Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of the Master of Technology Degree in Information Technology, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2014. / Social computing researchers are devoting efforts to understand the complex social behaviour of people using social networking platforms, such as Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook, so as to inform the design of human-centered and socially aware systems. This research study investigates the factors of perceived trust, user satisfaction, social norm and perceived behavioural control, to develop a model for predicting the continuance intention of people to use online social networking for business transactions. In order to validate the predictive capability of the model developed, an online survey was used to collect 300 useable responses from people who have used LinkedIn and Twitter social networking platforms for business transactions at least once. The Partial Least Square (PLS) mathematical analysis tool was thereafter used to perform confirmatory factor analysis, analysis of measurement and structural models. The study results provide significant evidence in support of the factors of perceived trust, social norm and user satisfaction, as determinants of the continuance intention of people using online social networking platforms for business transactions. Perceived trust was found to exhibit a strong relationship with social norm and explains a variance of (R2=0.47). In addition, social norm explains a variance of (R2=0.44) and user satisfaction explains a variance of (R2=0.42), resulting in the model predicting (R2=0.56) continuance intention. In addition, the research model was tested for the moderating effects of usage habit, which were found to significantly moderate relationships between continuance intention and perceived trust, PBCand social norm, resulting in an improved predictive capability of (R2=0.89). The moderating result indicates that a higher level of habit increases the effect of perceived trust, Perceived Behavioural Control (PBC) and social norm on continuance intention. This result confirms the theoretical argument that the strength of user satisfaction to predict continuance, is strengthened by usage habit. The results of this research study generally have practical implications for individuals who desire to offer commercial services on online social networking technologies, to seriously consider building trust and maintaining user satisfaction to sustain their businesses. They should also think of strategies embedded in peer pressure, to attract, retain and establish trustworthy relationships with customers. / M

The aim of the thesis is to analyze and evaluate the internet marketing activities of the selected company and develop recommendations for their improvement. To better understand the company's business and use of internet marketing, the marketing environment was analyzed. Furthermore, the used internet marketing tools are described in detail by analyzing the internet marketing mix and internet communication mix. Based on the results, suggestions are made to increase the effectiveness of internet marketing.

by Elaine Bien McKay. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 36-38). / ABSTRACT --- p.ii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iv / LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS --- p.vi / LIST OF TABLES --- p.vii / Chapter CHAPTER I --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.0 --- Overview --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Background --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Research Objective --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- Conceptual Model --- p.3 / Chapter 1.4 --- Outline of the Paper --- p.3 / Chapter CHAPTER II --- A BACKGROUND OF THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY / Chapter 2.0 --- Overview --- p.4 / Chapter 2.1 --- Hong Kong - General Statistics --- p.4 / Chapter 2.2 --- Hong Kong Insurance Market --- p.5 / Chapter 2.3 --- The Online Insurance Market / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Hong Kong Insurance Online --- p.6 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- United States Insurance Online --- p.7 / Chapter 2.4 --- Conceptual Framework --- p.9 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Product Related Factors --- p.10 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Internet Related Factors --- p.11 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Personal Characteristics --- p.12 / Chapter 2.4.4 --- Attitudes and Intentions --- p.13 / Chapter CHAPTER III --- RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY / Chapter 3.0 --- Overview --- p.14 / Chapter 3.1 --- Data Collection --- p.14 / Chapter 3.2 --- Operationalization --- p.15 / Chapter 3.3 --- Data Analysis --- p.17 / Chapter CHAPTER IV --- ANALYSIS AND RESULTS / Chapter 4.0 --- Overview --- p.19 / Chapter 4.1 --- Measurement Model Evaluation --- p.19 / Chapter 4.2 --- Structural Model Results --- p.20 / Chapter CHAPTER V --- CONCLUSION / Chapter 5.0 --- Overview --- p.23 / Chapter 5.1 --- Managerial Implications --- p.23 / Chapter 5.2 --- Limitations --- p.25 / APPENDIX / BIBLIOGRAPHY

