Do you know your 4Cs from your 4Cs? Read more about these two marketing models, plus find practical examples to apply to your marketing strategy
What is the 4Cs marketing model?
Two groups of marketers have created the 4Cs marketing model. This often leads to confusion about what’s being discussed and where!
Let’s clarify the two models:
- The 4Cs to replace the 4Ps of the marketing mix: Consumer wants and needs; Cost to satisfy; Convenience to buy and Communication (Lauterborn, 1990).
- The 4Cs for marketing communications: Clarity; Credibility; Consistency and Competitiveness (Jobber and Fahy, 2009).
Lauterborn’s 4Cs: Consumer wants and needs; Cost to satisfy; Convenience to buy and Communication
What is it?
In 1990 Bob Lauterborn wrote an article in Advertising Age saying how the 4Ps (he didn’t address the 7Ps) were dead and today’s marketer needed to address the real issues.
He suggested ‘Consumer wants and needs’ as the focus on being product-led to companies making things customers didn’t want. A good example of this is probably Nokia, making lots of products, but failing to satisfy consumer needs and wants.
Need a plan to create a winning marketing strategy?
Get started today using a tried and tested step-by-step process to optimize your marketing.
Start Now
His second ‘C’ is ‘Cost to satisfy’ on the basis that price was irrelevant as so many other factors were involved. This is interesting if you consider commodity goods, such as non-brand purchases from supermarkets, where supermarket buyers are forcing down the price they pay with their suppliers. This is likely to be a contributory reason why horsemeat was introduced into ready meals – suppliers having to provide a ‘cost to satisfy’ buyers. The challenge for me is the perception of the terms ‘cost to satisfy’ with a company like Apple.
The ‘cost to satisfy’ sounds more like a lower price offer and Apple products are premium-priced. Perhaps that’s the key, as the cost to satisfy, for a brand like Apple, has to be higher than the competitors, to contribute towards the brand’s DNA as a luxury brand. Interestingly with Apple, taking an iPad Air 2 and looking at the ‘cost to satisfy’ (I really mean price here) across several different locations, the price seems to be universally the same.
The example taken is Apple iPad Air 2 (specifically the Apple A8X, iOS 8, 9.7", Wi-Fi, 64GB, Space Grey) sold at £479.00 at three different stores in the UK. This indicates that price is managed by the brand, to ensure discounting does not take place.
Example A - Apple iPad Air 2 – Prices on Apple.co.uk website = £479
Example B - Apple iPad Air 2 – Prices on Currys.co.uk website = £479
Example C - Apple iPad Air 2 – Prices on JohnLewis.co.uk website = £479
The third ‘C’ is ‘Convenience to buy’ and admittedly, the ‘P’ for ‘Place’ always felt tenuous as it’s really about access to the product and the letter ‘P’ worked in the alliterative set!
Convenience to buy is an interesting concept as we live in a 24/7 always-on world. The concept of shopping from 9am to 5pm, has gone. Although it’s not that long ago (perhaps 15 years) that I remember working in Italy and the shops closed during lunch hours too. And this included supermarkets – imagine the scene – you arrive at the supermarket at 12.45pm and at 1pm you haven’t completed your transaction, so you literally abandon your shopping trolley, in the store! Today trolley or cart abandonment is more likely to take place in the online world.
Core Module
Set up email nurture and retargeting
Part of the Email marketing and marketing automation Toolkit
Review the options for using email marketing to encourage conversions and sales
Learn More
Added to this, the development of disintermediation – giving shoppers the chance to remove the middle man and buy direct, as well as reintermediation – the middle men re-inventing themselves online, as Expedia has done (aggregating holiday offers in one place) or Skyscanner (all your flights for specific dates in one place) or the UK insurance broker ‘Compare the Market’ (bringing many car insurance policies to one screen, making it easier to compare). The advent of wearables takes the concept of buying ‘any place, anytime, anyhow’ to another level.
The final ‘C’ in Lauterborn’s 4Cs collection is communication. Lauterborn viewed promotion as manipulative and described it as a one-way system with communications pushed from company to consumer. His view of communication was that it should be about dialogue, a two-way conversation, between company and customer. Applying this in a digital sense, we can see customers creating communications through User Generated Content, so perhaps Lauterborn’s comments were an early insight into the changing nature of customer communication.
How can I use this model?
The 4 elements can beoverlaid like a Venn diagram with the customer – or target market – at the centre of the circles.
Each circle can be populated with details about where your company is now. What are its current 4Cs? How does this compare with your competitors’ 4Cs? What other action can you take to improve your 4Cs?
This useful template enables you to review your organisation using the 4Cs.
