Learning outcomes

Regarding learning outcomes for students, the course mainly aims at the acquisition of knowledge, the developement of communication skills and the application of a scientific approach. To a lesser extent, it also aims at enhancing students' reasoning as socially responsible stakeholders as well as their personal and professional self-development.

Goals

This class will provide an overview of all marketing tools available to companies both in the profit and the non-profit sector. Some marketing communication tools such as advertising or hybrid communication (sponsorship, public relationships) will be studied in more details. Examples from both research and practitioners will illustrate the theoretical concepts. The question of ethics in communication will be addressed as well.

Content

The course will develop around four parts including 12 sessions, divided in four parts:

PART 1: The context of marketing communications 
Session 1: Introduction to Marketing Communication Integrated Communications (CH.1) 
Sessions 2-3: How communication works. Classical theories. Consumer behavior and message processing (CH.3) 
 
PART 2: The marketing communications plan 
Session 4: Target groups and positioning (CH.4) 
Session 5: Marketing Communication Objectives. Branding and image issues (CH.2 & 5) 
 
PART 3: The marketing communications tools
Session 6: Advertising: the creation process (CH.7) 
Session 7: Advertising strategy and media planning (CH. 8)
Session 8: Sales Promotions and brand activation (CH. 12) 
Session 9: Public relations, sponsorship and event marketing (CH.10-11)
 
PART 4: Web marketing and digital communications
Session 10: Digital revolution, online communication channels, tools and KPIs
Session 11: Search engine marketing 
Session 12: Social media, influence marketing and community building 

Assessment method

Final evaluation will be based on:

(1) Assignment: Develop an advertising plan (20% of final mark). Students should make groups of 3 and develop an Advertising Plan for the "client » (company/brand) of their choice. 

(2) A written examination (2 hours/closed books) covering all the topics and papers discussed in the classroom (80% of final mark). 

Study material: you only have to study what has been presented or mentioned during the lectures (see syllabus and course schedule for the relevant chapters of the book).

+/- 3 knowledge/comprehension questions about specific parts of the course + 1 real advertisement to discuss (as to advertising and creative strategy).

Sources, references and any support material

Course pack (slides) is available before the course on the webcampus platform.

The reference textbooks is: De Pelsmacker, Patrick, Geuens, Maggie and Van den Berh, Joeri (2017). Marketing Communications: a European perspective, 7th edition, Prentice Hall.

Readings in the Journal of Marketing Research; International Journal of Research in Marketing; Journal of Consumer Research; Journal of Advertising; Journal of Advertising Research.

Language of instruction

Anglais