by Yau Yin Fong, Yip Claudia. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 49-51). / ABSTRACT --- p.I / TABLE OF CONTENT --- p.II / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.IV / PREFACE --- p.V / Chapter CHAPTER I --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter CHAPTER II --- HONG KONG'S TRAVEL AND TOURISM INDUSTRY_ --- p.5 / Chapter II.a. --- Performance in 2000 --- p.5 / Chapter II.b. --- Plans in 2001 --- p.6 / Chapter CHAPTER III --- INTERNET MARKETING FOR TOURISM --- p.8 / Chapter III.a. --- Traditional Method of Tourism Promotion --- p.8 / Chapter III.b. --- Internet - The Most Important Mass Medium --- p.8 / Chapter III.c. --- The World Wide Web (WWW) --- p.9 / Chapter III.d. --- Advantage of WWW --- p.10 / Chapter III.e. --- HKTA's Web Site --- p.11 / Chapter III.f. --- Why Marketing Destinations Online is Important to the Tourism Industry --- p.12 / Chapter III.g. --- Extending the Usefulness of WWW --- p.14 / Chapter CHAPTER IV --- ITINERARY PLANNING MODEL --- p.16 / Chapter IV.a. --- Requirement for Itinerary Planning Model --- p.16 / Chapter IV.b. --- The Input Process --- p.19 / Chapter IV.c. --- Conversion of Hours to Numbers and Types of Travel Session --- p.22 / Chapter IV.d. --- How does the Matching Process Work --- p.27 / Chapter IV.e. --- A Matching Approach to Itinerary Planning --- p.33 / Chapter IV.f. --- Tourist as Variety Seeker --- p.39 / Chapter IV.g. --- A Buffet Approach to Itinerary Planning --- p.40 / Chapter IV.h. --- Extension - Web-mining --- p.433 / Chapter CHAPTER V --- CONCLUSION --- p.444 / APPENDIX --- p.466 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.499

Magistro baigiamajame darbe išanalizuota ir įvertinta Lietuvos viešbučiuose taikomų internetinės rinkodaros priemonių efektyvumas, iškeltos pagrindinės internetinės rinkodaros naudojimo problemos bei pateikti siūlymai, kaip šias problemas spręsti. Pirmoje darbo dalyje, remiantis įvairiais Lietuvos ir užsienio autoriais pateikiama internetinės rinkodaros samprata, teoriniu aspektu tiriamas internetinės rinkodaros turinys, tikslai, komunikacijos priemonės, sąsaja su socialiniais tinklais. Taip pat nagrinėjamos ir optimizavimo paieškos sistemoms bei ryšių su klientais valdymo sąvokos. Antroje dalyje analizuojamos ir vertinamos internetinės rinkodaros tendencijos Lietuvoje ir pasaulyje. Trečioje darbo dalyje aptariama tyrimų metodika bei organizavimas. Ketvirtoje dalyje nagrinėjama paslaugų gavėjų patirtis ir ekspertų požiūris į internetinę rinkodarą, jos priemones bei tų priemonių taikymo efektyvumą. Išnagrinėjus teorinius internetinės rinkodaros aspektus ir tendencijas bei abiejų pusių požiūrius, yra pateikiamso išvados bei siūlymai. / Master's thesis analyzes and evaluates efficiency of internet marketing measures used in Lithuanian hotels, brings up the main challenges for the use of online marketing and provides suggestions how to solve the problems. In the first part of the work, using the literature of different Lithuanian and foreign authors, the concept of online marketing is presented, the content of online marketing as well as objectives, means of communication and interface with social networks are studied from a theoretical point of view. This section also analyzes the concepts of search engine optimization and customer relationship management. The second part analyzes and assesses the trends of online marketing trends in Lithuania and worldwide. The third chapter discusses the research methodology and organization. The fourth section analyzes the user‘s experience and expert approach to online marketing, its tools and effectiveness of their application. Conclusions and suggestions are presented after theoretical analysis of online marketing aspects, trends and attitudes of both sides.

