International Journal of Management and Economics

authors
Abdul Azees KA, Dr. Dhanalakshmi C

abstract
Integrated Marketing Communication is a marketing concept that ensures all forms of communication and messages are carefully linked together. At its most basic level, Integrated Marketing Communication or IMC means integrating all the promotional tools, so that they work together in harmony. Promotion is one of the Ps in the marketing mix. Promotion has its own mix of communication tools. All of these communication tools work better if they work together in harmony rather than in isolation. Their sum is greater than their parts - providing they speak consistently with one voice all the time, every time. Integrated Marketing Communication is the concept that makes all the marketing tools to work together as a unified force rather than work in isolation. It makes the use of entire marketing efforts in the form of advertising, public relation, personal selling, sales promotion, internet marketing, direct marketing in order to generate maximum impact on the target audience at the minimum cost. IMC is ultimately achieved through concise and consistent messaging that fosters familiarity and consumer affinity. Effective IMC messages and images are meaningful and useful to consumers, and messaging and branding consistency - a proven IMC concept - yield customer satisfaction and loyalty.