An Analysis of Social Media Strategies and Their Impact on M&S

This research project investigates the impact of social media on the marketing strategies of Marks & Spencer (M&S). The study involved a survey of 20 employees, gathering data through a questionnaire to assess the effectiveness of social media in promoting products and services, enhancing brand image, and improving overall business performance. The data analysis reveals key themes, including the positive impact of social media on promotion, the preferred social media tools (Facebook being the most popular), and the challenges associated with digitalization, such as data management. The findings indicate that social media significantly aids in improving M&S's brand image, expanding its business, and enhancing promotional strategies. Recommendations are provided based on the analysis of the survey responses, offering insights for optimizing M&S's social media marketing efforts.

RESEARCH PROJECT

Table of Contents
DATA ANALYSIS..........................................................................................................................1
REFLECTION ON EFFECTIVENESS OF RESEARCH METHODS........................................14
RECOMMENDATIONS..............................................................................................................14
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................15
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

DATA ANALYSIS
Data analysis plays a crucial role while conducting a research. Through this, it can be
said that gathered information can easily be carried out through different methods (Okazaki and
Taylor, 2013). Then after that analysis of collected information is being done which helps in
hitting their targets. In present context, researcher prepared a proper questionnaire which may aid
him/her in collecting relevant data as per the perception of selected respondents. Here, 20
employees of M&S has been taken in this.
QUESTIONNAIRE
Name:
Age:
Gender:
Address:
Contact number:
Q1) Is social media is an effective approach through which promotional activities of
products and services of M&S can be done in an effective manner?
a) Yes
b) No
Q2) Which social media tool should be taken in use by M&S?
a) YouTube
b) LinkedIn
c) Twitter
d) Facebook
Q3) Can social media help in enhancing performance of M&S?
a) Agree
b) Disagree
Q4) What can be taken as a role of societal media so that to boost the sales of M&S?
a) Interaction with Target Market
b) Improve Responsiveness
c) Effective Marketing
d) Competition
1

Q5) What challenges can be seen at workstation at the time of applying digitalisation?
a) Develop cross- channel strategy
b) Data management
c) Time management
Q6) Is social media is an effective tool through which M&S can deliver information to
customers of different modifications that has been made by them in existing products?
a) Yes
b) No
Q7) How social media tools will effect on growth of business organisation?
a) Attract high number of consumers
b) Enhancement is profit and productivity
c) Developing social signals
D) Promote brand
Q8) As per your opinion, does social media's tools and techniques may aid in enhancing
promotional based strategies of M&S?
a) Yes
b) No
Q9) Is social media much effective that will aid in improving brand image of M&S at
international level?
a) Agree
b) Disagree
Q10) As per the conditions of current market, developing website is beneficial or not for
M&S?
a) Highly agreeing.
b) Highly disagreeing.
Q)11 Recommend different ways by which Talent Plus organisation can increase its
promotion.
Q1) Is social media is an effective approach through which promotional activities of
products and services of M&S can be done in an effective manner?
2

a) Yes 18
b) No 2
Q2) Which social media tool should be taken in use by M&S?
a) YouTube 5
b) LinkedIn 2
c) Twitter 3
d) Facebook 10
Q3) Can social media help in enhancing performance of M&S?
a) Agree 15
b) Disagree 5
Q4) What can be taken as a role of societal media so that to boost the sales of M&S?
a) Interaction with Target Market 2
b) Improve Responsiveness 4
c) Effective Marketing 12
d) Competition 2
Q5) What challenges can be seen at workstation at the time of applying digitalisation?
a) Develop cross- channel strategy 2
b) Time management 15
c) Data management 3
Q6) Is social media is an effective tool through which M&S can deliver information to
customers of different modifications that has been made by them in existing products?
a) Yes 19
b) No 1
Q7) How social media tools will effect on growth of business organisation?
3

a) Developing social signals 13
b) Promote brand 2
c) Attract more consumers 3
D) Enhance profit 2
Q8) As per your opinion, does social media's tools and techniques may aid in enhancing
promotional based strategies of M&S?
a) Yes 17
b) No 3
Q9) Is social media much effective that will aid in improving brand image of M&S at
international level?
a) Agree 14
b) Disagree 6
Q10) As per the conditions of current market, developing website is beneficial or not for
M&S?
a) Highly agreeing. 11
b) Highly disagreeing. 9
4