This study looks at the impact of E-commerce on direct selling companies, and examines how the direct selling companies react to the effects of E-commerce business.

This study looks at the impact of E-commerce on direct selling companies, and examines how the direct selling companies react to the effects of E-commerce business.

A website with a good e-commerce design will positively influence a customer’s attitude, strengthen the trust of the customers towards the organisation, increase the satisfaction of the customer, draw consumers, and bring forth purchases/repeat purchases from them. The purpose of this study was to determine viable e-commerce opportunities for the Ficksburg Cherry Festival website. The study endeavoured to ascertain how the Ficksburg Cherry Festival could improve its website by identifying e-commerce opportunities for the Ficksburg Cherry Festival website. In this study a non-random self-administered survey approach was used where attendees were intercepted at the venue of the Ficksburg Cherry Festival and the exhibitors in their stalls. The existing Ficksburg Cherry Festival website was analysed for e-commerce features that are present and opportunities for further implementation of e-commerce features were identified with help from the attendees and exhibitors. The findings of this study presented a demographic profile and attendance characteristics of both the attendees and exhibitors, which the management team of the Ficksburg Cherry Festival can use to better market the festival using traditional and online communication for both attendees and exhibitors. The recommendations will assist the management of the festival to improve the website and to progress from a straightforward information-only website to a fully-developed e-commerce site, with positive effects for all the stakeholders. Similar South African festivals could find the research findings and recommendations of value for their own website development as well. / Business Management / M. Com. (Business Management)

Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Enterprises and more specifically, marketing departments, function in a complex global market, while trying to deliver products and services to satisfy the needs of consumers. It is estimated that by 2013, enterprises will be spending $4.75 trillion and consumers $330 billion by means of commercial transactions over the Internet, and that by 2050 most transactions – if not all transactions – will be e-commerce based (Laudon and Traver, 2010:1-7). The 24-hour access to a global network of markets has brought about two major challenges for most enterprises. Firstly, the Internet as a publishing platform has exponentially increased the creation and sharing of information, which has significantly increased consumers’ search cost; and secondly, as more electronic word-of-mouth (EWOM) is being generated online, a significant amount of power and influence over enterprises has shifted to consumers (Chen, Wu and Yoon, 2004:716-722; Tapscott and Williams, 2008:52-53). Ultimately, enterprises are challenged to harness the power of EWOM for more successful e-commerce strategies and increased market share. Given previous studies, it was possible to extend the theoretical framework of EWOM communication in the fields of Internet marketing and online consumer behaviour. The purpose of this study was to create two models that could measure, over time, the impact of EWOM review communication on an e-commerce platform, specifically with regard to review credibility and sales levels. In using a non-probability judgement sampling procedure, it emerged that EWOM reviews do indeed influence the sales levels of e-commerce platform Amazon.com, and that certain review factors (platform, text length, time and star ratings) significantly influenced the credibility of Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com reviews. Furthermore, it was concluded that the overall credibility of reviews increases over time as more and more online users have the ability to scrutinise it. When Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com’s reviews were compared to each other, the results indicated that Amazon.com had more reviews than Barnesandnoble.com, and that the reviews posted at Amazon.com had on average longer text lengths and were found to be more helpful than the reviews at Barnesandnoble.com. The study's major contribution is that it provides wide-ranging guidelines for usability and user experience design, sales and inventory forecasting, as well as benchmark statistics for marketing campaigns. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Ondernemings, en in die besonder bemarkingsafdelings, funksioneer in ‘n komplekse globale mark, in hulle strewe om voortdurend produkte en dienste te lewer wat voldoen aan verbruikersbehoeftes. Na raming sal ondernemings teen die jaar 2013 $4.75 triljoen en verbruikers $330 biljoen spandeer aan kommersiële transaksies oor die Internet, terwyl die meeste, indien nie alle transaksies, teen die jaar 2050 gebaseer gaan wees op e-handel (Laudon en Traver, 2010:1-7). Die 24-uur toegang tot ‘n globale netwerk van markte het twee hoofuitdagings vir die meeste ondernemings tot gevolg. In die eerste plek het die Internet as uitgewersplatform die skep en verspreiding van inligting eksponensieel laat toeneem, wat verbruikers se soekkoste noemenswaardig verhoog het; en tweedens, namate elektroniese hoorsê aanlyn gegenereer word, het ‘n beduidende hoeveelheid mag en invloed van ondernemings na die verbruiker verskuif (Chen, Wu en Yoon, 2004:716-722; Tapscott en Williams, 2008:52-53). Ondernemings word dus uitgedaag om die impak van elektroniese hoorsê (electronic word-of-mouth) te ontgin om meer suksesvolle e-handelstrategieë en verhoogde winste te verkry. In die lig van vorige studies was dit moontlik om die tradisionele teoretiese raamwerk van hoorsêkommunikasie uit te brei na die veld van Internet-bemarking en verbruikersgedrag. Die doel van hierdie studie was om twee modelle te ontwikkel wat, met verloop van tyd, die impak van elektroniese hoorsêkommunikasie op ‘n e-handelplatform kon meet, met spesifieke verwysing na resensiegeloofwaardigheid en verkoopsvlakke van boeke. Deur die gebruik van ‘n nie-waarskynlikheidsoordeel steekproefprosedure, het die studie bevind dat elektroniese hoorsêresensies inderdaad ‘n invloed het op die verkoopsvlakke van elektroniese e-handelplatforms en dat sekere resensiefaktore (platform, teks, lengte, tyd en stergradering) die geloofwaardigheid van elektroniese e-handelplatforms se resensies beduidend beïnvloed het. Verder is die gevolgtrekking gemaak dat die oorhoofse geloofwaardigheid van resensies toeneem namate al hoe meer aanlynverbruikers die vermoë het om dit onder oë te kry. In ‘n vergelyking tussen die resensies van twee e-handel platforms Amazon.com en Barnesandnoble.com, is bevind dat Amazon.com meer resensies as Barnesandnoble.com het, dat die resensies op Amazon.com gemiddeld langer tekste het, en ook meer behulpsaam uit ‘n verbruikersoogpunt is as die resensies op Barnesandnoble.com. Die hoofbydrae van hierdie studie is dat dit riglyne bied aan e-handelplatforms om hul kliënte se verbruikerservaring beter te verstaan, en om sodoende beter verkope- en voorraadvooruitskattings te kan maak. Verder bied die studie ook riglyne t.o.v. doeltreffende bemarkingsveldtogte vir e-handelplatforms.

Social media is a marketing phenomenon that is taking the business world by storm. It goes beyond just being a marketing channel; because it is extremely disruptive by nature and has the potential to affect entire business models. Yet when it comes to social media execution, so many companies get it horribly wrong. Social media remains a part of marketing; it is not a replacement for it. However, it has the ability to redefine many aspects of marketing because it encourages conversation, community involvement and input from the public. Social media is changing the way companies communicate with their target markets. It is opening up new markets and providing channels for companies to not just talk to their customers but to provide new channels of sales to their target market based on trust built up in social media through openness and transparency. Marketing has moved from a push model to model dominated by social media, that of engagement. This study looked at literature that provided information, strategies and frameworks on how to create an effective social media strategy that is executable. The research shows that whilst much literature shares many aspects (the need to listen, engage, set goals, and formulate effective strategies); most of this literature is insufficient in actually providing a sound and effective platform that could be taken to create a strategy from its beginning to the point of execution. This research report creates a new detailed framework and plan that would allow a marketer to take the concept of social media and develop a working strategy and plan, as well as to execute it. It is aimed at marketers and people who have limited social media knowledge, and provides them with what they need to know in order to get started. The framework is a detailed plan that is based on an original social media marketing plan by Brian Solis.