An in-depth analysis of digital marketing trends and prospects in small and medium-sized enterprises: utilizing bibliometric mapping

This study presents a bibliometric analysis of digital marketing research within small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) spanning from 1985 to 2024. By analyzing 699 publications from the Scopus database, it aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the field’s evolution and current research focuses. The analysis leverages VOSviewer and RStudio’s ‘Biblioshiny’ tools for their robustness in data handling and bias reduction, facilitating a detailed exploration of collaborative networks, key themes and impactful literature. Thematic analysis, enhanced by case studies, identifies emerging areas such as commerce, marketing, digital transformation, costs and Covid-19, offering insights into future research directions. Despite its reliance on Scopus-indexed articles as a limitation, the research contributes to the academic and practical understanding of digital marketing in SMEs, highlighting critical areas for future exploration and development.