E-Marketing Mixes and Their Influence on Business Growth: Evidence from SME Leaders in Erbil, Kurdistan Region
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55047/jekombital.v4i2.1067Keywords:
Business Growth, E-Marketing Mixes, SME, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, IraqAbstract
The advent of e-marketing has transformed the business landscape, offering small and medium enterprises (SMEs) a powerful tool for growth, particularly in emerging economies like the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. In Erbil city, SMEs face the dual challenge of leveraging digital tools for competitiveness while operating within a unique socio-economic context. This study aims to investigate the impact of electronic marketing on business growth in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Erbil city. To achieve this end, the researchers utilize analytical descriptive approaches. Using a quantitative case study methodology, data were collected through a pre-tested, structured questionnaire distributed to 85 e-marketing group leaders in Erbil City. A total of 79 valid responses were obtained for statistical analysis. The study yielded multiple conclusions, indicating a substantial and positive correlation between the adoption of e-marketing mixes and business growth, illustrating that the proficient utilization of digital marketing tools enhances revenue growth, market expansion, and customer engagement. The research presented a set of recommendations; the most important thing is that small and medium-sized firms ought to aggressively employ social media marketing to promote brand awareness and foster client involvement, while collaborating with local influencers can bolster brand recognition and broaden reach in the Kurdistan market.
References
Ariyanti, A., Zulaikah, & Etika, C. (2024). The Effect of the Marketing Mix on Customer Decisions to Use Education-saving Products in the Perspective of Islamic Economic (Study on Education-Saving Product Customers of PT. BPRS Rajasa Lampung Tengah Perseroda). KnE Social Sciences. https://doi.org/10.18502/kss.v9i16.16240
Ashqar, R. S. A. L. (2024). The Impact of the Electronic Marketing Mix on Increasing Sales Volume in the Palestinian Banking Sector. Al-Quds University.
Badi, S. (2019). Electronic Marketing Techniques in Libraries and Information Centers. El-Ryssala: Journal for Humanities Studies and Research, 4(1), 36–49. https://asjp.cerist.dz/en/article/84671
Bekos, G. S., Jaakkola, M., & Chari, S. (2025). Organizational agility and firm performance: The role of architectural marketing capabilities. Industrial Marketing Management, 125, 239–253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indmarman.2025.01.005
Blbas, H. T. A., & Kahwachi, W. T. (2021). A Comparison Between New Modification of Adaptive Nadaraya-Watson Kernel and Classical Adaptive Nadaraya-Watson Kernel Methods in Nonparametric Regression: A Simulation Study. Cihan University-Erbil Scientific Journal, 5(2), 32–37. https://journals.cihanuniversity.edu.iq/index.php/cuesj/article/view/483
Bourdy, T. G. R. (2024). Dynamic capabilities in digital marketing for SMEs. Iscte – Instituto Universitário de Lisboa.
Bukova, B., Brumercikova, E., Kondek, P., & Groma, P. (2017). The Usage of Cognitive Maps in the Comparison of Marketing Mix of Railway Passenger Transport. Procedia Engineering, 187, 498–503. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2017.04.406
Burchardt, J., Hommel, U., Kamuriwo, D. S., & Billitteri, C. (2016). Venture Capital Contracting in Theory and Practice: Implications for Entrepreneurship Research. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 40(1), 25–48. https://doi.org/10.1111/etap.12104
Chaffey, D., & Ellis-Chadwick, F. (2019). Digital marketing. Pearson UK.
Cruz, C., & Justo, R. (2017). Portfolio Entrepreneurship as a Mixed Gamble: A Winning Bet for Family Entrepreneurs in SMEs. Journal of Small Business Management, 55(4), 571–593. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsbm.12341
Deku, W. A., Wang, J., & Preko, A. K. (2024). Digital marketing and small and medium-sized enterprises’ business performance in emerging markets. Asia Pacific Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 18(3), 251–269. https://doi.org/10.1108/APJIE-07-2022-0069
Dwivedi, Y. K., Hughes, D. L., Coombs, C., Constantiou, I., Duan, Y., Edwards, J. S., Gupta, B., Lal, B., Misra, S., Prashant, P., Raman, R., Rana, N. P., Sharma, S. K., & Upadhyay, N. (2020). Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on information management research and practice: Transforming education, work and life. International Journal of Information Management, 55, 102211. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2020.102211
Elbeltagi, I., Hamad, H., Moizer, J., & Abou-Shouk, M. A. (2016). Levels of Business to Business E-Commerce Adoption and Competitive Advantage in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: A Comparison Study Between Egypt and the United States. Journal of Global Information Technology Management, 19(1), 6–25. https://doi.org/10.1080/1097198X.2016.1134169
Fattah, A., & Moneim, F. A. (2011). The Role of Electronic Marketing in Improving the Mental Image of Health Services: A Case Study from the Point of View of the Clients of the Jordanian French Insurance Company. Middle East University, College of Business.
Funk, P. (2022). Business Growth. Figshare. https://figshare.com/articles/online_resource/Business_Growth_pdf/20861410
Hellmann, T., Frydrych, D., Hicks, C., Rauch, C., Brahm, F., Loch, C., Kavadias, S., & Hiscocks, P. (2016). Financing UK Scale-Ups: Challenges and Recommendations. Barclays.
