Abstract
This study aimed to investigate whether spending on influencer marketing through social media
platforms has substantially increased in recent years and how this practice affects customers. Through
a proposed "social media influencer value model" accounting for advertising value and source
credibility dynamics, an online survey of social media users who followed at least one influencer
evaluated the impact of follower trust and perceptions of influencer credibility, attractiveness and
similarity on attitudes towards branded influencer content and downstream outcomes like brand
awareness and purchase intentions. The popularity of obtaining news and recommendations through
influencers - defined as ordinary individuals turned online celebrities via niche content creation
around areas like fashion, lifestyle and travel - has surged among young demographics in particular.
Given emerging consumer informational dynamics, understanding how to leverage influencer
marketing has become increasingly important for brands according to the conceptual underpinnings
of this study. By testing pathways from influencer characteristics to audience trust, branded content
resonance and commercial outcomes, the survey aimed to provide enhanced empirical insights into
this phenomenon highlighted as transforming contemporary marketing communications.
Keywords
the reputation of influencers, marketing services, social media.
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