Professional Diploma in Marketing - Marketing Qualifications

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Professional Diploma in Marketing

This qualification is ideal for marketers who are concerned with managing the marketing process at an operational level, as well as those who are looking to build on the knowledge gained at Professional Certificate level with a future marketing management role in mind. The content of the course has been put together following consultation with employers to ensure that they gain relevant competencies for various stages of their marketing career. It is very likely therefore that you will be active in a middle to senior marketing or management role in an organisation. In short, the Professional Diploma is for individuals looking to build practical skills in operational marketing management and broaden their strategic perspective.

Benefits

  • Gain the marketing skills you need at an operational level to maximise on opportunities for your company
  • Achieve an internationally recognised qualification and become an Associate Member (ACIM)
  • Understand how to write, implement and evaluate an effective marketing plan to meet your targets.

Who is it for?

Marketers responsible for managing the marketing process at an operational level and those moving into a mid-level marketing position. This will include those who are looking to build on knowledge gained at the Professional Certificate level. Generally, all applicants will have an experienced business understanding of marketing management.

Course Content

These training opportunities can be delivered in a variety of ways - to suit your your organisation or your own personal circumstances. These include evening classes thru to distance learning courses. By the end of 2008 we will also be introducing online learning to supplement both of these more traditional skills delivery routes. For distance learning courses there are a number of optional study weekends, which can offer the opportunity for students to meet and share learning and work on specific case studies relating to examinations and assignments.

Marketing Research and Information

By the end of this module you should be able to:

  • Identify appropriate marketing information and marketing research requirements for business decision-making
  • Plan for and manage the acquisition, storage, retrieval and reporting of information on the organisation’s market and customers
  • Explain the process involved in purchasing market research and the development of effective client supplier relationships
  • Write a research brief to meet the requirements of an organisation to support a specific plan or business decision
  • Develop a research proposal to fulfil a given research brief
  • Evaluate the appropriateness of different qualitative and quantitative research methodologies to meet different research situations
  • Design and plan a research programme
  • Design a questionnaire and discussion guide
  • Interpret quantitative and qualitative data and present coherent and appropriate recommendations that lead to effective marketing and business decisions
  • Critically evaluate the outcomes and quality of a research project
  • Explain the legal, regulatory, ethical and social responsibilities of organisations involved in gathering, holding and using information

Marketing Planning

By the end of this module you should be able to:

  • Explain the role of the marketing plan within the context of the organisation’s strategy and culture and the broader marketing environment (ethics, social responsibility, legal frameworks, sustainability)
  • Conduct a marketing audit considering appropriate internal and external factors
  • Develop marketing objectives and plans at an operational level appropriate to the internal and external environment
  • Develop the role of branding and positioning within the marketing plan
  • Integrate marketing mix tools to achieve effective implementation of plans
  • Select an appropriate co-ordinated marketing mix incorporating appropriate stakeholder relationships for a particular marketing context
  • Set and justify budgets for marketing plans and mix decisions.
  • Define and use appropriate measurements to evaluate the effectiveness of marketing plans and activities
  • Make recommendations for changes and innovations to marketing processes based on an understanding of the organisational context and an evaluation of past marketing activities

Marketing Communications

By the end of this module you should be able to:

  • Explain the role of marketing communications and advise how personal influences might be used to develop promotional effectiveness
  • Explain how the tools of the promotional mix can be coordinated in order to communicate effectively with customers and a range of stakeholders
  • Devise a basic media plan based on specific campaign requirements using both offline and online media
  • Develop marketing communication and brand support activities based on an understanding of the salient characteristics of the target audience
  • Explain the main elements, activities and linkages associated with the formulation and implementation of a marketing communications plan
  • Recommend a suitable marketing communications budget
  • Explain the importance of developing long term relationships with customers, channel members, agencies and other stakeholders and transfer such knowledge to the development of marketing communication activities
  • Suggest suitable methods to influence the relationships an organisation has with its customers, any marketing channel partners and other stakeholders, using marketing communications
  • Use the vocabulary of the marketing communications industry and be able to communicate effectively with other marketing practitioners

Marketing Management in Practice

By the end of this module you should be able to:

  • Explain the roles and structure of the marketing function and the nature of relationships with other functions within various types of organisation
  • Interpret qualitative and quantitative data and present appropriate and coherent recommendations that lead to effective marketing and business decisions
  • Develop marketing objectives and plans at an operational level appropriate to the organisation’s internal and external environments
  • Use appropriate management techniques to plan and control marketing activities and projects
  • Use appropriate techniques to develop, manage and motivate a team so that it performs effectively and delivers required results
  • Define measures for, and evaluate the performance of, marketing plans, activities and projects and make recommendations for improvements

You will be required to complete 4 written Exams or Assignments:

  • Marketing Research and Information
  • Marketing Planning
  • Marketing Communications
  • Marketing Management In Practice

In order to achieve this marketing qualification you need to pass all of the above.

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