Communication Strategy - The Content of Communication Strategy

6 important questions on Communication Strategy - The Content of Communication Strategy

What are the five message styles?

  1. Rational message style
  2. Symbolic association message style
  3. Emotional message style
  4. Generic message style
  5. Pre-emptive message style


Characteristics of a rational message style:

  • Refers to concrete capabilities or resources of an organization
  • Superiority claim based upon actual accomplishments or benefits of an organization
  • Used when point of difference can not be readily matched by competitors
  • Informational claim is made

Characteristics of a symbolic association:

  • Psycological association through symbolic association
  • Identifying a set of symbols and values that trough repeated linkage with the organization may come associated with that organization
  • Best of homogeneus organizations where differences are difficult to develop
  • (example --> ABN AMRO in the VOLVO Ocean Race)
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Characteristics of the emotional message style:

  • Attemps to provoke involvement and positive reactions through a reference to positive emotions
  • Only effective when values and emotions are authenticand relevant to stakeholders
  • Content: Appeals to specific positive or negative emotions
  • (Example --> Coca Cola)


Characteristics of a generic message style:

  • Straight claim about industry or cause with no assertion or superiority
  • Used when company has a monopoly or extreme dominance
  • (Example --> Campbell's soup in USA their commercial is about soup in general, not about campbell's soup)


Characteristics of a pre-emptive message style:

  • Generic claim with suggestion of superiority
  • Allows company to take a position on an issue connected to that industry (percludes competitors from saying the same thing)
  • Content: Claim of industry- wide leadership on a relevant issue
  • (Example --> Philips: Sense and Simplicity)

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