Applying this to Apple, it seems that there are aspects of the overall picture that are missing. Physical evidence, one part of the 7Ps, is a key factor in the Apple proposition. The look and feel of Apple products is an essential part of its marketing mix, yet the 4Cs doesn’t address this fully.
This is perhaps a less complex model to use and works well with smaller organizations.
What to watch for
This model may be too simplistic for larger organizations as its overall focus is narrow and excludes critical service elements such as people, processes and physical evidence.
For more on the original 7Ps of the marketing mix,click here.
Original Sources
Lauterborn, B. (1990). 'New marketing litany; four P's passe; C-words take over',Advertising Age, 41, p. 26, Expanded Academic ASAP, EBSCOhost, viewed 31 January 2015.
The 4Cs for marketing communications: Clarity; Credibility; Consistency and Competitiveness
What is it?
The 4Cs (Clarity, Credibility, Consistency, Competitiveness) is most often used in marketing communications and was created by David Jobber and John Fahy in their book ‘Foundations of Marketing’ (2009). Once a business has segmented its marketing and identified the target audience, the next stage is to position the business. To successfully achieve this, the 4Cs is a useful tool to create a positioning statement or to build an online value proposition.
Core Module
Define Digital Value Proposition
Part of the Digital marketing strategy and planning Toolkit
Learn how to craft a powerful Digital Value Proposition (DVP) and how this differs from a brand proposition
Learn More
Looking at each of the 4Cs in more detail:
How can I use this model?
To understand how this works in practice, I’ve looked at four well-known companies and what’s interesting is that their slogans all meet the rules of Clarity, Credibility and Consistency. The Competitiveness element is less clear. And I am not sure how you would convey competitiveness with luxury brands.
Some UK supermarkets do address the Competitiveness element, for example:
• Morrisons’ slogan is ‘Love it cheaper’
• Sainsbury’s slogan is ‘Live well for less’
It seems when the competitiveness element is included, it’s about price, although it could also be about performance in B2B firms such as technology. Competitiveness is also about levels of customer service, such as Avis’s slogan (until 2012) ‘We try harder’.
What to watch for
It’s a great model to use when developing a slogan or online value proposition. Not all 4Cs will necessarily be used. It is essential that the slogan provides clarity (don’t make me think) and is credible. If it’s not credible, it won’t work.
Original Sources
Jobber, D. and Fahy, J. (2009). Foundations of marketing. 3rd ed. Published Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
What's your preferred model? 7Ps or 4Cs? And how do you build your slogans? Do share with us!
Recommended Guide: Essential Marketing Models
In our free, illustrated guide to 15 classic planning models diagrams we explain what they are and give examples of why and how to apply them in business.
Download our Essential Marketing Planning Modelsguide.
FAQs
What are the 4 C's of marketing management your answer? ›
The 4 C's of Marketing are Customer, Cost, Convenience, and Communication.
Which of the 4 Cs is directly related to the marketing of the product? ›Communication is always key to business marketing; without it, the 4 C's would not be effective. Communication is similar to the fourth P, promotion; however, it is very different. Promotion of a product is used to sway customers in order to get them to buy a product.
What are the 4Ps of the marketing mix and how does the 4 C's relate to them? ›The 4Ps of product, price, place, and promotion refer to the products your company is offering and how to get them into the hands of the consumer. The 4Cs refer to stakeholders, costs, communication, and distribution channels which are all different aspects of how your company functions.
Who gave the 4 C's of marketing and how these correspond to different 4 Ps of marketing mix elaborate? ›E. Jerome McCarthy was the first person to suggest the four P's of marketing-price, promotion, product and place(distribution)-which constitute the most common variables used in constructing a marketing mix.
What are 4Cs explain each? ›Communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity are considered the four c's and are all skills that are needed in order to succeed in today's world.
What does the 4 C's stand for? ›The 4Cs: Creativity, Critical Thinking, Communication and Collaboration in Schools.
What is the importance of 4Cs in marketing? ›The 4Cs (consumer, communication, cost, and convenience) help to ensure that your customer experiences are positive and consistent across all channels. The purpose of a marketing mix is to create a plan that addresses the needs and wants of your target market.
What are the 4 types of products explain each? ›There are four types of products and each is classified based on consumer habits, price, and product characteristics: convenience goods, shopping goods, specialty products, and unsought goods.
What are the 4 marketing strategies? ›(Marketing mix explained) The four Ps are product, price, place, and promotion. They are an example of a “marketing mix,” or the combined tools and methodologies used by marketers to achieve their marketing objectives.
What are the 4 Ps of marketing mix choose 4 answers? ›The marketing mix, also known as the four P's of marketing, refers to the four key elements of a marketing strategy: product, price, place and promotion.
What are the main differences between the 4Ps and 4cs? ›
The 4 Ps of marketing is a product, price, place, and promotion. It means how the product will reach consumers. While 4C of marketing refers to Consumers, cost, convenience, and communication.
