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Online shopping is growing significantly among rural consumers interested in overcoming product assortment limitations in their local markets. Retailers are taking notice, and some are looking for first-mover-advantage opportunities in rural areas where they see greater potential for growth when compared to saturated urban markets. However, expanding to these areas presents significant and unresolved challenges related to last mile fulfillment caused by low levels of population density as well as other socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. In this article, we present an integrated set of recommendations for online retailers to differentiate strategies to serve rural markets efficiently. To that end, we partnered with an online grocery retailer to examine differences between rural and urban consumers across online shopping preferences that significantly impact fulfillment costs. We draw on those differences and existing knowledge on last mile fulfillment operations to propose a tailored consumer value proposition and operational model for last mile fulfillment in rural markets.

Though counterfeit products pose a large and growing problem, brand owners may not always respond to it effectively. Efforts to address it may be scattered or reactive, with some brand owners not even recognizing the problem. Previous research has indicated a total-business solution, involving virtually all functions of the enterprise, can help address the problem in a more systematic and effective way. To better identify what a total-business solution might look like, we asked a sample of 42 respondents-33 brand-protection practitioners and nine other respondents with academic, service, or other perspectives-to identify all functions and tactics that might be associated with brand-protection efforts. Altogether, respondents identified 38 functions associated with 757 unique tactics among more than 1,300 total tactics. Using these data, we assessed the depth and breadth of each function. We also identified multiple functions that can together support a total-business solution, and our results can help managers engage these functions to protect their brands. Future work may gauge the extent to which firms actually incorporate these functions as well as how managers consider the value, breadth, and depth of each function in relation to their organizations.

In 2019, a small investor was reviewing her portfolio mix, which included quick-service restaurants. During her research, she learned of new-product launches by two companies: Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat. Both companies produced plant-based products that simulated meat, and both were distributing their products not only in grocery stores but also in quick-service restaurants. Both also used innovative marketing, such as insisting that their products be placed in the meat aisle and not in a separate aisle for plant-based food. The companies suggested their products were better for animals, human health, and the environment than animal-based meat, but faced pushback and regulation. Would plant-based meat be a good investment?

In 2019, a small investor was reviewing her portfolio mix, which included quick-service restaurants. During her research, she learned of new-product launches by two companies: Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat. Both companies produced plant-based products that simulated meat, and both were distributing their products not only in grocery stores but also in quick-service restaurants. Both also used innovative marketing, such as insisting that their products be placed in the meat aisle and not in a separate aisle for plant-based food. The companies suggested their products were better for animals, human health, and the environment than animal-based meat, but faced pushback and regulation. Would plant-based meat be a good investment?

Spencer’s Retail, a fast-moving consumer goods retail chain in India, had been perceived as an expensive retailer exclusively for high-end consumers. A new sector head took over in 2013 and shifted the store from a positioning statement of “Taste the World” to “Make Fine Living Affordable.” Within five years, Spencer’s was making a profit. However, traditional grocery stores continued to dominate the Indian retail scene and were more heavily frequented by Indian shoppers. To maintain a sustainable profit, Spencer’s had to expand the business by opening more retail outlets and increasing same-store sales growth by increasing footfalls and basket size. What store format and combination of private label and national label products would help Spencer’s reach this goal?

Ola Auto India (Ola) was the pioneer in cab aggregation services in India. In 2019, Ola needed to ensure that it remained the customer’s first choice for autorickshaw (auto) booking. Ola had so far faced moderate competition from small players, but competition was increasing from Uber Technologies Inc. With a service that was traditionally chosen for its low cost and easy availability, customer loyalty remained a challenge for all players in the market. How could Ola ensure customer loyalty and maintain its leadership position when Uber was garnering a higher net promoter score than Ola?

In January 2020, the proprietor of Basmati House Supermart (BHS), a large grocery retail outlet in India, terminated a partner retailer contract with Springers, an online retail platform. The proprietor had an ancestral property, located in a high-footfall area of the wholesale market, that could be developed into a retail outlet. In the new outlet, the broad options were to replicate the current retail business, focus selectively on staples and do more wholesale, or only focus on rice and develop it as a brand for larger distribution. Alternatively, the proprietor could rent the new property, wind down the grocery business, and invest the money in a fitness centre. Each option required its own particular investments, competence, and marketing strategy, and all options entailed considerable uncertainty and risk. BHS was steadily losing money; therefore, the decision had to be made quickly.

