Zafar U. Ahmed, Craig C. Julian, Imad B. Baalbaki and Tamar V. Hadidian
This study explores the role of the Internet in export marketing. The data was gathered based on a survey of 61 Lebanese manufacturing firms engaged in exporting. The findings…
Abstract
This study explores the role of the Internet in export marketing. The data was gathered based on a survey of 61 Lebanese manufacturing firms engaged in exporting. The findings indicate a positive relationship between Website ownership, average annual sales volume and export. The findings further indicate that the main reason for owning a corporate Website was to attract clients outside of Lebanon. The second and third top reasons for owning a corporate Website turned out to be improving the company’s image and advertising, respectively. Finally, the findings indicate a positive relationship between Website ownership and engaging in export, share of exports over total sales and the number of countries to which the firm exports.
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Zafar U. Ahmed, Craig C. Julian, Imad Baalbaki and Tamar V. Hadidian
The purpose of this research is to explore the incentives to export that Lebanese entrepreneurs face when engaging in international business.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this research is to explore the incentives to export that Lebanese entrepreneurs face when engaging in international business.
Design/methodology/approach
The study was based on an empirical investigation of the incentives to export that Lebanese firms face when engaging in international business. The sample of firms came from a wide cross section of industries and was provided by the Lebanese Ministry of Industry. A questionnaire was developed and pre‐tested using a small sample of exporters with the final instrument used to personally interview all respondents.
Findings
A total of 17 of the 20 export incentives tested were identified as being significantly important. Also, it was concluded that exporters and non‐exporters largely agree in their views of the various incentives to exporting.
Research limitations/implications
One of the research limitations was the sampling technique. Convenience sampling was used in this project. Although it has many advantages, it also has some limitations, including respondent self‐selection.
Practical implications
The study findings suggest that exporters and non‐exporters perceive the same incentives to export to be important. However, exporters and non‐exporters had different attitudes towards one export incentive being “Decline in the Value of Currency Relative to Foreign Markets”.
Originality/value
From the multiple comparisons test conducted on “Decline in the Value of Currency Relative to Foreign Markets” for those who export 11 percent to 40 percent of their total sales and those who export 41 percent or more of their total sales the attitudes towards this export incentive are significantly different from each other.