Shivakumar Krishnamurti, Skyline University College, UAE
Ruchi Agarwal, Skyline University College, UAE

The study examines the role of blogs as a source of information to expat consumers of products and services. A pre-designed questionnaire was used to collect the primary data from the respondents (experiences). Data were collected from sixty two respondents residing in and around the Emirates of Sharjah and Dubai of the United Arab Emirates. The collected data was analyzed with the help of statistical tools such as averages, percentages, factor analysis and Students t-test and structural equation model. Objectives of the study are: to know the reasons why expat consumers of products and services are motivated to use blogs as a source of information, to know whether the expat consumers of products and services share their opinions and experiences with other bloggers and to know the respondents’ future intentions towards blogging. The study revealed the following: The majority of respondents have not only the motivation to blog, but also to continue blogging because they use blogs: as a platform to express their thoughts on the views ventilated by fellow bloggers, to make enquiries about products and services in which they are interested, help them to share information on medical issues and are keen to motivate others to blog.

Keywords: Expat consumer, blog, blogging, information, products, services

Suggested citation: Krishnamurti, S. & Agarwal, R. (2013). The role of blogs as expat consumers source of information: an exploratory study. Skyline Business Journal, Volume 9, Issue 1, pp 22-28.

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Krishnamurti, S. & Agarwal, R. (2013). The role of blogs as expat consumers source of information: an exploratory study. Skyline Business Journal, Volume 9, Issue 1, pp 22-28.