Abstract   Title: Search Engine Marketing in SMEs Level: Final assignment for Bachelor Degree in Business Administration Authors: Kamilla Fahlström & Caroline Jensen Supervisor: Jens Eklinder Frick Date: 2016 January Purpose: The purpose of this study is to use Expectancy theory to describe and analyze small company owners’ motivations for their usage of Search Engine Marketing, in terms of their perceived Valence, Expectancy and Instrumentality. Method: To research the aim of this study a qualitative research approach was used. The empirical data was compiled through ten semi-structured interviews from a varied selection of Swedish companies in the service sector. The data was analyzed with previous research to create an understanding of the motivations for using Search Engine Marketing. Conclusions: The result of this study, when analyzed alongside Expectancy theory, indicates that small business owners are motivated to use Search Engine Marketing. Furthermore, which method of Search Engine Marketing that the owners are motivated to use is dependent on their perceptions of the different methods. Future research: Due to the lack of research into the attitudinal and psychological aspects of Search Engine Marketing and the limitations of this study, it would be interesting if more research were done into this area. For example, it would be interesting to study if trust-based companies are motivated to use Search Engine Marketing, and if demographics affect the motivations. Contribution: This study contributes with results on a previously unexplored area within the research field of Search Engine Marketing. The study also contribute with some information to practice regarding small service company owners’ thoughts about their usage of Search Engine Marketing.  Key words: Search Engine Marketing, SMEs, Expectancy theory, Motivation, Website visibility