Which among the 4 Ps of marketing is the most important and why? ›The pricing insights, combined with a number of other KPIs and metrics give marketers the information they need to make smarter marketing choices and bids. That's why, out of all the 7 P's, pricing has the largest impact on online marketing.
What are the 4cs of the marketing mix quizlet? ›What are the 4 C's? Customer solution, cost, convenience, and communication. What is the customer solution aspect of the 4C's?
What are the 4Ps and 2 C's of marketing? ›The 4 Ps are Product, Price, Promotion and Place - the four marketing mix variables under your control. The 3 Cs are: Company, Customers and Competitors - the three semi-fixed environmental factors in your market.
What are the 4 C's of integrated marketing communications? ›Coherence – different communications are logically connected. Consistency – multiple messages support and reinforce, and are not contradictory. Continuity – communications are connected and consistent through time. Complementary – synergistic, or the sum of the parts is greater than the whole!
How do you develop 4 Cs's? ›- Step 1: Prompt Critical and Creative Thinking. After introducing and modeling a new concept, prompt students to think critically and creatively about it. ...
- Step 2: Prompt Communication and Collaboration. ...
- Step 3: Present. ...
- Scheduling the Steps.
But just how do you put everything together to create an effective written work? To help me accomplish that task, I distilled the writing advice I've read and received over the years into the four Cs—clear, concise, correct, and compelling.
What are the names of the 4Cs? ›To simplify the subject of diamond grading, the 4Cs relate to cut, colour, clarity and carat weight - a universal language that was established with the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and introduced to the public by De Beers.
Which of the 4 C's is most important? ›That's why cut is the most important of the 4Cs—if a diamond is poorly cut, no clarity grating, color grading, or carat weight will make up for it. The diamond will look dull and glassy. When a diamond is cut to the proper proportions and symmetry, it will return light out of its top.
What are the 4 C's of success? ›Are you familiar with the Four Cs? I first discovered them in Yaval Noah Harari's “21 Lessons for the 21st Century.” They are: critical thinking, creativity, collaboration and communication.
What are the benefits of 4 C's? ›
Executive function skills, such as planning, organizing and strategizing. These skills help children develop self-regulation, working memory and cognitive flexibility which will encourage them to learn new ideas and develop their social-emotional capabilities.
How does 4 principles affect the marketing industry? ›There are four original principles of marketing referred to as 4Ps or 4P marketing Matrix that companies use for their marketing strategy. These four basic marketing principles Product, Price, Place, and Promotion are interconnected and work together; hence, they are also known as Marketing Mix.
What are the benefits of marketing any four? ›Marketing is fundamental to growing a brand. It tells you why customers should choose your brand, including the benefits, price, and unique selling proposition of your product or service. Marketing also helps strengthen customer relationships and builds engagement, which leads to word-of-mouth and referral marketing.
What are the four 4 phases of a product or process life cycle? ›It is referred to as the product life cycle or PLC. It (PLC) identifies and explains four stages of product development- introduction, growth, maturity, and decline.
What are the different types of products give an example for each? ›They can be physical or virtual. Physical products include durable goods (like cars, furniture, and computers) and nondurable goods (like food and beverages). Virtual products are offerings of services or experiences (such as education, software, and streaming services).
What are the 2 types of products? ›Products are broadly classified into two categories – consumer products and industrial products.
What are the 4 types of marketing segmentation? ›Demographic, psychographic, behavioral and geographic segmentation are considered the four main types of market segmentation, but there are also many other strategies you can use, including numerous variations on the four main types. Here are several more methods you may want to look into.
What are the 4Ps of social marketing? ›Most people have heard of the four P's used in social marketing: Product (key benefits, service or behavior change), Price (the cost of stopping an unhealthy behavior or adopting a healthy one), Place (the opportunities and access to products, services and places to engage in the behaviors), and Promotion ( ...
What are the 4 Ps of marketing and explain briefly their role in marketing? ›The 4Ps of marketing is a model for enhancing the components of your "marketing mix" – the way in which you take a new product or service to market. It helps you to define your marketing options in terms of price, product, promotion, and place so that your offering meets a specific customer need or demand.
What are the 2 C's of marketing? ›Two C'S of Marketing - Customers and Competitors.
What are the 4 Ps of marketing quizlet? ›
Defined by 4 P's. product, place, promotion, and price, which together make up the marketing mix. What does the customer want from the product/service?
What are the similarities and differences between the 4 Ps and the SAVE model? ›Like the 4 P's, the SAVE Framework consists of four central elements that should make up a marketing plan. However, whereas the 4 P's focus only on the product or service a business sells, the SAVE framework broadens the focus to include the needs of the customer.
