IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/iburev/v33y2024i5s0969593124000738.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Unveiling the dynamics of exporting firms: How social media shapes export costs and relationships

Author

Listed:
  • Alarcón-del-Amo, María-del-Carmen
  • Rialp, Alex
  • Rialp, Josep
  • López-Belbeze, Pilar

Abstract

We analysed the impact of exporters’ social media use on export costs and relationships with foreign customers using data collected in 2013 and in 2021. Our empirical results show that better information and communication technology (ICT) capabilities positively influence social media use, enhance communications, and lead to stronger relationships with foreign customers, but do not directly reduce export costs. We highlight the significant mediating role played by exporters’ cross-country social media communication in relationship building with foreign customers. Some divergences were evident in relation to the effects on export costs in 2021 compared to 2013. In 2013, social media communication, but not relationship building, notably reduced export costs; in 2021, in contrast, marked by the increased use of social media by consumers and companies due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the scenario was reversed: relationship building, but not social media communication, exerted a notable influence on costs. Commented, in conclusion, are the theoretical and practical implications of exporters using social media to improve their internationalization.

Suggested Citation

  • Alarcón-del-Amo, María-del-Carmen & Rialp, Alex & Rialp, Josep & López-Belbeze, Pilar, 2024. "Unveiling the dynamics of exporting firms: How social media shapes export costs and relationships," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(5).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:iburev:v:33:y:2024:i:5:s0969593124000738
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ibusrev.2024.102326
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0969593124000738
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.ibusrev.2024.102326?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Onofrei, George & Filieri, Raffaele & Kennedy, Lorraine, 2022. "Social media interactions, purchase intention, and behavioural engagement: The mediating role of source and content factors," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 100-112.
    2. Qalati, Sikander Ali & Yuan, Li Wen & Khan, Muhammad Aamir Shafique & Anwar, Farooq, 2021. "A mediated model on the adoption of social media and SMEs’ performance in developing countries," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    3. Fabien Pecot & Altaf Merchant & Pierre Valette-Florence & Virginie de Barnier, 2018. "Cognitive outcomes of brand heritage: A signaling perspective," Post-Print hal-01831914, HAL.
    4. Pecot, Fabien & Merchant, Altaf & Valette-Florence, Pierre & De Barnier, Virginie, 2018. "Cognitive outcomes of brand heritage: A signaling perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 304-316.
    5. De’, Rahul & Pandey, Neena & Pal, Abhipsa, 2020. "Impact of digital surge during Covid-19 pandemic: A viewpoint on research and practice," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    6. Magno, Francesca, 2017. "The influence of cultural blogs on their readers’ cultural product choices," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 37(3), pages 142-149.
    7. Gabrielsson, Mika & Gabrielsson, Peter, 2011. "Internet-based sales channel strategies of born global firms," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 20(1), pages 88-99, February.
    8. Gary A Knight & S Tamer Cavusgil, 2004. "Innovation, organizational capabilities, and the born-global firm," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 35(4), pages 334-334, July.
    9. Wang, Zhan & Kim, Hyun Gon, 2017. "Can Social Media Marketing Improve Customer Relationship Capabilities and Firm Performance? Dynamic Capability Perspective," Journal of Interactive Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 15-26.
    10. Zucchella, Antonella & Palamara, G. & Denicolai, S., 2007. "The drivers of the early internationalization of the firm," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 42(3), pages 268-280, September.
    11. Drèze, Xavier & Bonfrer, André, 2008. "An empirical investigation of the impact of communication timing on customer equity," Journal of Interactive Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 22(1), pages 36-50.
    12. Fangfang Li & Jorma Larimo & Leonidas C. Leonidou, 2021. "Social media marketing strategy: definition, conceptualization, taxonomy, validation, and future agenda," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 49(1), pages 51-70, January.
    13. V. Kumar & JeeWon Brianna Choi & Mallik Greene, 2017. "Synergistic effects of social media and traditional marketing on brand sales: capturing the time-varying effects," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 45(2), pages 268-288, March.
    14. Henrikki Tikkanen & Joel Hietanen & Tuomas Henttonen & Joonas Rokka, 2009. "Exploring virtual worlds : success factors in virtual world marketing," Post-Print hal-02313353, HAL.