The aim of this study is to examine whether search engine marketing may influence consumers’ brand awareness in terms of brand recall and brand recognition. The theoretical background derives from the definition and rationale of brand awareness. The study is further based on a theoretical outline of search engine marketing and its components. Furthermore, the Hierarchy of Effects Model is used in order to describe the steps a company may influence consumers in their purchase process. In order to capture consumers’ reasoning and behaviour in the search engine context, a two-way study approach was conducted. Firstly, by letting ten participants conduct a log related to their search engine behaviour, spanning for a period of ten days. Secondly, by conducting semi-structured interviews, using their logs as a base for further discussions. Results from this study show that search engine marketing can have an effect on consumers’ brand awareness by creating initial awareness or by building upon existing awareness. Secondly, in the context of unknown brands, the results show that it had a particular strong effect on brand recognition among the participants. Thirdly, it appeared that SEM can work as a gateway for brands and an enabler for building a brand attitude amongst its potential customers. Lastly, the website experience is a crucial step for brands in order to positively influence consumers in their purchase process.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine if there is a relationship between search engine users advertising awareness and attitude towards organic- and/or paid search results. Hypothesis: H1: The attitude toward Google´s paid search results is significantly more negative for search engine users who successfully identify more than 75% of Google´s paid search results on the results page compared to search engine users who successfully identified less than 75% of Google´s paid search results on the search results page. H2: The attitude toward Google´s organic search results is significantly more negative for search engine users who successfully identify more than 75% of Google´s paid search results on the search results page compared to search engine users who successfully identified less than 75% of Google´s paid search results on the search results page. Methodology: The study is based on the positivist research paradigm and has a quantitative research method and a deductive approach. The research design is a cross- sectional study and a survey has been chosen as a data collection method. The data analysis was completed using the computer program IBM SPSS. Results: The results show that there is no relationship between the search engine user´s attitude towards Google´s paid search results and the search engine user´s ad awareness, which means that the null hypothesis 1 cannot be rejected. The results also show that search engine user´s attitude towards Google´s organic search results is significantly more positive for search engine users who identified more than 75% of Google´s paid search results on the search results page as compared to search engine user´s successfully identified less than 75% of Google´s paid search results on the search results page, meaning, the null hypothesis 2 cannot be rejected. Contributions: The theoretical contribution is related to persuasion knowledge model (PKM) and shows that (1) search engine user´s activation of persuasion knowledge does not necessarily create a more negative attitude towards paid search results. (2) Search engine user´s activation of persuasion knowledge creates a more positive attitude towards organic search results. The practical contribution is given to Google and is based on the fact that (1) Google can clarify its ad disclosure without the risk of search engine users creating more negative attitude towards paid search results. (2) Google can clarify the ad disclosure, which will lead to more positive attitude towards organic search results for search engine users. / Syfte: Syftet med studien är att undersöka om det finns ett samband mellan sökmotoranvändares annonsmedvetenhet och attityd mot organiska- och/eller betalda sökresultat. Hypoteser: H1: Attityden mot Googles betalda sökresultat är signifikant mer negativ för sökmotoranvändare som identifierar mer än 75% av Googles betalda sökresultat på sökresultatsidan i jämförelse med sökmotoranvändare som lyckas identifiera mindre än 75% av Googles betalda sökresultat på sökresultatsidan. H2: Attityden mot Googles organiska sökresultat är signifikant mer negativ för sökmotoranvändare som identifierar mer än 75% av Googles betalda sökresultat på sökresultatsidan i jämförelse med sökmotoranvändare som lyckas identifiera mindre än 75% av Googles betalda sökresultat på sökresultatsidan. Metod: Studien grundar sig på det positivistiska forskningsparadigmet och har en kvantitativ forskningsmetod och en deduktiv ansats. Forskningsdesignen är tvärsnittsstudie och enkät har valts som insamlingsmetod. Dataanalysen är gjord med hjälp av dataprogrammet IBM SPSS. Resultat: Resultatet visar att det inte finns något samband mellan sökmotoranvändares attityd mot Googles betalda sökresultat och sökmotoranvändares annonsmedvetenhet vilket innebär att nollhypotes 1 inte kan förkastas. Resultatet visar även att sökmotoranvändares attityd mot Googles organiska sökresultat är signifikant mer positiv för sökmotoranvändare som identifierar mer än 75% av Googles betalda sökresultat på sökresultatsidan i jämförelse med sökmotoranvändare som lyckas identifiera mindre än 75% av Googles betalda sökresultat på sökresultatsidan vilket innebär att nollhypotes 2 inte förkastas. Studiens bidrag: Det teoretiska bidraget är relaterat till persuasion knowledge model (PKM) och visar att (1) sökmotoranvändares aktivering av persuasion knowledge inte nödvändigtvis skapar en mer negativ attityd mot betalda sökresultat. (2) Sökmotoranvändares aktivering av persuasion knowledge skapar en mer positiv attityd mot organiska sökresultat. Det praktiska bidraget ges till Google och bygger på att (1) Google kan tydliggöra sin annonsmärkning utan risk att sökmotoranvändarna får en mer negativ attityd mot Googles betalda sökresultat. (2) Google kan tydliggöra annonsmärkningen vilket kommer leda till att sökmotoranvändarna får en mer positiv attityd mot Googles organiska sökresultat.

Segmentace uživatelů vyhledávačů. Charakteristika trhu, základní druhy internetové reklamy, teoretický podklad pro segmentaci trhu, dotazníkové šetření, vymezení segmentů pomocí shlukové analýzy. Popis segmentů a marketingová doporučení.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to understand millennials search behavior on mobile devices. Research Questions: How do millennials value organic and sponsored search results on mobile devices? What are the Web advertising variables that affect millennials attitudes towards sponsored search ads on mobile devices? Methodology: Data was collected from 103 Swedish millennials through an experiment and survey. Conclusion: The findings of this research supports the variables of entertainment and incentives to have a positive association with millennials attitudes towards mobile search ads while irritation, informativeness and credibility were only partially supported when testing independently with attitudes. An overall negative attitude could be seen toward sponsored links when participants motivated their action to click. Moreover, the results illustrated a higher attitude value towards mobile search ads to reflect an increased click behavior on sponsored search results.

This diploma thesis deals with online marketing at Alensa, s.r.o. (Ltd.) The first part of the thesis examines the basics of online marketing, including its tools. The next part analyses three foreign projects within Alensa, based on an online marketing audit. This thesis analyses all three websites by their traffic and their standing among their competitors. The next part of the thesis is devoted directly to the online marketing tools. These online marketing tools are discussed individually and with comments related to their values. SEO analysis was done from a technical perspective. The effectiveness of the website based on site usability and trustworthiness was also analysed. This dissertation aims to assess the current state of online marketing in Alensa and tries to reach a more general conclusion by analyzing three markets simultaneously. The conclusion of this thesis includes comments on all the results and proposes some recommendations to help the company to succeed in terms of online marketing.

