Corporate social marketing: message design to recruit program participants.

OBJECTIVE: To identify variables for a corporate social marketing (SM) health message based on the 4 Ps of SM in order to recruit future participants to an existing national, commercial, self-administered weight-loss program. METHOD: A systematically evaluated, author-developed, 310-response survey was administered to a random sample of 270 respondents. RESULTS: A previously established research plan was used to empirically identify the audience segments and the "marketing mix" appropriate for the total sample and each segment. CONCLUSIONS: Tangible product, pertaining to the unique program features, should be emphasized rather than positive core product and outcome expectation related to use of the program.