SMALL AND MEDIUM

Many Small and Medium Scale Enterprises‟ (SMEs) operators make use of the social media platforms for sharing pictures of themselves in social events. Their lack of information on the influence of the social media platforms on their sales performance may be responsible for their poor adoption of social media platforms for business purpose. The study examined the relationship between social media platforms and sales performance of SMEs in Benin City. The study adopted a survey research design. The population of the study was made up of operators of SMEs in Benin City, Nigeria. The sample size was 357. Questionnaire was the main research instrument. The data were generated using Google online survey, while the data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics through the SPSS Version 20.0. The findings showed that social media adoption, viral marketing, and social media customer relationship management had significant relationship with sales performance. Social media search engine optimisation had a non-significant relationship with sales performance. All the social media platforms variables had positive relationship with sales performance of SMEs in Benin City.Social media adoption had the highest positive coefficient on the sales performance of SMEs in Benin City, while social search engine optimisation had the least positive coefficient on the sales performance of SMEs in Benin City. There was a moderate correlation between social media platforms and the sales performance of SMEs in Benin City. The Pearson correlation revealed that all the social media variables (social media adoption, viral marketing and social customer relationship management) had linear relationship with sales performance. It was concluded that SMEs require much efforts in social media platforms. It was recommended that the SMEs should use the social media to promote their merchandise; leverage on the benefits of viral marketing; use search engine optimisation technology to enable customers to search and see their products online; and complement physical customer relationship with the social media customer relationship management.

The aim of this study was examine the impact of Covid-19 on small and medium scale enterprise in Edo State. Four research questions were raised to guide this study. What extent does the COVID-19 pandemic impact SMEs in Edo state? To what extent has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted patronage of small and medium scale enterprise (SMEs) in Edo State? To what extent has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the availability of workers in small and medium scale enterprise (SMEs) in Edo State? To what level has the
COVID-19 pandemic impacted the sales of goods of small and medium
scale enterprise (SMEs) in Edo state?
A descriptive survey research was employed for this study. The population of the study consist of all the small and medium scale enterprise in Egor local government area of Edo State. A sample of 100 employees were randomly selected from 20 different business enterprise from the population. Questionnaire was the instrument used to elicit information from the respondents. The data collected was analysed using simple percentages. In order to ascertain the reliability of the instrument, it was administered to
hundred (100) employees selected from similar status as those in those used in the study however after the administration of the 100 questionnaire the data collected was analysed. From the findings of this study it was seen that the Covid-19 pandemic
impacted on small and medium scale enterprise (SMEs) in Edo State leading to loss of job to some workers. It was also seen that the Covid-19 pandemic impacted patronage of small and medium scale enterprise in Edo State. Also the Covid-19 pandemic impacted the sales of goods which led to a fall in revenue and resulted in a low profit ratio. So the recommendation includes, the government should invest more into small and medium scale business to ensure their survival during difficult times. Also the small and medium scale enterprise owners should identify and focus on their most valuable products and services and eliminate everything else.