Marketers are innovative when it comes to product positioning. Part of product positioning is differentiation,
a way of showing how a product is unique from its competitors. Analyzing and selecting a positioning
strategy can mean the difference between success and failure for a new or existing product or service.
Brand ambassadors, such as celebrities or other well-known icons, sports figures, or mascots, have
become product endorsers to capture the customers’ attention in advertising and social media campaigns.
Two examples include the following:
A popular insurance company has used its mascot, a gecko, to deliver its multi-channel messages through
traditional and social media to differentiate itself among other insurers.
A popular recording artist delivers his message for a nutrition snack via commercials and social media to
launch a new global brand.
For this discussion, select your favorite fast-food restaurant, and discuss the following:
Define your target market. What is the age group? What are the customers’ occupations and other defining
factors?
Does the restaurant use a brand ambassador such as a celebrity, athlete, singer, or so forth? Is this
effective for brand awareness? Why?
If your restaurant does not have an endorser, who would you select, and why? Explain the rationale behind
your choices.
Name 1 competitor and how your brand is unique.
The following information is provided to help with your assignment:
Marketing strategies use the formula of STP/D or segmentation, targeting, positioning, and differentiation. A
good way to remember the objective of each part of this formula is to think about what type of customer is
interested in your product or service and to put him or her in a group—known as segmentation. For
example, suppose you are in a reading club; you most likely have similar characteristics as others
interested in the group. A marketer can segment you and place you in the same groups as others based on
your similarities and preferences. Or, you might be part of a social media group or community with several
similarities or things in common with others. This is segmentation.
The next important part of the STP/D formula is to think about how to talk to or communicate with these
customer groups. Specific appeals are shown in advertising messages to encourage the segmented groups
to buy. This is customer targeting or target marketing.
Sample Solution
