Abstract
The intention of this paper is to discover and empirically test the knowledge gap exist with regard to the role that integrated marketing communication (IMC) plays in the enhancement of SMEs growth. A quantitative approach is followed in this paper, with a questionnaire as the research instrument and questionnaire items established through a literature review. A sample of 374 SMEs owners/managers agreed to complete the questionnaire. In order to give a descriptive overview of variables relevant to the objectives of the study, a Cronbach test was performed. Certain ability in marketing communication by SMEs was evident from the sample. However, very few marketing communication tools are fully applied in order to enhance SMEs growth. A significant starting point, in attaching importance to the role of IMC enhancement of SMEs growth, is constituted by this paper’s sample, even though it is restrictively small. Practitioners may, from this paper, understand where intervention guidelines are needed, in order to improve an IMC plan needed for SMEs. Compared to previous research done on large company practices, this paper represents an original trial to empirically apply the marketing communication approach within SMEs.
Keywords
- Enhancement Search this journal for Enhancement (opens in a new tab)
- Role Search this journal for Role (opens in a new tab)
- SMEs Search this journal for SMEs (opens in a new tab)
- Integrated Search this journal for Integrated (opens in a new tab)
- Growth Search this journal for Growth (opens in a new tab)
- Communication Search this journal for Communication (opens in a new tab)
- Marketing Search this journal for Marketing (opens in a new tab)
References
- Duncan, T. & Moriarty, S. E. (1998). A communication-based marketing model for managing relationships. Journal of Marketing , 62(2), 1-13.
- Copley, P. (2011). Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) is not just for the big boys part of the future of IMC lies in SME marketing strategy [Online]. Available at: http://www.isbe.org.uk/Copley11 (Accessed 11/02/2015).
- Esposito, A. (2013). Insights about integrated marketing communication in small-and-medium-sized Italian enterprises. Business Systems Review , 2(1), 80-98.
- Haung, X. & Brown, A. (1999). An analysis and classifications of problems in small business. International Small Business Journal , 18(1), 75-85.
- Kanibira, H., Saydanb, R. & Nartc, S. (2014). Determining the Antecedents of Marketing Competencies of SMEs for International Market Performance, 10th International Strategic Management Conference. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences , 150, 12 – 23.
- Keller, L. (2010). Mastering the marketing communications mix: micro and macro perspectives on integrated marketing. Journal of Marketing Management , 17, 7-8.
- Keller, K. L. (2009). Building strong brands in a modern marketing communications environment. Journal of Marketing Communications , 15, 139–155.
- Keller, K. L. (2001). Mastering the marketing communications mix: micro and macro perspective on integrated marketing communication programs, Journal of Marketing Management, 17, 819-47.
- Kitchen, P. J., Brignell, J., Li, T. & Jones, G. S. (2004). The emergence of IMC: a theoretical perspective. Journal of Advertising Research , 44(1), 19-30.
- Koekemoer, L. & Bird, S. 2004. Marketing Communications. Juta and Company Limited.
- Kotler, P. & Keller, K. (2012). Marketing management 4th edition, Pearson education.
- Gabrielli, V. & Balboni, B. (2010). SME practice towards integrated marketing Communications. Marketing Intelligence & Planning , 28(3), 275-290.
- Lekhanya, L. M. & Roger, B. M. (2014). Selected key external factors influencing the success of rural small and medium enterprises in South Africa. Journal of enterprises culture , 22(3).
- Longenecker, J. G., Moore, C. W. & Petty, J. W. (2006). Small Business Management: An Entrepreneurial Emphasis. Mason, OH: International Edition, Thomson/South Western.
- Luxton, S., Hodge, C. & Reid, M. (2002). Examining the Relevance of IMC in the Australian SME Context [Online]. Available at: http://anzmac.org/conference_archive/2002/papers/pdfs/ p200_luxton.pdft, (Accessed 11/02/2015).
- Mapheto, L. M., Oni, O. A. & Matza, T. (2014). The Utilisation of Integrated Marketing Communication Strategies by Small Retailers in Mankweng, South Africa. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences , MCSER Publishing, Rome-Italy , 5(15), 111.
- Mumel, D., Hocevar, N. & Snoji, B. (2007). How Marketing Communications Correlates With Business Performance. Journal of Applied Business Research – Second Quarter, 23(2).
- Thrassou, A. & Vrontis, D. (2006). A small services firm marketing communications model SME dominated environments. Journal of Marketing Communications , 12(4), 183-202.
- Mpofu, T. & Chigwende, S. (2013). Factors Influencing Marketing Planning and Implementation in Zimbabwean SMEs . International Journal of Sciences: Basic and Applied Research (IJSBAR), 12(1), 82-92.
- Polyorat, K. (2014). Integrated marketing communication for SME’s organic fertilizer: the case study of Men-ngern. [Online]. Available at : http://www.lcbronline.com/index_files/proceedingsemc12/ 12emc004.pdf. (Accessed 29/01/2015).
- Potluri, R. M. (2008). Assessment of Effectiveness of Marketing Communication Mix Elements in Ethiopian Service Sector. Journal of Business Management , 2(3), 59-64.
- Saeed, R., Naeem, B., Bilal, M. & Naz, U. (2013). Integrated Marketing Communication: A Review Paper. Interdisciplinary Journal of Contemporary Research in Business , 5(5), 124
- Schultz, D. E. (1993). Integrated Marketing Communications: Maybe Definition is in the Point of View, Marketing News.
- Smith, P. R. & Zook, Z. (2012). Marketing Communications: Integrating Offline and Online with Social Media , fifth edition, London: Kogan Page.
- Vargas, R. D. (2005). Integrated Marketing Communications—an Effective, Comprehensive. [Online]. Available at: http://www.fairfaxcountyeda.org/sites/default/files/publications/bv4q05_0.pdf (Accessed 28/04/2015).
- White, R. (1999). What can advertising really do for brands? International Journal of Advertising, 18 (1), 3 - 22.
- Tsikirayi, M. C. R., Muchenje, B. & Katsidzira, Z. (2012). Impact of integrated marketing communications mix (IMCM) in small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in Zimbabwe as a marketing tool. Research in Business and Economics Journal. [Online]. Available at: http://www.aabri.com/manuscripts/121362.pdf (Accessed 28/04/2015).
Downloads
No downloads have been recorded for this article yet. Figures appear here once readers begin downloading the full text.
How to Cite
Share this article
License
Copyright (c) 2015 Lawrence Mpele LEKHANYA (Author)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Author (s) should affirm that the material has not been published previously. It has not been submitted and it is not under consideration by any other journal. At the same time author (s) need to execute a publication permission agreement to assume the responsibility of the submitted content and any omissions and errors therein. After submission of revised paper in the light of suggestions of the reviewers, the editorial team edits and formats manuscripts to bring uniformity and standardization in published material.
This work will be licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) and under condition of the license, users are free to read, copy, remix, transform, redistribute, download, print, search or link to the full texts of articles and even build upon their work as long as they credit the author for the original work. Moreover, as per journal policy author (s) hold and retain copyrights without any restrictions.
Keywords
- Enhancement Search this journal for Enhancement (opens in a new tab)
- Role Search this journal for Role (opens in a new tab)
- SMEs Search this journal for SMEs (opens in a new tab)
- Integrated Search this journal for Integrated (opens in a new tab)
- Growth Search this journal for Growth (opens in a new tab)
- Communication Search this journal for Communication (opens in a new tab)
- Marketing Search this journal for Marketing (opens in a new tab)
Section
Published
Submissions
Have research to publish? Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies welcomes submissions.
Make a Submission