Leveraging Entrepreneurial Marketing Strategies for Business Growth and Resilience During Crisis and Beyond

Author's Information:

Dr. Isaiah Joseph

Global Banking School.

Dr. Peter Ogwuche

Arden University 

Dr. Itunuoluwa Adeoye

Elizabeth School of London 

Dr. Jacintha Odonye

Elizabeth School of London 

Vol 03 No 01 (2026):Volume 03 Issue 01 January 2026

Page No.: 37-48

Abstract:

Purpose: this study examined the impact entrepreneurial marketing strategies on business growth in times of crisis and beyond. It investigates how marketing strategies are embedded in entrepreneurship during times of crisis and beyond using opportunity-driven marketing, customer-centric innovation, and resource leveraging.

Design/methodology/approach: The study employs a descriptive and explanatory research design with a focus on SMEs that have implemented entrepreneurial marketing strategies. A structured online survey was administered to 430 SME owners, managers, and policymakers from various industries. Stratified random sampling technique was used to ensure broad representation. The multiple regression and correlation analysis were used to analyse the data to assess the impact of entrepreneurial marketing strategies on business growth support using SPSS.

Findings: The results show that SMEs' resource leveraging, customer-centric innovation, and opportunity-driven marketing significantly impact business growth. Businesses that integrate entrepreneurial marketing strategies tend to achieve greater adaptability and long-term sustainability. 

Practical implications: The study clarifies the importance of entrepreneurial marketing strategies for SMEs, policymakers, stakeholders and industry in navigating economic volatility. It emphasises that businesses need to use entrepreneurial marketing strategies (resource leveraging, customer-centric innovation, and opportunity-driven marketing) in order to remain competitive.

Originality/value: This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge by demonstrating that entrepreneurial marketing strategies is effective in times of crisis and beyond. It also highlights how resource leveraging, customer-centric innovation, and opportunity-driven marketing are essential for enhancing SMEs' sustainability and how marketing strategies are always evolving.

KeyWords:

Entrepreneurial marketing strategies, resource leveraging, customer-centric innovation, opportunity-driven marketing, business growth

References:

  1. Afwa, A., Anggraini, N., & Sundari, E. (2021). Entrepreneurial marketing: Solutions to rise up in times of crisis. International Journal of Social Science Research and Review, 4(5), 6–11.
  2. Ahmad, S. (2025). The role of external environment in the business outcomes of Malaysia’s micro-entrepreneurs: A conceptual paper. Journal of Advanced Research in Marketing and Management, 1(1), 23–31.
  3. Alshagawi, M., & Mabkhot, H. (2024). The impact of strategic entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial marketing, entrepreneurship values on small and medium enterprises’ performance: Evidence from Saudi Arabia. Cogent Business & Management, 11(1), 1–20.
  4. Amadasun, O. E. D., & Mutezo, A. T. (2025). Effect of entrepreneurial marketing on SMEs’ competitive performance in Lesotho. The Southern African Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management, 17(1), 1–12.
  5. Balubaid, M. (2025). Systematic literature review: Exploring the influence of innovation on competitive advantage in entrepreneurial ventures. Journal of Business and Environmental Sciences, 4(2), 165–191. 
  6. Becha, H., Kalai, M., Houidi, S., & Helali, K. (2025). Digital financial inclusion, environmental sustainability and regional economic growth in China: Insights from a panel threshold model. Journal of Economic Structures, 14(1), 4. 
  7. Bruce, H. L., Rooney, T., & Krolikowska, E. (2023). Women microbusiness owners’ entrepreneurial marketing decision-making during a crisis. Journal of Marketing Management, 39(17–18), 1800–1832. 
  8. Crick, J. M., Hamzah, M. I., & Crick, D. (2024). Managing an entrepreneurial marketing orientation in turbulent competitive business environments. Journal of Strategic Marketing, 1–15. 
  9. Csákné-Filep, J., Timár, G., & Szennay, Á. (2025). Analysing the impact of entrepreneurship education on early-stage entrepreneurship—Focusing on the transitional countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Administrative Sciences, 15(36), 1–13. 
  10. Cucino, V., Ferrigno, G., Crick, J., & Piccaluga, A. (2023). Identifying entrepreneurial opportunities during crises: A qualitative study of Italian firms. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 31(8), 47–76. 
  11. Dzogbenuku, R. K., & Keelson, S. A. (2019). Marketing and entrepreneurial success in emerging markets: The nexus. Asia Pacific Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 13(2), 168–187. 
  12. Eggers, F., Seifert, R., & Friske, W. M. (2025). Entrepreneurial marketing, technology, and transformative change: Editorial and introduction to the special issue. Journal of Research in Marketing and Entrepreneurship, 27(2), 201–205. 
  13. Etim, G. S., James, E. E., Arikpo, N. N., & Victor, O. (2021). E-marketing strategies and performance of small and medium-sized enterprises: A new-normal agenda. Journal of Business and Management Studies, 3(2), 162–172. 
  14. Foris, T., Tecău, A. S., Dragomir, C. C., & Foris, D. (2022). The start-up manager in times of crisis: Challenges and solutions for increasing the resilience of companies and sustainable reconstruction. Sustainability, 14(9140), 1–20. 
  15. Hadiyati, E., & Hendrasto, F. (2021). Entrepreneurial marketing strategy of micro, small and medium enterprises in pandemic Covid-19 era. International Journal of Economics and Business Administration, 9(2), 178–191.
  16. Hasanah, Y. N., Anggraeni, O., Suwali, Kusnaman, D., Hasibuan, R. R., & Efendi, B. (2025). Entrepreneurial marketing and marketing performance in Gen Z entrepreneurs: Exploring the mediating pathways to entrepreneurial resilience. Journal of Ecohumanism, 4(1), 3583–3602. 
  17. Jha, A. (2023). Marketing in a crisis: Strategies for resilience and growth. Journal of Marketing & Supply Chain Management, 2(3), 1–3. https://doi.org/10.47363/JMSCM/2023(2)124
  18. Jones, R., Morrish, S. C., Heyworth-Thomas, E. M., & Graham, E. (2023). Post-pandemic marketing: Use of business crisis recovery frameworks to enhance entrepreneurial marketing education. Journal of Marketing Education, 45(3), 211–225. 
  19. Kant, S., Dejene, F., & Garuma, G. (2023). Is marketing strategies and business sustainability are mediated through entrepreneurial innovation in Ethiopia? Journal of Social Sciences and Management Studies, 2(2), 13–22. 
  20. Krishnan, C. S. N., Ganesh, L. S., & Rajendran, C. (2022). Entrepreneurial interventions for crisis management: Lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic’s impact on entrepreneurial ventures. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 72, 102830. 
  21. Lee, Y., Kim, J., Mah, S., & Karr, A. (2024). Entrepreneurship in times of crisis: A comprehensive review with future directions. Entrepreneurship Research Journal, 14(3), 905–950. 
  22. Mashingaidze, M., Phiri, M. A., & Chinakidzwa, M. (2024). Entrepreneurial marketing and market performance implications for small-scale retailers: Organizational behavior in a developing economy. Corporate Governance and Organizational Behavior Review, 8(2, Suppl. 1), 366–376. 
  23. Odeyemi, O., Oyewole, A. T., Adeoye, O. B., Ofodile, O. C., Addy, W. A., Okoye, C. C., & Ololade, Y. J. (2024). Entrepreneurship in Africa: A review of growth and challenges. International Journal of Management & Entrepreneurship Research, 6(3), 608–622. 
  24. Rubio-Andrés, M., Linuesa-Langreo, J., Gutiérrez-Broncano, S., & Sastre-Castillo, M. Á. (2024). How to improve market performance through competitive strategy and innovation in entrepreneurial SMEs. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 20, 1677–1706. 
  25. Sari, D., Kusuma, B. A., Sihotang, J., & Febrianti, T. (2023). The role of entrepreneurial marketing and innovation capability in the performance of SMEs during Covid-19 pandemic: Evidence of MSMEs in West Java. Cogent Business & Management, 10(1), 1–11. 
  26. Tolossa, A. T., Singh, M., & Gautam, R. K. (2024). Unveiling the nexus: The crucial role of competitive advantage in bridging entrepreneurial marketing practices and sustainable firm performance in small and medium enterprises. Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 13(1), 1–24. 
  27. Waluyohadi, Tristiyono, B., Ustazah, E. N., Hasti, F. A., & Lopatka, A. (2023). Entrepreneurship determinants: A literature review. In Proceedings of the 27th International Conference on Knowledge-Based and Intelligent Information & Engineering Systems (KES 2023) (Vol. 225, pp. 4167–4176). Elsevier. 
  28. Wang, Y., Hong, A., Li, X., & Gao, J. (2020). Marketing innovations during a global crisis: A study of China firms’ response to COVID-19. Journal of Business Research, 116, 214–220. 
  29. Zahara, Z., Ikhsan, S., Santi, I. N., & Farid. (2023). Entrepreneurial marketing and marketing performance through digital marketing capabilities of SMEs in post-pandemic recovery. Cogent Business & Management, 10(2), 1–18.