For these cases there are not many complexities as a number of objectives as sales based techniques can be used with relative ease. For Example it is very easy to measure sales effect before sales promotion activities, during these activities and post sales promotion activities . In case of objectives not related to sales, such as trial purchase, or changing consumer awareness and attitude as resultant increase and perceived value of the product, measurement is more difficult. In certain types of promotion, the reseller support is important and can have significant effect on marketer’s promotion performance.
Pre-testing
How sales promotion is to be communicated and what would be communicated to the target groups is important and can be pre-tested. For example the pre-tested may find out what is likely to be the perceived value and the risk. A customer considers whether it would be wise to buy an unknown brand of sport shoes at a 45% discount. In this offer was there a risk of buying an unfamiliar brand? The pre-test can be conducted to assess these factors by using focus groups and consumer panels. Another approach, ballot method, consists of kneeling a ballot paper to a list of consumers. They are requested to evaluate different illustrated promotion is and vote for the most right and return the ballot to the firm. A relatively expensive but more accurate method is a portfolio test. A portfolio of sales promotion is prepared and shown to consumers in person and the responses are noted.
It is often quite helpful to evaluate the responses of resellers before implementing the promotion programme. The simplest ways to visit several important retailers and wholesalers, discuss the programme and seek their opinion and suggestions. This may prove to be quite favorable in case the support of resellers is considered to be of paramount importance for promotion results.
Concurrent testing
This testing is done when the sales promotion is in progress. Concurrent testing permit the promotion manager to modify the sales promotion, if needed. This type of testing is conducted in terms of sales data which can be obtained on a weekly or monthly basis. If the promotion is a consumer contest and the consumer is not require to purchase anything, the response to promotion can be adjudged by the number of entries received at some interval and if need be, the contest period can be extended. In case of a coupon distribution programme, similar approach can be adopted by keeping track of coupons redeemed.
Post-testing
Post-testing is done after the promotion period is over. To assess the changing consumer awareness and attitude, telephone calls, questionnaire mailed to the consumers and personal interviews can be used. In these methods, the most expensive is the personal interview method and the least expensive is the mail. The information sought pertains to the promotion event. In case of samples on premiums distributed through retail stores, intercept interviews at the Point of Sale can reveal more reliable information.
To measure the sales affect, sales figures before the promotion period can be compared with figures at the end of promotion and one month after the promotion ends. Suppose that the promotion objective was to increase sales by 30 percent in certain period and the pre-promotion sales for a similar period were worth 5 million rupees. The sales jumped to in excess of 5.6 million in the promotion period. This would show that the objective was achieved. It is very likely that in the ensuing month after the promotion, the sales will come down to say 3.5 million rupees. In the sales return to 5 million rupees on the long run, then perhaps the sales jump is because of brand features and deal prone customers. However, if the regular sales settle at 5.5 million rupees on the long run, then definitely the promotion prove successful in increasing the long run sales by attracting new customers and we have also attracted customers away from other competing brands.
