Abstract:

With advances in information and communication technologies, social media has not only been an integral part of individual users' lives but also attracted the attention of brands and companies. While social media provides brands and companies with the opportunity to reach, expand and interact with their target groups, it also enables individual users to share positive or negative content about brands, companies and products with large masses. Content shared by brands and companies or by individuals affects consumer behavior. It is therefore imperative that brands and companies currently using or planning to use social media identify consumers' perceptions of social media marketing and the effects of social media on consumer behavior. The aim of this study is to analyze Kyrgyz consumers' perceptions of social media marketing. In line with this purpose, face-to-face surveys were conducted with 297 participants living in Bishkek and Osh regions of Kyrgyzstan. As a result of the survey, the social network, which is the highest number of participants, was identified as Facebook, while the participants appeared to be more connected to social media via smartphones. Also in the research results reveal four factors : Online Word of Mouth Communication, Social Media Marketing Perception, Benefits of Social Media Marketing and Confidence in Social Media. We believe that this study provides significant information for brands and companies operating or planning to operate in Kyrgyzstan.

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