In late 2018, the founder and owner of Pupadise, Inc., a pet care business in Canada, was nearing her graduation from university and needed to decide what to do with the business she had built in her undergraduate years. Pupadise cared for clients' pets when the pet owners could not; its services primarily consisted of live-in and drop-in pet care. The owner was considering selling the business, but was concerned that the sale price would be low because her business had no traditional assets. Inspired by a guest speaker in her pricing class, she realized that her client list of 300 pet owners had value, but wondered how to price it. She had a meeting scheduled with a prospective buyer and wanted to prepare. Should she sell her business, and if so, for how much?

Sa Sa International Holdings Limited, a leading cosmetics retail group in Asia, announced on December 2, 2019 that it would close all 22 stores in Singapore. It attributed the closures to the less-than-satisfactory performance of its Singapore operations for many years, where it had recorded losses for six consecutive years. This case analyses the possible reasons for Sasa's store closures, and explores how an improved customer experience and omnichannel strategy delivered through phygital stores might have helped save the situation.

Digital marketing is becoming more and more important for businesses, especially entrepreneurs. This book will assist entrepreneurs in setting up and executing a digital marketing strategy to reach the goals they have set for their startups. Search engine optimization, content marketing, social media marketing, search engine marketing, and online reputation management are all discussed. Guiding the establishment of a digital presence, the text offers real-life examples, insights gained from executing digital marketing strategies for startups and small businesses, and assignments at the end of every chapter to personally apply what has been taught. Written for startup entrepreneurs, founders, marketers, and small business owners, this book provides practical tips on applying digital marketing to increase brand awareness and sales. It acts as a reference guide for startup entrepreneurs that they can come back to while setting up and executing their digital marketing strategy. Chapter 1 offers an introduction to digital marketing, an inexpensive way to reach a broad target audience in order to achieve specific business goals. The basics of several ways to digitally market are described. Websites need to offer a great visitor experience; search engine optimization makes a website findable on search engines by more people; social media can target audiences with high levels of accuracy. Digital marketing analytics helps marketers understand the effectiveness of their marketing strategy. Digital marketing strategies include everything that needs to be done to reach business goals with the help of online marketing channels. Entrepreneurs should think of a few goals they want to accomplish through their digital marketing strategy, plan their digital sales funnel with the AIDA model, and identify the channels they will use to target the audience. Monitoring digital marketing efforts will help to improve strategy and execution.

Digital marketing is becoming more and more important for businesses, especially entrepreneurs. This book will assist entrepreneurs in setting up and executing a digital marketing strategy to reach the goals they have set for their startups. Search engine optimization, content marketing, social media marketing, search engine marketing, and online reputation management are all discussed. Guiding the establishment of a digital presence, the text offers real-life examples, insights gained from executing digital marketing strategies for startups and small businesses, and assignments at the end of every chapter to personally apply what has been taught. Written for startup entrepreneurs, founders, marketers, and small business owners, this book provides practical tips on applying digital marketing to increase brand awareness and sales. It acts as a reference guide for startup entrepreneurs that they can come back to while setting up and executing their digital marketing strategy. Chapter 2 looks at the basics of website planning, design, and marketing. Before creating a website, you should know what you hope to achieve with it. Researching competitors' websites can be beneficial in planning your own. Information architecture and wireframes are described along with their benefits. Good website design builds credibility of a business. Several tips to designing a good website are given, including limiting the number of action buttons, having white space, and following the law of thirds. High-quality images will not only create visual appeal but also drive user engagement. Good websites should be mobile responsive to target mobile users. Web hosting services, domain names, and content management systems are all discussed. Ultimately, websites should be designed in line with the latest design trends.