THEME 1: Social media helps in increasing the promotion
Q1) Is social media is an effective approach
through which promotional activities of
products and services of M & S can be done in
an effective manner?
Frequency
Yes 18
No 2
Interpretation: From above mentioned graph, it can be said that most of respondents
were in favour of social media. Most of respondents said yes to different applications and
websites of social media which will be helpful for M & S in order to promote their distinctive
products and services that they are offering to customers. Graph showed that 18 respondents
were in favour of application of social media in M & S which will help out company to easily lift
up their sales through doing promotions of items and services of their own in front of their
customers. On the other hand, 2 of the respondent were not in favour of social media.
THEME 2: Kind of social media tool used by M & S
Q2) Which social media tool should be taken
in use by M&S?
Frequency
YouTube 5
5
Yes No
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
18
2
Column B

LinkedIn 2
Twitter 3
Facebook 10
Interpretation: From above mentioned stats, 10 out of 20 respondents were in favour of
Facebook. Apart from this, 5 have stated that YouTube is the best effective social tool that
should be taken in use by M& S in order to promote their products and services. On the other
hand, rest of respondents have said that other social media tools like LinkedIn and Twitter will
be useful through giving them vote as 2 and 3. Therefore, it can be said that M& S should
properly use all the tools of social media in order to improve profitability and productivity at
international marketplace.
THEME 3: Social media helps in improving M & S
Q3) Can social media help in enhancing
performance of M & S?
Frequency
Agree 15
Disagree 5
6
5
2
3
10
YouTube
LinkedIn
Twitter
Facebook

Interpretation: With the help of above mentioned graph, where 15 respondents have
were agreeing that social media can be useful for M&S when it is looking forward to expand its
business or performance. On the other hand, 5 disagreed and stated that company will not grow if
they will use social media and they should follow traditional approaches only when it comes to
promote products and services of business organisation. On the other hand, it has also been
found that company will directly hit their targets if they will effectively take in use of social
media.
THEME 4: Role of social media in order to improve sales
Q4) What can be taken as a role of societal
media so that to boost the sales of M & S?
Frequency
Interaction with Target Market 2
Improve Responsiveness 4
Effective Marketing 12
Competition 2
7
15
5
Agree
Disagree

Interpretation: Looking at above graph it has been interpreted that social media tool
plays a crucial role through which effective marketing can easily be done right on time.
Respondents have mentioned that 12 respondents have mentioned that social media will help in
marketing of products and services of this M& S. 4 stated that social media will improve
responsiveness. Apart from this, 2 employees of M& S have given their opinion as company will
start interacting with its customers. Lastly, rest of respondent have showed their interest towards
competition and stated that social media will help them out in giving good rivalry to competitors.
THEME 5: Challenges which organisation face at the time of implementing the social
media.
Q5) What challenges can be seen at
workstation at the time of applying
digitalisation?
Frequency
Develop cross- channel strategy 2
Data management 15
Time management 3
8
Interaction with Target Market
Improve Responsiveness
Effective Marketing
Competition
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
2
4
12
2
Column B

Interpretation: With the help of above graph, it is being found that data may not be
easily managed because after taking in use of different approaches related to social media
company may gain high number of users or people who visit website daily. This can be taken as
a challenge which can be faced by M&S. 15 respondents have said that data management will be
one of main task. On the other hand, rest of them have mentioned that company will face
challenges related to time administration along with they will face issues in cross – channel
strategies which is very much important for this organisation.
THEME 6: Social media is an effective tool which deliver information to customers of
different modification in products
Q6) Is social media is an effective tool
through which M & S can deliver
information to customers of different
modifications that has been made by them
in existing products?
Frequency
Yes 19
9
Develop cross- channel strategy
Data management
Time management
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Column B

No 1
Interpretation: From above mentioned graph, it can be said that around 19 respondents
have stated that information of different modifications which has been made by this organisation
can easily be provided information to customers with use of social media. On the other hand,
only 1 have was not in favour of this. Apart from this, it can be said that company should start
attaining specific goals and objectives through which many benefits can easily be gained by
M&S. Therefore, it is much required for M&S to take in use of different social media tools
through which company can gain many competitive advancements.
THEME 7: Impact of social media tools on enhancing growth
Q7) How social media tools will effect on
growth of business organisation?
Frequency
Developing social signals 13
Promote brand 2
Attract more consumers 3
10
Yes No
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
19
1
Column B