The aim of this master thesis is to analyse and evaluate marketing activities of the brand LOréal Professionnel in online environment. Evaluation is based on goals of each used tool. Thesis includes comparison of communication in three countries, where brand applies unified strategy and way of communication. Results are analysed for the Czech republic, Slovakia and Hungary. This thesis include analyse of web pages, search engine marketing and communication on social media. Also emailing is mentioned but there are not so many results since brand started recently with this activity. In the end there are conclusions and recommendations based on analyses of used tools for online marketing.

This thesis aims to explore concrete ways of application of internet marketing for promotion of a small service oriented business-to-business (B2B) company in broader context of the so-called new economy. To support the validity of the presented applications the thesis first draws on well-established theory of marketing concepts. In the second part of the paper, the role of internet marketing in business strategy of small and medium sized enterprises is explored. The thesis then continues with detailed description of particular tools of internet marketing and discusses their relevance and most appropriate application in the chosen field. In the application part of this thesis, the tools of Google Search Engine Marketing, which are perceived as the most efficient agent of small business promotion, are field-tested in a real small business promotion campaign. Finally, the thesis concludes with discussion of possibilities of future development in the field of internet marketing and sums up the overall findings of this paper. Throughout this thesis, the examined new technologies are regarded through the lenses of practical experience reported by their users and, at the same time, with consideration to established theoretical framework.

The theme of the diploma thesis is called "On-line Communications Strategy Plan for the Cinoherni klub theatre". The theoretical part of the thesis deals mainly with internet marketing and communications strategies in a business. A method called Search Engine Marketing (SEM) is described in details in this part. The thesis deals also with some possibilities of how to effectively use internet advertising to drive traffic to company's websites. In the practical part of the thesis a specific internet communications strategy for Cinoherni club theatre is designed. Free Google AdWords and Sklik PPC advertising systems are used in this strategy. The data from a banner (3 options) concept test research are the main fundament for an appropriate graphic and communication tools selection.

Abstract The following research conceptualizes the applicability of AI in search engine marketing. Following a rigorous investigation on professionals’ opinions, the investigation regards their perceptual understanding of the applicable AI practices and the required level of interrelated knowledge to technical applicability for a more successful marketing strategy. Purpose Digitalization has changed many industrial sectors towards becoming technologically dependent. These technological advancements are somewhat visible by professionals and applicable in their industry. The thesis examines AI’s applicability in search engine marketing and the understanding of professionals in its handling. Based on research that identifies marketers’ misperceptions of AI to be ineffective in marketing, and other research that finds technical knowledge in AI as connected to successful marketing management. This investigation intends to examine marketers’ expectations from AI, and compare that to what AI professionals think that should be expected. Thus, with the knowledge acquired through the interviews and theory review, this research intends to summarize marketers’ expectations from AI in search engine marketing, and the AI knowledge that should be expected from a marketer. Method The research methods are qualitative, applying practices such as online interviews with open-end questions and template analysis to classify the data collection. On the first level, this research distinguished between marketers’ expectations from AI and current AI capabilities. In advance, focus on Google AI in search engine marketing, to investigate a specific search engine. Finally, establishing an expectancy of marketers’ knowledge in AI, relational to search engine marketing. Findings While technical understanding in AI infrastructures may increase problem-solving capabilities in search engine marketing, technical proficiency in AI is not among the primary contributors for successful marketing. The research findings show a different result from the expected outcome on knowledge requirements. And while marketers hold high expectations from the automation of search engine marketing, however, they are certain of the irreplaceable human contribution in creating abstract and strategic development. Keywords Artificial Intelligence (AI), Search engine marketing (SEM), Knowledge management / <p>Due to the pandemic, the thesis work was presented online via zoom meetings by all students. </p>