Digital marketing is becoming more and more important for businesses, especially entrepreneurs. This book will assist entrepreneurs in setting up and executing a digital marketing strategy to reach the goals they have set for their startups. Search engine optimization, content marketing, social media marketing, search engine marketing, and online reputation management are all discussed. Guiding the establishment of a digital presence, the text offers real-life examples, insights gained from executing digital marketing strategies for startups and small businesses, and assignments at the end of every chapter to personally apply what has been taught. Written for startup entrepreneurs, founders, marketers, and small business owners, this book provides practical tips on applying digital marketing to increase brand awareness and sales. It acts as a reference guide for startup entrepreneurs that they can come back to while setting up and executing their digital marketing strategy. This chapter explores content marketing strategy, the importance of it, and how to create it. A content marketing strategy is a strategic approach to creating and distributing content to motivate the target audience to take a desired action. When creating a content marketing strategy, you should consider the underlying theme of all the different channels and mediums, your brand identity, and your goals. Keeping a documented content marketing strategy will help to measure progress with your goals. Steps to creating a content marketing strategy are outlined, including defining key performance indicators and the target audience, auditing existing content, and determining the type of content that will be created. Mapping content according to various stages of the customer journey can also be beneficial. Lastly, the AIDA model is described further.

Digital marketing is becoming more and more important for businesses, especially entrepreneurs. This book will assist entrepreneurs in setting up and executing a digital marketing strategy to reach the goals they have set for their startups. Search engine optimization, content marketing, social media marketing, search engine marketing, and online reputation management are all discussed. Guiding the establishment of a digital presence, the text offers real-life examples, insights gained from executing digital marketing strategies for startups and small businesses, and assignments at the end of every chapter to personally apply what has been taught. Written for startup entrepreneurs, founders, marketers, and small business owners, this book provides practical tips on applying digital marketing to increase brand awareness and sales. It acts as a reference guide for startup entrepreneurs that they can come back to while setting up and executing their digital marketing strategy. Chapter 4 discusses search engine optimization (SEO), its purpose, and how to implement it. SEO maximizes the number of people that visit a website by putting that website on top search results in various search engines. Four types of SEO are described: on-page SEO, off-page SEO, technical SEO, and local SEO. Activities needed for on-page optimization are explored, including keyword research, finding topics, and search-related keywords. Several tips to implementing on-page SEO are given, such as optimizing the URL, doing internal linking, and using LSI keywords. Strategies with off-page SEO are discussed as well as suggestions to incorporate technical SEO, like reviewing the website sitemap, checking pages that are not internally linked, and checking the page speed.

Digital marketing is becoming more and more important for businesses, especially entrepreneurs. This book will assist entrepreneurs in setting up and executing a digital marketing strategy to reach the goals they have set for their startups. Search engine optimization, content marketing, social media marketing, search engine marketing, and online reputation management are all discussed. Guiding the establishment of a digital presence, the text offers real-life examples, insights gained from executing digital marketing strategies for startups and small businesses, and assignments at the end of every chapter to personally apply what has been taught. Written for startup entrepreneurs, founders, marketers, and small business owners, this book provides practical tips on applying digital marketing to increase brand awareness and sales. It acts as a reference guide for startup entrepreneurs that they can come back to while setting up and executing their digital marketing strategy. Chapter 5 offers an overview of social media marketing, its benefits, and how to create a social media strategy. Social media marketing needs to create content that suits each platform in order to engage the target audience. With social media platforms, you can precisely target your audience based on their preferences and interests. When creating a social media strategy, your goals, audience, metrics to track, and tracking performance are all important to consider. This chapter then goes on to specifically discuss Facebook ads, LinkedIn ads, and Twitter ads. Facebook ads have a high level of customization, more control, and accurate targeting of the audience. Three types of Facebook audiences are described: saved audience, custom audience, and lookalike audience. LinkedIn is better used for business-to-business domains, and several different types of display and text ads are discussed.