    15. Edward F. McQuarrie & Jessica Miller & Barbara J. Phillips, 2013. "The Megaphone Effect: Taste and Audience in Fashion Blogging," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 40(1), pages 136-158.
    16. Reinartz, Werner & Haenlein, Michael & Henseler, Jörg, 2009. "An empirical comparison of the efficacy of covariance-based and variance-based SEM," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 26(4), pages 332-344.
    17. Berthon, Pierre R. & Pitt, Leyland F. & Plangger, Kirk & Shapiro, Daniel, 2012. "Marketing meets Web 2.0, social media, and creative consumers: Implications for international marketing strategy," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 55(3), pages 261-271.
    18. Dhar, Vasant & Chang, Elaine A., 2009. "Does Chatter Matter? The Impact of User-Generated Content on Music Sales," Journal of Interactive Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 23(4), pages 300-307.
    19. Gary A Knight & S Tamar Cavusgil, 2004. "Innovation, organizational capabilities, and the born-global firm," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 35(2), pages 124-141, March.
    20. John Dunning, 2001. "The Eclectic (OLI) Paradigm of International Production: Past, Present and Future," International Journal of the Economics of Business, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 8(2), pages 173-190.
    21. Kawaljeet Kaur Kapoor & Kuttimani Tamilmani & Nripendra P. Rana & Pushp Patil & Yogesh K. Dwivedi & Sridhar Nerur, 2018. "Advances in Social Media Research: Past, Present and Future," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 20(3), pages 531-558, June.
    22. Hultman, Magnus & Iveson, Abbie & Oghazi, Pejvak, 2023. "Talk less and listen more? The effectiveness of social media talking and listening tactics on export performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    23. Kaplan, Andreas M. & Haenlein, Michael, 2010. "Users of the world, unite! The challenges and opportunities of Social Media," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 53(1), pages 59-68, January.
    24. Lena Steinhoff & Denni Arli & Scott Weaven & Irina V. Kozlenkova, 2019. "Online relationship marketing," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 47(3), pages 369-393, May.
    25. Fernando Santini & Wagner Junior Ladeira & Diego Costa Pinto & Márcia Maurer Herter & Claudio Hoffmann Sampaio & Barry J. Babin, 2020. "Customer engagement in social media: a framework and meta-analysis," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 48(6), pages 1211-1228, November.
    26. Benlian, Alexander & Hess, Thomas, 2011. "The Signaling Role of IT Features in Influencing Trust and Participation in Online Communities," Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) 58026, Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL).
    27. Trainor, Kevin J. & Andzulis, James (Mick) & Rapp, Adam & Agnihotri, Raj, 2014. "Social media technology usage and customer relationship performance: A capabilities-based examination of social CRM," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 67(6), pages 1201-1208.
    28. Fraccastoro, Sara & Gabrielsson, Mika & Chetty, Sylvie, 2021. "Social Media Firm Specific Advantages as Enablers of Network Embeddedness of International Entrepreneurial Ventures," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 56(3).
    29. Lee, Sang M. & Trimi, Silvana, 2021. "Convergence innovation in the digital age and in the COVID-19 pandemic crisis," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 14-22.
    30. Latifi, Mohammad-Ali & Nikou, Shahrokh & Bouwman, Harry, 2021. "Business model innovation and firm performance: Exploring causal mechanisms in SMEs," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    31. Dolega, Les & Rowe, Francisco & Branagan, Emma, 2021. "Going digital? The impact of social media marketing on retail website traffic, orders and sales," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    32. Shyam Gopinath & Pradeep K. Chintagunta & Sriram Venkataraman, 2013. "Blogs, Advertising, and Local-Market Movie Box Office Performance," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 59(12), pages 2635-2654, December.
    33. Alarcón-del-Amo, María-del-Carmen & Rialp-Criado, Alex & Rialp-Criado, Josep, 2018. "Examining the impact of managerial involvement with social media on exporting firm performance," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(2), pages 355-366.
    34. Lianxi Zhou & Wei-ping Wu & Xueming Luo, 2007. "Internationalization and the performance of born-global SMEs: the mediating role of social networks," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 38(4), pages 673-690, July.
    35. Laurent Muzellec & Sébastien Ronteau & Mary Lambkin, 2015. "Two-sided Internet platforms: A business model lifecycle perspective," Post-Print hal-03718529, HAL.
    36. Moon Young Kang & Byungho Park, 2018. "Sustainable Corporate Social Media Marketing Based on Message Structural Features: Firm Size Plays a Significant Role as a Moderator," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-14, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Fraccastoro, Sara & Gabrielsson, Mika & Chetty, Sylvie, 2021. "Social Media Firm Specific Advantages as Enablers of Network Embeddedness of International Entrepreneurial Ventures," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 56(3).
