand equity.
    • Global Coordination: Implementing IMC strategies in foreign settings requires adapting to local cultures, regulations, and media landscapes.
  • Examples of Effective IMC Strategies:

    • Domestically: A clothing brand might use social media to engage with customers, run online ads to drive traffic to their e-commerce site, and partner with influencers to promote their products. They might also use email marketing to nurture leads and announce promotions.
    • Foreign Settings: A global food company might adapt its marketing messages and channels to suit local tastes and cultural norms. They might partner with local influencers, use different social media platforms, and adjust their advertising strategy to reach their target audience in each country. They may have to deal with different regulations for advertising in different countries.

Effective IMC strategies are essential for building strong brands and driving business growth in the digital age. Organizations need to address the challenges of channel fragmentation, data integration, and global coordination to create cohesive and impactful campaigns.

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