Small and Medium Enterprise Development using Social Media Marketing: A Research Study

Abstract

Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh has been giving more emphasis to stable the economy by increasing Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) in Bangladesh. But the problem is that SMEs are facing great challenges developing business at starting and also sustaining due to incapacity in costly traditional marketing channels. It is also noted that most of the internet users are aware about use of internet as personal social media platform. SMEs of Bangladesh are not aware of using Social Media Marketing (SMM) as the tools for business growth especially at starter. The aim of this research study was to review the present various traditional marketing channels with cost to identify whether the cost is affordable or not for SME marketing as starter. Research objectives were also to find involvement with SMM as free marketing tools and to find laps and gaps of using SMM for SME business growth. This research study was designed in such a way that the sample selection presents the SME study population. Here in the research study, most relevant SME sectors and also booster sectors were included in sample design. This research study shown that only 17% Bangladesh SME’s are using SMM platform for business development. Following the objectives of this study, marketing channels both traditional and SMM were reviewed. How much SMEs are engaged in SMM was also studied. This research study came up with laps and gaps of SMEs at SMM for business growth. Recommendations were put following the findings.