What are 4Cs equivalent to 4 Ps? ›The 4Cs to replace the 4Ps of the marketing mix: Consumer wants and needs; Cost to satisfy; Convenience to buy and Communication (Lauterborn, 1990).
Why 4Ps of marketing are changed in to 4Cs? ›The decline in a one-size-fits-all mass marketing ideal meant the 4P method of marketing (where the emphasis is on the seller and what they want to sell to you) was no longer viable. The growth of niche marketing and the 4C's was instead a better fit, taking into account the wants and needs of consumers.
Why is it important for marketers to keep the 4 Ps in balance? ›The 4 P's help you understand what consumers want, how to meet the needs of your target audience, where they will look for products that suit their needs, and how to create the perception of value. The 4 P's are a tool to help marketers consider everything about their product or service.
What is the most important part of marketing? ›The Most Important Piece of a Marketing Plan Is Your Targeted Customer. Knowing and anticipating the wants and needs of your customers shapes all the other elements of your plan.
What is the most important process in marketing? ›Define the Problem or Opportunity
The most important part of the marketing research process is defining the problem. In order to do any research and collect data, you have to know what you are trying to learn from the research.
The 21st century learning skills are often called the 4 C's: critical thinking, creative thinking, communicating, and collaborating. These skills help students learn, and so they are vital to success in school and beyond.
Which of the following are the C's of marketing? ›The 5 C's of Marketing Defined. The 5 C's stand for Company, Collaborators, Customers, Competitors, and Climate. These five categories help perform situational analysis in almost any situation, while also remaining straightforward, simple, and to the point.
Which one of the following is not an element of 4 C's of marketing? ›Detailed Solution:
The four Ps of marketing are Product, Price, Place and Promotion. Patience does not come under 4 Ps of marketing.
What are the 4 P's of marketing mix and explain how they interact with each other? ›
The four Ps of marketing—product, price, place, promotion—are often referred to as the marketing mix. These are the key elements involved in planning and marketing a product or service, and they interact significantly with each other.
What is marketing Principle #2? ›Principle 2: Price. This part of the marketing mix is about determining the price for your goods or services. There are many different strategies for pricing that can be employed here, but ultimately, it's about lining up your business and marketing objectives with an understanding of what price the market will bear.
Who gave the 4 C's of marketing and how these correspond to different 4 P's of marketing mix elaborate? ›E. Jerome McCarthy was the first person to suggest the four P's of marketing-price, promotion, product and place(distribution)-which constitute the most common variables used in constructing a marketing mix.
What are the 4 C's of cross platform integration? ›Though social platforms differ in purpose, a cohesive brand personality is created across each platform by following the four C's of integration: consistency, customization, commitment, and caution.
What are the 4 C's in business management? ›If you haven't addressed questions like these, then you haven't really created a plan you know you can tackle with confidence. That's where the Four C's – Capabilities, Capacity, Constraints and Culture – come into play.
What are the four 4 marketing management functions? ›The four Ps of marketing—product, price, place, promotion—are often referred to as the marketing mix. These are the key elements involved in planning and marketing a product or service, and they interact significantly with each other.
What are the 4 keys of marketing? ›What are the 4Ps of marketing? (Marketing mix explained) The four Ps are product, price, place, and promotion. They are an example of a “marketing mix,” or the combined tools and methodologies used by marketers to achieve their marketing objectives.
What are the 4 functions of management explain each function with example? ›What Are the Four Functions of Management? The four functions of management are planning, organizing, leading and controlling. In order to be a successful manager, you must do all four while managing your work and team. These are the foundations of any professional managerial position.
What is step 4 in flow of the marketing plan? ›Step Four: Developing Marketing Mix Decisions. At this stage of the strategic marketing process, it's time to focus on the “how” of planning. Your marketing mix is based on the 4Ps of marketing, including Product, Price, Promotion, and Place.
What are the 4 C's of Social Marketing? ›Communities, conversations, channels and campaigns that drive word-of-mouth buzz are the 4C's of social media marketing. Understanding them and their interrelationships is the key to social media marketing success.
What are the most important 4 Ps of marketing? ›
The 4 Ps of marketing are the four important pillars of marketing strategy that all marketing professionals should know. These are Promotion, Product, Place and Price. These 4 Ps play a major role in delivering the customer needs at the right time and the right place.
What is the most important of the 4 P's of marketing? ›I believe this highlights why the product is the most important aspect of the four P's of marketing – Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. Without a product, you cannot implement any one of the other three elements of the marketing mix. And great products are easy to market as they serve both a need and want.
Why is it important for a marketer to focus on the Four A's over the four P's? ›It simply means that the 4P's were never designed to describe what is needed to be successful from the customer's perspective. To understand what is required to achieve success with customers, marketers need other tools to complement the 4P's model.