Understand how to plan the use of digital media for a specific message, audience and recipients

Unit 17: Communicating Using Digital Marketing/Sales Channels

Unit code: T/502/8624
QCF level: 3
Credit value: 4
Guided learning hours: 26

Unit aim

The aim of this unit is to educate the learner in making use of digital marketing and sales channels to communicate messages to target audiences. Learners will go through the process of planning how best to deliver the message, through to research to check it has had the necessary impact.

Competency unit assessment guidance

This unit should be assessed predominantly in the workplace. Please see Annexe E. Observation, witness testimony, questioning, professional discussion, written and product evidence are all sources of evidence which can be used.

Unit introduction

• Marketing professionals are expected to develop marketing communications strategies using digital media which have been tailored to the needs of specific customer groups.
• In this unit learners will examine the planning process that underpins the development of communication activities using digital media. They will explore different methods of selecting groups of customers to target giving appropriate consideration to their response to different forms of communication. The planning process will be informed by the different software packages available to present marketing information and the requirements of using a range of digital technologies in marketing communications activity.
• Learners will explore the role of objectives in planning the use of digital communication channels, reflecting on the role of specific KPIs in planning. They will look at how target customers are selected and how marketing professionals obtain the data needed to communicate with the public, showing a critical awareness of the appropriateness of different channels to specific target groups. Their proposals will be examined in the context of the needs of their employer and the extent to which they are likely to engage the interests of customers.
• Many millions of ‘spam’ messages are sent out every year leading members of the public and internet service givers to apply powerful spam filters to their email systems. Learners will examine the techniques that can be applied to the construction of messages to limit the chances of non-delivery. They will gain practical experience of composing and sending electronic communication, in line with a defined plan, measuring both successful messages and those which are undeliverable to inform future planning.
• Finally, they will consider the extent to which their plans are successful, defining clear success criteria for communications activity and evaluating their work against these criteria.

Learning outcomes and assessment criteria

In order to pass this unit, the evidence that the learner presents for assessment needs to demonstrate that they can meet all the learning outcomes for the unit. The assessment criteria determine the standard required to achieve the unit.

On completion of this unit a learner should: