Q. What do you mean by international advertising ? How international advertising is different from domestic advertising ?
Ans. MEANING OF INTERNATIONAL ADVERTISING: The advertising activities undertaken in different nations constitute international advertising. It aims to inform, persuade and remind target audience of multiple nations about the advertiser’s products and services offered.
International advertising is a communication process of dissemination of advertising message to the target audience in more than one nation. Sometimes, these advertisements differ from country to country depending upon the domestic environment of different nations. The domestic environment of various nations differs in terms of culture, language, literacy rate, level of economic development, government regulations, consumption pattern, fashion, taste, value system, religion etc. Due to these differences, global companies design different ad-copies for different nations. In short, international advertising is a communication process for disseminating ad-message in different nations which may differ in terms of communication, style, culture, consumption pattern, literacy level, language, value system, level of economic development etc.
INTERNATIONAL ADVERTISING Vs. LOCAL ADVERTISING: International advertising refers to communication of marketing message to target customers in more than one country. Local advertising here refers to advertising within a country. International advertising is different from local advertising in following ways:
(1) Coverage: It refers to market area. In local advertising, the coverage area is maximum up to one nation or it can be a few states within a nation, or a few regions with in a nation. But the coverage of international advertising is very wide. International advertising campaign may be undertaken for many nations. Some MNCs like Coca Cola advertise their products in more than 150 nations, so the coverage of international advertising is wider than that of local advertising.
(2) Cultural Diversity: As local advertising is confined to a nation or a part of it, so the problem of cultural diversity is not very serious because within a nation the culture may be same or cultural diversity may not be very significant. But in case of international advertising, the problem of cultural diversity is very serious as advertising campaign is undertaken in many nations which may have altogether different culture. There may be different interpretation and perception of colours, symbols, ad-appeals, body gestures, etc. in case of international advertising due to cultural diversity.
(3) Language Problem: In case of local advertising, the problem of language diversity is not very serious as every nation has its national language/mother tongue. But in case of international advertising, different ad-copies have to be prepared as the language spoken in different nations may be entirely different. For example, although India and China are neighbouring countries, yet their spoken languages are entirely different.
(4) Government Regulations: The problem of inconsistency in government regulations related to advertising arises in case of international advertising. Different nations have different code of conduct for T.V. advertising, print media advertising, etc. Similarly, there are different types of regulations for tobacco-advertisements, alcohol-advertisements, etc But this problem is not very serious in case of local advertising.
(5) Media of Advertising: In local advertising, media with local circulation is selected. It can be cable TV, local newspaper, local radio channels, local T.V. channels. The media with global circulation is not selected for local advertising. But in case of global advertising, media with national or international circulation is selected. Online media is very popular in international advertising because it has global circulation. But at the same time, local media may also be used along with global media for intensive market coverage of global advertising.
(6) Selection of Ad-Message Source: In international advertising, such persons are selected as ad-message source for communicating the message as have global popularity. But in case of local advertising, local persons are selected as ad-message source persons.
(7) Selection of Advertising Agency: In case of international advertising, marketing message is to be communicated in many nations, so such ad-agencies are selected for undertaking advertising campaigns as have global network. In case of local advertising, local ad-agencies are selected for executing ad-campaigns.
(8) Advertising Budget: In case of international advertising, commercial message is communicated to target audience in more than one country. Some MNCs undertake ad-campaigns in many nations which may be even more than 150 nations. So ad-budget in case of international advertising may run in million or billion dollars. But in case of local advertising, the ad-message is communicated within one nation only, so ad-budget involves lesser funds.
(9) Mutual Dependence: The international advertiser may undertake local advertising campaigns along with global ad campaigns so as to meet local market requirements of each nation. But local advertiser never undertakes global ad-campaigns.
What do you mean by international advertising ? How international advertising is different from domestic advertising ?
