Evaluating the influence of social media on brand sacralization

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 424-446 ◽  
Author(s):  
Payel Das ◽  
Santanu Mandal

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to reveal the influence of social media in the development of brand sacralization in young consumers in emerging Asian market. Brand sacralization is the phenomenon where consumers (especially young) become an adherent of brands and consider brands as sacred entities. The paper specifically explores the influence of social media interaction and social media usability on brand sacralization and consequently its influence on online purchase intention (PI) and brand loyalty. Design/methodology/approach Perceptual responses were gathered from 232 undergraduate and postgraduate students (age: 17-27 years) studying in an Indian private university and is subsequently analyzed using structural equation modeling. The young population is chosen as the target sample as they possess majority stake in final product purchase decision nowadays and also contribute as a dominant consumer category in online market places. Findings The researcher found a strong positive influence of social media interaction and social media usability on brand sacralization. Further, brand sacralization is found to have a positive and significant influence on online PI and brand loyalty of young consumers. However, social media interaction does not contribute significantly to usability of social media. The researcher has also found a significant influence of brand loyalty on online PI for these young shoppers. Originality/value The study is the foremost to investigate the influence of social media in developing brand sacralization and its influence on online PI and brand loyalty. Further the study is the first to develop a measurement instrument for brand sacralization. The study is the foremost in developing measures for social media interaction and social media usability.

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mazzini Muda ◽  
Muhammad Iskandar Hamzah

PurposeIn spite of the increasing organic and interactive marketing activities over social media, a general understanding of the source credibility of voluntary user-generated content (UGC) is still limited. In line with the social identity theory, this paper examines the effects of consumers' perceived source credibility of UGC in YouTube videos on their attitudes and behavioral intentions. Additionally, source homophily theory is included to predict the antecedent of source credibility.Design/methodology/approachThree hundred and seventy two Generation Y respondents were interviewed using snowball sampling. Data were analyzed with component-based structural equation modeling technique of partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).FindingsFindings confirmed that perceived source credibility indirectly affects purchase intention (PI) and electronic word-of-mouth via attitude toward UGC. Besides, perceived source credibility mediates the effect of perceived source homophily on attitude toward UGC.Practical implicationsSince today's consumers have begun to trust and rely more on UGC than company-generated content on social media when making purchase decisions, companies may reconsider democratizing certain aspects of their branding strategies. Firms may fine-tune their marketing communication budgets – not only just by sponsoring public figures and celebrities but also by nurturing coproductive engagements with independent content creators who are ordinary consumers. Endowed with their imposing credibility, these micro-influencers and prosumers have high potentials to be uplifted to brand ambassadors.Originality/valueWhile consumers' purchase outcome can be measured easily using metrics and analytics, the roles of source homophily in stages leading up to the purchase is still elusive. Drawing on the rich theoretical basis of source homophily may help researchers to understand not only how credibility and attitude are related to PI but also how this nexus generates positive word of mouth among UGC followers within the social media circles.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alok Tewari ◽  
Smriti Srivastava ◽  
Divya Gangwar ◽  
Vimal Chandra Verma

PurposeThe role of mindfulness in influencing green behaviors has been recognized in literature though it has not been explored sufficiently in the context of organic food. This study makes an attempt to explore the role of mindfulness in influencing young consumers' purchase intention (PI) toward organic food in India.Design/methodology/approachA total of 348 useable responses were collected through an intercept survey at organic food stores using a purposive sampling approach. Data analysis was carried out through structural equation modeling.FindingsMindfulness emerged as a significant predictor of behavioral intention. Further, the specific indirect effects of mindfulness through attitude, perceived behavioral control (PBC), drive for environmental responsibility (DER) and label reference willingness (LRW) were also significant.Originality/valueThis research is one of the initial efforts to link mindfulness with PI for organic food. The results could help the government and marketers tap onto the potential of mindfulness with regard to environment-friendly products and frame appropriate strategies for stimulating the demand for organic food in India


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fathima Z. Saleem ◽  
Matthew A. Hawkins

Purpose Situated between the literature on internal branding and user-generated content, this study aims to demonstrate the effect of employee-generated content (EGC) on consumers’ purchase intentions and positive word of mouth (WOM). Design/methodology/approach The conceptual model was empirically tested using structural equation modeling based on a sample of 442 participants. Findings The findings support a sequential mediation model in which employee-created social media content impacts perceptions of brand citizenship behavior (BCB) and perceptions of expertise, which in turn increases purchase intention and WOM. Practical implications Based on the findings, this research suggests that employee ambassador programs can work to attract employees with an interest in brand-related social media content creation. Facilitating EGC through support, empowerment and reinforcement rather than traditional control mechanisms is recommended. Originality/value This research introduces the concept of EGC and employee content creators while extending the literature on perceived BCB by empirically demonstrating its relationship with perceived expertise and positive consumer behavior outcomes.


