Role of Social Media Marketing in Sales Performance of Marks and Spencer’s

This research proposal explores the role of social media marketing in the increase in sales performance of Marks and Spencer’s. It aims to understand the notion of social media marketing, evaluate its importance for Marks and Spencer’s, and analyze its impact on sales performance. The research approach includes data collection through questionnaires and analysis using quantitative methods. The expected outcomes include gaining insights into the usefulness of social media marketing for businesses and developing personal and professional skills.

Research Proposal

Table of Contents
Research Proposal template..........................................................................................................................4
References.....................................................................................................................................................8

Research Proposal template
Project Title
Role of social media marketing in the increase in sales performance of company. A case study
on Marks and Spencer’s.
Aims and Objectives
Social media marketing is comprehensively said to be as the effective practice through which
businesses effectively reach maximum number of customers. This directly influences sales
performance of the company and also contributes in maximising their sales performance in
rightful manner. Thus, with this these customers makes simply makes decision of buying
products and services. As a result, it increases sales performance of the company in quicker
manner. The present investigation is based on Marks and Spencer’s, a large scale UK based
fashion retailer which is having strong global presence. The respective company is offering
high quality of products to its customers at premium prices. This clearly depicts that customer
for Marks and Spencer is limited. In order to maximise its number of customers, the respective
marketing manager of the company focuses on using social media marketing thus they can
easily increase their sales performance as well as profitability. In this regard, the investigator
has conducted investigation on this core topic. Along with this, here it can be said that research
aim, objective and questions for the same research. All of these are specified as below:
Research Aim
“To analyse the role of social media marketing in the increase in sales performance of
the company” A study on Marks and Spencer’s.
Research Objectives
• To understand the notion of social media marketing at workplace.
• To evaluate the importance of social media marketing for Marks and Spencer’s.
• To analyze the impact of social media marketing in the increase in sales
performance of Marks and Spencer’s.
Research Questions
• What is the notion of social media marketing at workplace?
• What are the importance of social media marketing for Marks and Spencer’s?
• What is the impact of social media marketing in the increase in sales performance of

Marks and Spencer’s?
Relevance to Professional or Academic Field/Literature review
Notion of social media marketing at workplace
On the basis of viewpoint expressed by Cawsey and Rowley, (2016), it has been analyzed that
social media marketing is acknowledged as the best method through which business
organisations can easily develop their reach towards customers in effective manner. It can also
be said that social media marketing is highly supportive for the businesses as they can easily
helps entity in developing their own positive image at marketplace which directly contributes in
attracting more number of customers towards them and would also help them out in
maximising their sales performance in an appropriate form. Social media marketing is mainly
executed in several forms such as social media platforms, PR agency & marketing organisation,
video streaming and other physical means i.e. newspaper & magazines. By making use of these
kind of marketing methods business entity can easily develop their own positive image among
customers and can also accomplish their sales targets in rightful manner. Apart from this, it has
been analysed that now a day’s maximum number of business belonging to the every scale and
sector emphasises on accomplishing their sales targets. This is so because social media
marketing methods are less expensive as compared to others methods as they requires less
investment as compared to other modes of methods. In addition to this, it has later been
analysed that this method simply raises number of opportunity for the businesses as they can
easily approach to several segments of the market where they can easily use of social media
marketing method to aware people and develops curiosity and feeling of buying among the
customers so that they can easily make purchase from the same company at constant basis. This
would definitely maximise their sales performance as well as profitability for the company.
Along with this, it can be later said that with the help of social media marketing business entity
can easily develop strong relationships with the customers as they are easily able to have direct
interaction with the customers. This also aware the company about changing demand and needs
of customers’ and their modifying expectations from the same entity. As a result, businesses are
easily able to make required alterations in their business activities as per the customers’
requirements. This simply increases satisfaction level of the customers which directly place
positive impact over the business performance of the company. Some of the common forms of
social media platforms are Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest etc.
Importance of social media marketing for Marks and Spencer’s
From the perception presented by Charoensukmongkol and Sasatanun, (2017), it can said that