Digital marketing is becoming more and more important for businesses, especially entrepreneurs. This book will assist entrepreneurs in setting up and executing a digital marketing strategy to reach the goals they have set for their startups. Search engine optimization, content marketing, social media marketing, search engine marketing, and online reputation management are all discussed. Guiding the establishment of a digital presence, the text offers real-life examples, insights gained from executing digital marketing strategies for startups and small businesses, and assignments at the end of every chapter to personally apply what has been taught. Written for startup entrepreneurs, founders, marketers, and small business owners, this book provides practical tips on applying digital marketing to increase brand awareness and sales. It acts as a reference guide for startup entrepreneurs that they can come back to while setting up and executing their digital marketing strategy. Chapter 6 explores Google Analytics, a free website analytics tool that gives insights into your website's visitors. It will tell you how people are finding your website, what they are doing on your site, and which page of the site is getting the most visitors. The structure of a Google Analytics account is described. Google Analytics can give you five main reports: realtime reports, audience reports, behavior reports, acquisition, and conversions. Realtime reports give information on the visitors that are active on the site presently. Audience reports show you which countries your website visitors are from, what languages they speak, and how they access the site. Behavior reports cover how many visitors are new versus returning and which browsers and devices they use. Acquisition reports assist you in making data-supported decisions in changing your content and marketing strategy.

Digital marketing is becoming more and more important for businesses, especially entrepreneurs. This book will assist entrepreneurs in setting up and executing a digital marketing strategy to reach the goals they have set for their startups. Search engine optimization, content marketing, social media marketing, search engine marketing, and online reputation management are all discussed. Guiding the establishment of a digital presence, the text offers real-life examples, insights gained from executing digital marketing strategies for startups and small businesses, and assignments at the end of every chapter to personally apply what has been taught. Written for startup entrepreneurs, founders, marketers, and small business owners, this book provides practical tips on applying digital marketing to increase brand awareness and sales. It acts as a reference guide for startup entrepreneurs that they can come back to while setting up and executing their digital marketing strategy. This chapter explores search engine marketing, the process of increasing visibility of products and services in search engine results pages through running paid search ads or pay-per-click campaigns. Google Ads allows you to run paid campaigns on the pay-per-click and cost-per-impressions basis using Google's search engine and network of websites; however, it takes time and patience to get your website on the top Google search results. Elements of a Google Ads account are described, including ad campaigns, ad groups, and keywords. An outline of how to start running Google Ads is also given with steps such as doing keyword research, setting up ad campaigns and ad groups, writing ad copies, and adding landing pages and negative keywords. Four keyword match types are also discussed: broad match, broad match modifier, phrase match, and exact match. These allow you to set when your ad is triggered based on keywords.

Digital marketing is becoming more and more important for businesses, especially entrepreneurs. This book will assist entrepreneurs in setting up and executing a digital marketing strategy to reach the goals they have set for their startups. Search engine optimization, content marketing, social media marketing, search engine marketing, and online reputation management are all discussed. Guiding the establishment of a digital presence, the text offers real-life examples, insights gained from executing digital marketing strategies for startups and small businesses, and assignments at the end of every chapter to personally apply what has been taught. Written for startup entrepreneurs, founders, marketers, and small business owners, this book provides practical tips on applying digital marketing to increase brand awareness and sales. It acts as a reference guide for startup entrepreneurs that they can come back to while setting up and executing their digital marketing strategy. Chapter 8 discusses online reputation management (ORM), the process of monitoring and addressing mentions of your brand on the internet. Customers will give opinions - both positive and negative - about your brand on the internet, and ORM allows you to build a positive online image. ORM works to foster a positive public view of your brand or company over the internet and assists in mitigating effects of negative perceptions. If your brand has a bad online reputation, it could have several negative consequences, including lost credibility, drop in sales, drop in share prices, and discord or even breakdowns of investor relationships and partnerships. Some tips on how to avoid a negative brand perception are offered, including having a social media presence, responding to reviews, and having good web content. Several activities needed for ORM are explored, such as monitoring brand reputation, addressing negative reviews, encouraging and highlighting positive reviews, and using social media.

COVID-19 has quickly disrupted how companies market their brands to consumers and the way customers shop for products. The current environment offers an unprecedented opportunity for smaller and midtier brands to compete against their more established rivals for exposure, mindshare, product trials, and market share with a new and broader base of potential customers.

In late August 2018, the chief operating officer of Success HR Solutions, a Vietnamese software start-up, was contemplating the strategy for relaunching her product, a cloud-based human resources software product that handled various payroll and human resources functions. She needed to decide how to sell and price her product for the target market in the Vietnamese economy. As she evaluated her options, she had to consider the overall Vietnamese business landscape, the future of the industry, her company's current capabilities, and her organization's overall vision.