2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 387-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Athanasios Poulis ◽  
Ioannis Rizomyliotis ◽  
Kleopatra Konstantoulaki

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate how firm-generated content (FGC) impacts consumer brand awareness, brand loyalty and electronic word of mouth (eWOM), and how this, in turn, influences consumer purchase intention.Design/methodology/approachIn order to test this conceptual framework, statistical analysis was carried out employing structural equation modelling.FindingsThe findings indicate that FGC has a positive impact on brand awareness, brand loyalty, eWOM and purchase intention. Furthermore, the results reveal that a link exists between consumer eWOM behaviour and brand awareness and loyalty. This study also demonstrates that company communication through Facebook and Instagram has a positive effect on consumer purchase intention. Finally, it has been shown that, regarding eWOM and purchase intention, FGC posted on Instagram has a greater impact on its users than that posted on Facebook.Originality/valueConsumer purchase intention is increasingly impacted by the growing use of social media by companies and marketers. This changing environment has opened up new challenges. However, there is still much work to be done in understanding the full effects of FGC communication, and how this influences consumer brand perception and purchase intention.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 431-459
Author(s):  
Ernest Emeka Izogo ◽  
Mercy Mpinganjira

Purpose Although previous research emphasized the importance of inspiration in influencing consumer behavior, there is no categorical response to how social-media inspirational content inspires consumers across cultures. This paper aims to take on this agenda through a vignette experimental study. Design/methodology/approach This paper devised a vignette study involving subjects (n = 370) recruited from Nigeria and South Africa. The structural equation modeling procedure, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and regression analysis aided the examination of the scale psychometrics and hypotheses testing. Findings Among other findings, this study shows that: inspirational content (utilitarian vs hedonic) exerts a positive differential effect on customer inspiration (CI) such that the effect of hedonic content is more pronounced than utilitarian content; collectivistic consumers are inspired more than individualists; CI triggers customer engagement behaviors (CEBs) and purchase intention, and an inspired-to component of CI mediates the effect of inspired-by on CEBs and purchase intention. Research limitations/implications While this study makes significant contributions to knowledge on CI, the focus on firm-generated content limits the scope of this study. Future research should examine the effect of consumer-generated content on CI. Additionally, the likely contextual influence of product type on CI and its triggers in the context of the foote, cone and belding grid creates the room to further interrogate the research model under conditions of high/low involvement products. Originality/value By showing how social-media inspirational content and cultural orientation separately influence and interact to influence CI which consequently triggers CEBs and purchase intention, the findings highlight the psychological mechanisms through which CEBs and purchase intention can be simultaneously triggered.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Massoud Moslehpour ◽  
Alaleh Dadvari ◽  
Wahyudi Nugroho ◽  
Ben-Roy Do

PurposeThe present paper aims to explore the antecedents and consequences of social media marketing (SMM) subsets on consumers’ purchase intentions of Indonesian airline products and services. We propose a research framework to empirically test the influence and interaction of factors, including entertainment (ENT), and interaction (INT) through the effect of trust (TR), and perceived value (PV) as mediators on purchase intention (PI).Design/methodology/approachThe study employs an online survey to collect data. We collect 301 qualified questionnaires and employ structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the proposed model. The research findings enrich our understanding of the mediating role of TR and PV. Trust and perceived value significantly mediate the relationship between SMM factors and PI during initial stages of decision-making toward purchasing airline products and services.FindingsResearch findings provide support for most hypotheses regarding the significant influence of the variables proposed in the model. Furthermore, trust mediates the relationship between two of the SMM factors (INT and ENT) and purchase intention. Notably, perceived value mediates the link between entertainment and purchase intention.Originality/valueThis study successfully offers a model to examine the influence of social media marketing on Indonesian consumers’ purchasing intentions of airline products and services. Social media marketing components progressively impact the fundamentals of purchase intention, creating a new marketing communication style. These changes generate new opportunities and challenges for companies. This study provides a better understanding of how social media factors influence Indonesian consumers’ initial decision to purchase airline products and services.


