Makgopa S. Sipho

The concept of social media is top of the agenda for many organizations today. Decision makers, as well as marketers, try to identify ways in which organizations can make profitable use of social media platforms. The adoption of social media in marketing communication campaigns to carry the marketing communication message to the target audiences remains a challenge to organizations in the motor industry. The purpose of this paper was to establish an understanding of the online social media tools used by car dealerships in their marketing communication strategies and campaigns. In achieving the purpose of this paper, a qualitative research approach using semi-structured in-depth interviews with marketing personnel of different car dealerships in Gauteng province, South Africa was followed. In this paper, a qualitative content analysis was used to analyze primary data using Atlas ti version 10 computer software. The findings of this paper revealed that the use of social media platforms by car dealerships varied in terms of message content. Recommendations to stakeholders in the motor industry and future research directions are provided.

Keywords: social media, marketing communications, communication channels, consumer-to-consumer communications, car dealerships.
JEL Classification: M31, M37

Effective marketing communication strategies and campaigns are of much importance in many organizations in informing, reminding and persuading current and potential customers to support the organization by buying organizations product offerings. Organizations in planning of marketing communication strategies and campaigns, organizations in theory need to conduct micro-environmental analysis determining organizations’ strengths and weakness. The purpose of this paper was to investigate the planning of marketing communication strategies and campaigns of car dealerships in practice with more emphasis on micro-environmental factors of consideration. In achieving the purpose of this paper, a qualitative research approach using semi-structured in-depth interviews with marketing personnel of different car dealerships in Gauteng Province, South Africa was followed. In this paper a qualitative content analysis was used to analyze primary data using Atlas ti version 7 computer software. The results revealed that there are key micro-environmental factors of consideration during the planning of marketing communication strategies and campaigns. Based on the results of this paper, the author provided recommendations to stakeholders in the motor vehicle industry, specifically, car dealerships and future research directions.

Keywords: marketing communications, marketing communication objectives, marketing communication strategy, mediatypes, micro-environment.
JEL Classification: M31

This paper focuses on the external environmental factors that have an impact on the planning of organizational strategies from car dealerships perspective. The paper argues, that the organization`s failure to consider and analyze external environmental factors could render strategies, particularly, marketing communication strategies and campaigns ineffective. It is pertinent to note that the external environmental factors of consideration during the environmental analysis may vary amongst different industries and sectors of the economy. In effective planning of strategies organizations, including car dealerships, in theory are expected to conduct external environmental analysis with more emphasis on market and macro-environments. The purpose of this paper is to test this theory by exploring on market and macro environmental factors that are of consideration in planning marketing communication strategies and campaigns of car dealerships in practice. In order to achieve the purpose of the paper, a qualitative research approach using semi-structured in-depth interviews with marketing personnel of different car dealerships in Gauteng, South Africa was implemented. The paper utilizes a qualitative content analysis in analyzing primary data using Atlas ti version 7 computer software. The results revealed that the economic, season factors and technological advances that might lead to environmental conservation and the target audiences serve as key factors of consideration in the external environment during the planning of marketing communication strategies and campaigns. The results of this paper can be used as a basis for recommendations to stakeholders in the motor vehicle industry. Finally, future research directions are provided.