Digital Marketing Analysis through PPC Advertising Strategies to Improve the Competitiveness of MSMEs
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47747/ijbme.v7i2.3510Keywords:
Digital Marketing, Digital Transformation, Facebook Ads, MSME Competitiveness, PPC AdvertisingAbstract
This study aims to analyze the implementation of Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising through Facebook Ads in improving the competitiveness of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Pangkalpinang City and to identify the key factors influencing its effectiveness. This research was conducted in Pangkalpinang City, Bangka Belitung Islands Province using a qualitative case study approach. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews with 20 MSME actors from various sectors (culinary, crafts, fashion, services), non-participant observation of Facebook Ads Manager activities, and documentation studies. Data analysis was performed using thematic analysis techniques assisted by NVivo 12 software. The study reveals that while MSMEs in Pangkalpinang have adopted Facebook Ads, its effectiveness remains suboptimal due to three main factors: (1) imprecise targeting strategies, with 80% of MSMEs relying only on basic parameters like location (60%) and age (45%), (2) limited creative content production dominated by static images (70%), and (3) weak campaign evaluation practices, with only 35% regularly monitoring Ads Manager. This study is limited to MSMEs in Pangkalpinang City and focuses solely on the Facebook Ads platform. The research also did not quantitatively measure detailed financial aspects such as Return on Investment (ROI). This research contributes to the digital marketing literature, particularly in the context of PPC advertising for MSMEs in developing regions. Practically, it provides guidance for MSME actors, policymakers, and business development institutions in designing effective digital marketing training and mentoring programs.
Downloads
References
Azis, A. F., Khudori, M. A., Diningsih, A., & Noviarita, H. (2025). Optimization of Digital Marketing Strategies in Increasing the Competitiveness of Msmes in Lampung According to Sharia Economic Law. RADEN INTAN: Proceedings on Family and Humanity, 2(1), 387–397. https://doi.org/10.63013/ripfah.v2i1.549
Barney, J. (1991). Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage. JMR. https://doi.org/10.1177/014920639101700108
Bawono, S., Naufal, M. I., & Andriana, R. (2025). Dynamic Impact of Digital Marketing on MSME Sales in Indonesian Marketplaces: A GMM Approach. Proceeding International Conference on Economics, Business and Information Technology, 6(1), 109–124. https://doi.org/10.33292/icobit.v6i1.107
Becker, W., & Schmid, O. (2020). The right digital strategy for your business: an empirical analysis of the design and implementation of digital strategies in SMEs and LSEs. Business Research, 13(3), 985–1005. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40685-020-00124-z
Bowen, G. A. (2009). Document analysis as a qualitative research method. Qualitative Research Journal, 9(2), 27–40. https://doi.org/10.3316/QRJ0902027
Brinkmann, S. , & K. S. (2015). I. L. the craft of qualitative research interviewing (3rd ed. ). Sage. (2015). InterViews: Learning the craft of qualitative research interviewing . SAGE, 3rd ed. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781452275727
Bruce, E., Shurong, Z., Ying, D., Yaqi, M., Amoah, J., & Egala, S. B. (2023). The effect of digital marketing adoption on SMEs sustainable growth: Empirical evidence from Ghana. Sustainability, 15(6), 4760. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15064760
Creswell, J. W., & Miller, D. L. (2000). Determining Validity in Qualitative Inquiry. Theory Into Practice, 39(3), 124–130. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15430421tip3903_2
Helmi, S., Ariana, S., Sholahuddin, S., Junardi, J., SN, I., & Dewi, A. (2025). Digital Marketing as an Effort to Increase Sales of MSMEs in Bandung Regency. Asian Journal of Community Services, 4(2), 145–156. https://doi.org/10.47679/ajcs.v4i2.145
Ishtiaq, M. (2019). Book Review: Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage (Vol. 12). https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v12n5p40
Kádárová, J., Lachvajderová, L., & Sukopová, D. (2023). Impact of digitalization on SME performance of the EU27: Panel data analysis. Sustainability, 15(13), 9973. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15139973
Lee, Y. Y., Falahat, M., & Sia, B. K. (2021). Drivers of digital adoption: a multiple case analysis among low and high-tech industries in Malaysia. Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Administration, 13(1), 80–97. https://doi.org/10.1108/APJBA-05-2020-0147