Kybernetes ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (10) ◽  
pp. 1801-1819 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raed Salah Algharabat

Purpose This research aims to investigate the link between social media marketing (SMM) activities and brand love. It further investigates the mediating impact of self-expressive brands (inner and social) between the relationships of SMM activities and brand love, which in turn impact brand loyalty. Using the context provided by Facebook, the author contributes in three ways to the nascent marketing literature: by linking SMM activates with brand love, by investigating the mediating impact of self-expressive brands between SMM activities and brand love and by investigating the impact of brand love on brand loyalty. Design/methodology/approach Using a sample of 400 followers of Facebook pages, data were collected and analyzed using structural equation modeling. Findings The findings reveal that SMM activities positively affect self-expressive brands (inner and social), which in turn impact brand love. The author also finds that brand love positively affects brand loyalty. The author further finds that self-expressive brand (inner) fully mediates the relationship between SMM activities and brand love, whereas self-expressive brand (social) partially mediates this relationship. Originality/value Previous researchers neither have the chance to link SMM activities with brand love nor to explain its role as an antecedent to self-expressive brand. Therefore, the author contributes to nascent literature by linking and investigating the mediating impact of self-expressive brands between the relationships of SMM activities and brand love which in turn impact brand loyalty.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 803-814
Author(s):  
Sunghee Jun ◽  
Jisu Yi

Purpose This paper aims to present a mechanism that explains how followers become loyal to social media influencers. It suggests influencer interactivity as a unique feature of influencer brands and investigates how it affects influencer authenticity, emotional attachment, and thus brand loyalty. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional survey of 282 social media users was conducted to estimate the conceptual model. Participants were asked to respond to the survey questions based on their perceptions of a specific influencer they follow on social media. The relationships among variables were tested via structural equation modeling. Findings The findings show that influencer interactivity is positively related to influencer authenticity and emotional attachment. Influencer authenticity mediates the effect of interactivity on emotional attachment and directly affects brand trust. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that followers’ emotional attachment to influencer brands increases brand loyalty through brand trust. Originality/value This study is the first to approach influencers as a brand, rather than a brand endorser. Specifically, this study conceptualizes the influencer brand’s interactivity and finds a link between influencer interactivity and the followers’ perception of influencer authenticity. It discusses why influencer interactivity and authenticity play key roles in shaping influencer brand equity. This study contributes to both the human brands and the influencer marketing literature by proposing a model to understand how the brand equity of the influencer brand is formed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 255-272
Author(s):  
Yatish Joshi ◽  
Anugamini Priya Srivastava

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of customer engagement (CE) on green apparel purchase intention (GPI) among young consumers in India. Design/methodology/approach A survey was performed on 460 young consumers. Structural equation modeling was applied to check the extent to which the considered variables predicted green purchase intention. Findings The results determined CE and social influence as key predictors of consumers’ purchase intention toward green apparel products. Study further confirms that CE mediates the association between brand experience (BE) and purchase intention toward green apparels. Research limitations/implications Data were collected from young consumers. Further the impact of only few determinants was studied. Practical implications The study offers deep insights into the role of CE on consumers’ GPI, which may enable managers to plan suitable marketing plans to encourage such intentions. Social implications The outcomes of this study can be used by managers to incorporate CE strategies in their environmental campaigns for promoting green purchasing practices. Such activities may limit the harmful effect of purchasing practices on the nature. Originality/value The current study is a pioneer in examining the role of CE and BE on GPI of consumers in India.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dessy Kurnia Sari ◽  
Suziana Suziana ◽  
Donard Games

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the effects of informativeness, entertainment and credibility of social media on the perceived value of advertising for Muslim millennial parents. It evaluates the impact of these variables on brand awareness and purchase intention. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a mixed-method analysis with two stages. In the first stage, information from social media was collected. The second stage involved an online survey of 210 Muslim millennial parents. Structural equation modeling-partial least squares was used to test the study’s prediction. Findings The results showed that informativeness, entertainment and credibility of the message significantly influence Muslim millennial parents’ perceived value of social media advertising. These aspects also have a significant effect on brand awareness and purchase intention. The parents appreciate entertainment most, followed by the informativeness and credibility of the message. Practical implications This study offers new insights on Muslim millennial parents as a new segment in the market. Social media advertising is the most appropriate strategy for approaching this segment, and therefore, should be given much attention by marketers. The message created needs to be informative, entertaining and credible. It should consider culture, Islamic values and tradition. Originality/value The study contributes to the evaluation of a new trend for Muslim millennials as young parents. The tendency to spend more time using social media as the primary source of information is evaluated. Additionally, this study gives marketers a better understanding of Muslim millennial parents, especially in a collective society.


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