Hidayati, R., Permatasari, R., & Fairy, A. N. (2019). Factors Affecting E-Commerce Adoption and Their Impact on SMEs’ Performance: A Case Study of Jabodetabek Region. Proceedings of the International Conference on Trade 2019 (ICOT 2019). https://doi.org/10.2991/icot-19.2019.5
Holliman, G., & Rowley, J. (2014). Business to business digital content marketing: marketers’ perceptions of best practice. Journal of Research in Interactive Marketing, 8(4), 269–293. https://doi.org/10.1108/JRIM-02-2014-0013
Kano, K., Choi, L. K., Riza, B. subhan, & Dinda octavyra, R. (2022). Implications of Digital Marketing Strategy The Competitive Advantages of Small Businesses in Indonesia. Startupreneur Business Digital (SABDA Journal), 1(1), 44–62. https://doi.org/10.33050/sabda.v1i1.72
Kartiwi, M. (2006). Case Studies of E-commerce Adoption in Indonesian SMEs: The Evaluation of Strategic Use. Australasian Journal of Information Systems, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.3127/ajis.v14i1.8
Khaskheli, A., & Jun, Y. (2016). A Review on the Importance of E-Commerce for SMEs in Pakistan. Journal on Innovation and Sustainability. RISUS ISSN 2179-3565, 7(1), 11. https://doi.org/10.24212/2179-3565.2016v7i1p11-17
Kobis, P., Kisiołek, A., Karyy, O., Pawliczek, A., & Chmielarz, G. (2024). Selected aspects of information security in e-marketing activities of higher education institutions in Poland, Ukraine and the Czech Republic. Procedia Computer Science, 246, 4617–4626. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2024.09.326
Kumar, B., Sharma, A., Vatavwala, S., & Kumar, P. (2020). Digital mediation in business-to-business marketing: A bibliometric analysis. Industrial Marketing Management, 85, 126–140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indmarman.2019.10.002
Lee, G. K., & Lieberman, M. B. (2010). Acquisition vs. internal development as modes of market entry. Strategic Management Journal, 31(2), 140–158. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.804
Macharia, J. (2009). Factors affecting the adoption of e-commerce in SMEs in Kenya. International Journal of Technology Intelligence and Planning, 5(4), 386. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJTIP.2009.029377
Mahendratmo, B. P. J., & Ariyanti, M. (2019). Analysis of E-Marketing Mix to Consumer Purchase Decisions Traveloka. Asian Journal of Management Sciences & Education, 8(1), 72–82. http://www.ajmse.leena-luna.co.jp/AJMSEPDFs/Vol.8(1)/AJMSE2019(8.1-09).pdf
Mahmood, R. H., & Darbandi, H. A. (2023). The Role of Electronic Recruiting in Providing Job Opportunities. Qalaai Zanist Scientific Journal, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.25212/lfu.qzj.8.1.32
Mahmood, R. H., & Mohammed, R. B. (2024). The Role of Talent Management in Enhancing Organizational Innovation. Qalaai Zanist Scientific Journal, 8(5). https://doi.org/10.25212/lfu.qzj.8.5.54
Mahmood, R. H., & Omar, Z. H. (2024). The Role of intellectual capital in Strategic sovereignty, an analytical study in Soft Drink companies in the city of Erbil. Journal of The Iraqi University, 63(1). https://iasj.rdd.edu.iq/journals/uploads/2024/12/19/4bffa54c66e0bd425a0e5e6889ae4c0f.pdf
Mohammed, R. B. (2020). Is fair value accounting information relevant and reliable? evidence from capital and debt market institutions in Jordan. Near East University Graduate School of Social Sciences.
Omar, Z. H. (2023). The role of authentic leadership in reducing resistance to change An analytical study of the opinions of a sample of academic leaders in a number of private institutes - Erbil. Journal of The Iraqi University, 65(2), 383–396. https://iasj.rdd.edu.iq/journals/uploads/2024/12/17/e5e78592227fe5ccd6460d7cb2e75fbc.pdf
Santamaria, S. (2018). Company growth or business growth? Business group formation as an entrepreneurial growth strategy. Department of Management and Technology, Bocconi. https://business.uc3m.es/seminarios/filesem_1542013693.pdf
Sarasvathy, S. D., Menon, A. R., & Kuechle, G. (2013). Failing firms and successful entrepreneurs: serial entrepreneurship as a temporal portfolio. Small Business Economics, 40(2), 417–434. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-011-9412-x
Sharabati, A.-A. A., Ali, A. A. A., Allahham, M. I., Hussein, A. A., Alheet, A. F., & Mohammad, A. S. (2024). The Impact of Digital Marketing on the Performance of SMEs: An Analytical Study in Light of Modern Digital Transformations. Sustainability, 16(19), 8667. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16198667
Tiago, M. T. P. M. B., & Veríssimo, J. M. C. (2014). Digital marketing and social media: Why bother? Business Horizons, 57(6), 703–708. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bushor.2014.07.002
Wilson, G., Johnson, O., & Brown, W. (2024). The Influence of Digital Marketing on Consumer Purchasing Decisions. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202408.0347.v1
Zhou, X., Hao, X., Chen, Y., Deng, H., Fang, L., Zhang, L., Yan, X., Zheng, P., & Wang, F. (2024). Social Media Marketing Strategies for Electronic Cigarettes: Content Analysis of Chinese Weibo Accounts. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 26, e51594. https://doi.org/10.2196/51594












.png)
.png)








.jpg)
.png)