Loku, A., & Havolli, R. (2024). Leveraging Digital Marketing for Competitive Advantage: Strategic Insights and Operational Impacts on Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in the Digital Economy. Pakistan Journal of Life & Social Sciences, 22(2). https://doi.org/10.57239/PJLSS-2024-22.2.00236
Low, M. P., Seah, C. Sen, Cham, T.-H., & Teoh, S. H. (2022). Digitalization adoption for digital economy: an examination of Malaysian small medium-sized enterprises through the technology–organization–environment framework. Business Process Management Journal, 28(7), 1473–1494. https://doi.org/10.1108/BPMJ-05-2022-0218
Molinillo, S., & Japutra, A. (2017). Organizational adoption of digital information and technology: a theoretical review. The Bottom Line, 30(01), 33–46. https://doi.org/10.1108/BL-01-2017-0002
Multhazam, R., Sahabuddin, R., Amin, A. N., & Sulolipu, A. A. (2025). Literature Review: Digital Marketing Strategy to Increase MSME Income. Economics and Business Journal (ECBIS), 3(3), 267–274. https://doi.org/10.47153/ebj33.10112025
Olazo, D. B. (2022). Measuring the level of digital marketing capabilities, digital marketing strategies and challenges and issues of SMEs in adopting digital marketing. J. Mark. Adv. Pract, 4, 79–96. https://doi.org/10.59968/jmap.v4i1.67
Permadi, J. D., Ingkadijaya, R., & Mariati, S. (2025). Digital Marketing Strategy For Explore Mister Aladin Products To Attract Purchases At Mister Aladin. Media Bina Ilmiah, 19(8), 5437–5448. https://doi.org/10.33747/mbi.v19i8.4499
Raj, A., Shukla, D., Quadir, A., & Sharma, P. (2024). What drives the adoption of digital technology in the micro, small, and medium enterprises sector in a developing economy? Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing, 39(9), 1984–2002. https://doi.org/10.1108/JBIM-07-2023-0363
Santos-Jaén, J. M., Gimeno-Arias, F., León-Gómez, A., & Palacios-Manzano, M. (2023). The Business digitalization process in SMEs from the implementation of e-commerce: An empirical analysis. Journal of Theoretical and Applied Electronic Commerce Research, 18(4), 1700–1720. https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer18040086
Shahadat, M. M. H., Nekmahmud, M., Ebrahimi, P., & Fekete-Farkas, M. (2023). Digital technology adoption in SMEs: what technological, environmental and organizational factors influence in emerging countries? Global Business Review, 09721509221137199. https://doi.org/10.1177/09721509221137199
Sharabati, A.-A. A., Ali, A. A. A., Allahham, M. I., Hussein, A. A., Alheet, A. F., & Mohammad, A. S. (2024a). The impact of digital marketing on the performance of SMEs: An analytical study in light of modern digital transformations. Sustainability, 16(19), 8667. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16198667
Sharabati, A.-A. A., Ali, A. A. A., Allahham, M. I., Hussein, A. A., Alheet, A. F., & Mohammad, A. S. (2024b). The impact of digital marketing on the performance of SMEs: An analytical study in light of modern digital transformations. Sustainability, 16(19), 8667. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16198667
Stankovska, I., Josimovski, S., & Edwards, C. (2016). Digital channels diminish SME barriers: the case of the UK. Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja, 29(1), 217–232. https://doi.org/10.1080/1331677X.2016.1165136
Sugiyono. (2022). Metode Penelitian Kuantitatif. Alfabeta. https://doi.org/10.53894/9786230423107
Sunggara, A. D., Nurhaliza, P., Ferdinand, A. T., & Dirgantara, I. M. B. (2022). Digital marketing on sales effectiveness and market expansion for MSMEs: A literature review. Arthatama: Journal of Business Management and Accounting, 6(2), 55–65. https://doi.org/10.47134/arthatama.v6i2.183
Ullah, I., Khan, M., Rakhmonov, D. A., Bakhritdinovich, K. M., Jacquemod, J., & Bae, J. (2023). Factors affecting digital marketing adoption in Pakistani small and medium enterprises. Logistics, 7(3), 41. https://doi.org/10.3390/logistics7030041
Yuli, S. B. C., & Rofik, M. (2023). Unleashing open innovation: A decomposition nexus of Sharia-compliant financing and job creation. Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity, 9(4), 100162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joitmc.2023.100162
Ziółkowska, M. J. (2021). Digital transformation and marketing activities in small and medium-sized enterprises. Sustainability, 13(5), 2512. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13052512
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Sumarno; Fahry Reza

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyrights
Copyright for this article is retained by the author(s), with first publication rights granted to the journal.
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)