social media marketing is an effective way through which investigator easily promotes their
products and services among the customers. This is simply performed with the usage of several
social media platforms. In other words, social media marketing is also acknowledged as the
best marketing practice that also aware customers knowledge about the products and services
offered by several company. This also provides them support in taking decision that which
product is beneficial for them. Some of the common types of social media marketing platforms
are Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. Some of the main benefits that are attained by large
scale companies by simply acquiring social media marketing methods are it Decreases the
amount of marketing expenditure, High level of reach towards different consumer segments of
market, Easy to use and implement within an organization and many others. Here, it can be said
that social media marketing is acknowledged as one of the effective marketing method which
requires very less cost in order to execute all the responsibilities. Here, it can be said that if the
large scale companies like marks and Spencer acquires this kind of method then they can easily
increase their sales performance as it provides them opportunity to connect with maximum
number of the customers with directly social platform interaction. This simply increases higher
profitability for company as they are able generates more revenue with remarkable sales
performance. This directly leads to attainment of competitive edge as the business is able to
perform well as compared to its competitors. Apart from this, another core importance of this
method is that it simply allows business association in implementing its marketing activity at
mass level. Also, application of these methods is quite easy as compared to others methods.
This simply increases business performance of the company as they are having good
opportunity of having good interaction with the customers with which they can easily develop
their understanding on the customers that allows them to modification in their offerings as per
the core requirement of the customers. This simply contributes a lot in the success of the
business.
Impact of social media marketing in the increase in sales performance of Marks and
Spencer’s
As per the information stated by Elena, 2016), the social media marketing is acknowledged as
one of the best methods through which business entities can easily improvise its sales
performance. The overall impact of social media marketing can be seen in both the positive as
well as negative manner. It has later been determined that there are range of reasons which
clearly specifies that impact of social media marketing can be seen positive manner. The first
and foremost essential reason behind this is the increase in regular based communication as
well coordination among the employees. This interaction directly develops knowledge of the

company about its changing needs and requirements of the customers. This is helpful in
bringing modification in the existing offering by having two way communications with the
customers. As a result, it can be said that by developing products and services as per customers’
preferences it is easier for the entity to satisfy customers at higher level. This is directly
supportive in influencing customers to make purchase from the same company again and again
which ultimately results in the increase in sales performance as well as profitability of the same
business entity in rightful manner.
Research Approach or Methodology
Research methodology is acknowledged as the important section in every research which
contributes in completing whole investigation in the systematic manner. In this section
investigator basically makes use of several tools and techniques that ultimately helps them out
in attaining research outcome effectively. Some of the core essential elements of this section are
specified as below:
Data collection methods: Data collection is referred to as the effective method through which
investigator gathers required information on the proposed topic from several sources. Primary
method is seen as direct source from where investigator directly interacts with the respondents
with the motive of gathering maximum information from them in effective manner. This is an
effective method of collecting current information that is first handed which would provide
authenticate results to them effectively. Whereas, in secondary method investigator mainly
gathers information from several sources such as books, journal, online articles and other
published data. With reference to present investigation, researcher here will make use of both
the primary and secondary form of data collection method through which they can easily
accomplish their project outcome in rightful manner. In this, questionnaire will be developed
which would be further filled by 50 respondents as sample size.
Types of investigation: In this element main focus of investigator is on analysing overall
gathered information in rightful manner. Data is analysed by two of main methods that is
qualitative and quantitative form of data analysis method. With reference to the current
research, the overall gathered information would be analysed with the quantitative method as
this method includes numerical data that provides accurate outcome towards the research
problem.
Research Approach: Inductive and deductive are two main form of research approach which
are used by the investigator for carrying out the investigation in best possible manner. With
reference to the current investigation, researcher basically makes use of deductive approach in

order to execute whole research in rightful manner and accomplish their aim and objectives in
best possible form. The main reason behind choosing deductive approach is that it is more
valuable and appropriate for existing topic because it facilitate in analysing of quantitative data
in less time period.
Ethical Issues
While conducting every investigation, researcher goes through several situations where they
have kept in mind no matter they goes through which situation but still they would not indulge
into any kind of activity which breach their ethical limits. With reference to the present
investigation, it is highly important for the every researcher to follow main principles of
confidentiality that is protection of confidentiality and anonymity, reducing the risk of harm,
obtaining informed consent, avoiding use of deceptive practices and providing right to
withdraw to the research participants. By following all these principles investigator would be
easily able to accomplish their project outcome with the appropriate support of the respondents
as they believes that researcher is faithful.
Expected Outcomes
The overall outcome of the investigation would be accomplishment of appropriate
information that would be gained by them associated with social media marketing and its
usefulness for the business association. Also, the research project would also develop detailed
understanding on the several benefits that can be easily gained by large scale companies like
Marks and Spencer’s. The main benefit among them would be increase in sales performance
of the company. In addition to this, it can be further said that after conducting this
investigation researcher would be able to developed their personal as well as professional set
of skills such as communication, time management, presentation, research skills, team
working skills, problems solving and many others. All of these skills would collaboratively
helps investigator in conducting more effective research in the near future.
References
Books and journals
Cawsey, T. and Rowley, J., 2016. Social media brand building strategies in B2B
companies. Marketing Intelligence & Planning.
Charoensukmongkol, P. and Sasatanun, P., 2017. Social media use for CRM and business
performance satisfaction: The moderating roles of social skills and social media sales
intensity. Asia Pacific Management Review. 22(1). pp.25-34.

Elena, C. A., 2016. Social Media–A strategy in developing customer relationship
management. Procedia Economics and Finance, 39, pp.785-790.
Felix, R., Rauschnabel, P.A. and Hinsch, C., 2017. Elements of strategic social media marketing:
A holistic framework. Journal of Business Research. 70. pp.118-126.