Definition of Surrogate Marketing
Surrogate marketing refers to an advertising strategy where brands promote their products or services indirectly by focusing on a secondary or substitute product, often due to legal restrictions or negative public perception. This tactic is commonly used in industries such as alcohol or tobacco, where direct advertising is banned or discouraged. By associating their brand with a different, more permissible product, companies can create indirect brand awareness and maintain visibility without violating regulations.
Phonetic
The phonetic pronunciation of “Surrogate Marketing” is:/ˈsɜːrəɡət ˈmɑːrkɪtɪŋ/Here’s a breakdown of the phonetic script:Surrogate:/ˈsɜːrəɡət/- First syllable: “sur” – /ˈsɜːr/- Second syllable: “ro” – /ə/- Third syllable: “gate” – /ɡət/Marketing:/ˈmɑːrkɪtɪŋ/- First syllable: “mar” – /ˈmɑːr/- Second syllable: “ket” – /kɪt/- Third syllable: “ing” – /ɪŋ/
Key Takeaways
- Surrogate marketing is an advertising strategy that promotes a brand or product indirectly by focusing on a related non-controversial product or service, often used in markets where direct advertising is restricted or banned.
- The primary goals of surrogate marketing are to create brand awareness, establish brand identity, and maintain brand recall, despite the constraints on the direct promotion of the primary product.
- While surrogate marketing can be effective for certain products or industries, it can also be controversial, as it might be seen as an attempt to deceive consumers or circumvent advertising regulations.
Importance of Surrogate Marketing
Surrogate marketing is an important digital marketing strategy because it enables companies to continue promoting their brand or product indirectly, even when direct advertising is restricted or not possible.
This approach is often utilized by brands subject to advertising bans or strict industry regulations, such as alcohol or tobacco products.
By focusing on promoting surrogate products or brand-related events, companies can maintain brand visibility, create positive associations, and foster customer loyalty, ultimately driving sales of the actual product.
Amidst an increasingly competitive and regulated digital marketplace, surrogate marketing has emerged as an essential tool for businesses to maintain a strong brand presence and communicate with their target audience.
Explanation
Surrogate Marketing serves a unique purpose in the world of advertising and promotions, especially in circumstances where direct advertisement of a product or service is banned or disallowed due to legal or ethical reasons. Its primary objective is to indirectly create awareness about and promote the product or service in question.
The brand achieves this by leveraging alternative means, such as promoting associated products, events, or sponsorships under its umbrella. When consumers engage with these promotions, they form subconscious associations with the prohibited item, increasing its visibility and appeal.
Surrogate marketing’s primary use is for gaining insulation and traction for products difficult to advertise openly, such as alcohol, cigarettes, or other adult-oriented items. By using this approach, businesses can navigate legal constraints and facilitate a connection with their target market through carefully crafted marketing communication.
Over time, consumers become familiar with the surrogate products or events and develop an emotional attachment or loyalty, eventually moving towards making a purchase of the intended product. Thus, surrogate marketing blends ingenuity and creativity to ensure brand visibility, recognition, and growth, even in highly regulated market segments.
Examples of Surrogate Marketing
Surrogate marketing refers to the indirect promotion of a product or service, typically when direct advertising is restricted or banned for certain products such as tobacco, alcohol, or gambling. Brands use alternative methods to promote their products without explicitly featuring the restricted product or service. Here are three real-world examples of surrogate marketing:
Kingfisher Airlines: Kingfisher is a well-known Indian beer brand. However, strict regulations limit alcohol advertisements in India. To circumvent these restrictions, the company promoted its brand name and logo through the launch of Kingfisher Airlines, which allowed them to keep their brand name in the public eye. Although the airline business has since ceased operations, this venture served as a surrogate marketing strategy for the beer brand.
Marlboro Clothing and Accessories: Marlboro, a popular cigarette brand, faced significant advertising restrictions due to laws prohibiting the promotion of tobacco products. To keep their brand name alive, they introduced a line of clothing and accessories called the Marlboro Adventure Team, featuring the iconic Marlboro logo. This allowed the brand to maintain its presence in the market through a more acceptable, non-tobacco-related product line.
Bacardi Blast Music CDs: Bacardi, a famous brand of rum, employed surrogate marketing by associating itself with music events and releasing a series of music CDs called Bacardi Blast. These CDs featured popular party songs and were distributed as promotional items at clubs, bars, and music festivals. By promoting their brand through these music CDs, Bacardi was able to advertise indirectly, associating their name with an enjoyable and social experience instead of directly advertising their alcoholic products.
FAQ: Surrogate Marketing
1. What is surrogate marketing?
Surrogate marketing is a marketing strategy that involves promoting a product or service indirectly by advertising a different, yet related product or service. This is often done when direct promotion of the main product is restricted or prohibited by law or regulations, such as in the case of alcohol, tobacco, or prescription drugs.
2. How does surrogate marketing work?
Surrogate marketing works by promoting an alternative product or service that is associated with the main product or brand. By doing so, it helps to create brand awareness and recognition, without directly mentioning or endorsing the restricted product. For example, a company may promote its brand by advertising non-alcoholic beverages or other items, which in turn, will create an association with their alcoholic products.
3. What are some examples of surrogate marketing?
Examples of surrogate marketing include advertising for products like club soda, mineral water, or glassware by liquor companies, or promoting events and contests sponsored by tobacco companies. Additionally, pharmaceutical companies may use disease awareness campaigns as a surrogate marketing strategy to indirectly promote prescription drugs that are restricted from direct-to-consumer advertisements.
4. What are the advantages of surrogate marketing?
Surrogate marketing enables companies to maintain brand visibility and reach their target audience, even when direct promotion is restricted. It helps in building brand loyalty and recognition, increases brand recall, and provides a platform for companies to showcase their corporate social responsibility initiatives.
5. Are there any ethical concerns regarding surrogate marketing?
Yes, there are ethical concerns surrounding surrogate marketing, as it may be seen as a way for companies to bypass regulations and indirectly promote potentially harmful products to consumers. Critics argue that this type of marketing exploits loopholes in advertising restrictions and encourage consumption of products that may have negative effects on health or society. However, proponents of surrogate marketing claim that it allows companies to legally maintain brand visibility and compete in an increasingly competitive market.
Related Digital Marketing Terms
- Covert Advertising
- Brand Extension
- Sponsorship Marketing
- Indirect Marketing
- Ambush Marketing
Sources for More Information
- Marketing91: https://www.marketing91.com/surrogate-marketing/
- Notesmatic: https://notesmatic.com/2021/06/surrogate-advertising-definition-key-element/
- Management And Accounting Web (MAAW): https://maaw.info.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/Jenkins.SurrogateMarketing1.htm
- Fashion Marketing Lesson: https://fashionmarketinglessons.blogspot.com/2011/12/surrogate-advertising.html