    2. Crespo, Nuno Fernandes & Crespo, Cátia Fernandes & Silva, Graça Miranda & Nicola, Maura Bedin, 2023. "Innovation in times of crisis: The relevance of digitalization and early internationalization strategies," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    3. Rubina Romanello & Maria Chiarvesio, 2019. "Early internationalizing firms: 2004–2018," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 17(2), pages 172-219, June.
    4. Rimante Sedziniauskiene & Jurgita Sekliuckiene & Antonella Zucchella, 2019. "Networks’ Impact on the Entrepreneurial Internationalization: A Literature Review and Research Agenda," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 59(5), pages 779-823, October.
    5. Liu, Zhenyuan & Geng, Ruoqi & Tse, Ying Kei (Mike) & Han, Shuihua, 2023. "Mapping the relationship between social media usage and organizational performance: A meta-analysis," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    6. Lee, Jeoung Yul & Yang, Young Soo & Ghauri, Pervez N. & Park, Byung Il, 2022. "The Impact of Social Media and Digital Platforms Experience on SME International Orientation: The Moderating Role of COVID-19 Pandemic," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(4).
    7. Perez-Vega, Rodrigo & Hopkinson, Paul & Singhal, Aishwarya & Mariani, Marcello M., 2022. "From CRM to social CRM: A bibliometric review and research agenda for consumer research," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 1-16.
    8. Schwens, Christian & Kabst, Ruediger, 2011. "Internationalization of young technology firms: A complementary perspective on antecedents of foreign market familiarity," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 20(1), pages 60-74, February.
    9. Fraccastoro, Sara & Gabrielsson, Mika & Pullins, Ellen Bolman, 2021. "The integrated use of social media, digital, and traditional communication tools in the B2B sales process of international SMEs," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(4).
    10. Jan Abrahamsson & Håkan Boter & Vladimir Vanyushyn, 2019. "Business model innovation of international new ventures: An empirical study in a Swedish context," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 75-102, March.
    11. Foltean, Florin Sabin & Trif, Simona Mihaela & Tuleu, Daniela Liliana, 2019. "Customer relationship management capabilities and social media technology use: Consequences on firm performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 563-575.
    12. Korzynski, Pawel & Mazurek, Grzegorz & Haenlein, Michael, 2020. "Leveraging employees as spokespeople in your HR strategy: How company-related employee posts on social media can help firms to attract new talent," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 38(1), pages 204-212.
    13. Shakeel ul Rehman & Rafia Gulzar & Wajeeha Aslam, 2022. "Developing the Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC) through Social Media (SM): The Modern Marketing Communication Approach," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(2), pages 21582440221, May.
    14. Carmen Berne-Manero & Mercedes Marzo-Navarro, 2020. "Exploring How Influencer and Relationship Marketing Serve Corporate Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-19, May.
    15. Lee Li & Gongming Qian & Zhengming Qian, 2015. "Should Small, Young Technology–Based Firms Internalize Transactions in Their Internationalization?," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 39(4), pages 839-862, July.
    16. Dimitratos, Pavlos & Amorós, José Ernesto & Etchebarne, María Soledad & Felzensztein, Christian, 2014. "Micro-multinational or not? International entrepreneurship, networking and learning effects," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 67(5), pages 908-915.
    17. Navarro-García, Antonio, 2016. "Drivers of export entrepreneurship," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 25(1), pages 244-254.
    18. Witek-Hajduk Marzanna K. & Zaborek Piotr, 2022. "Social media use in international marketing: Impact on brand and firm performance," International Journal of Management and Economics, Warsaw School of Economics, Collegium of World Economy, vol. 58(2), pages 121-142, June.
    19. Sascha Kraus & Alexander Brem & Miriam Schuessler & Felix Schuessler & Thomas Niemand, 2019. "Innovative Born Globals: Investigating the Influence of Their Business Models on International Performance," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Alexander Brem & Joe Tidd & Tugrul Daim (ed.), Managing Innovation Internationalization of Innovation, chapter 11, pages 275-328, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    20. Figueiredo, Marco & Ferreira, João J. & Vrontis, Demetris, 2024. "Perspectives on dynamic capabilities and ambidexterity in born-global companies: Theoretical framing, review and research agenda," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 30(1).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:iburev:v:33:y:2024:i:5:s0969593124000738. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/133/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.