The mediating effect of brand image on the relationships between social media advertising content, sales promotion content and behaviuoral intention

Document Type

Article

Source of Publication

Journal of Research in Interactive Marketing

Publication Date

8-12-2019

Abstract

© 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited. Purpose: This study aims to answer an important question of how brand-related communications, including advertising and sales promotion contents, which are disseminated on social media platforms, can enhance positive brand image and evoke favourable behavioural intention from consumers. Design/methodology/approach: This study surveys 615 consumers of automotive brands across Malaysia. The data were analysed with AMOS, which was used to specify both the measurement and structural models. The mediating effect of both hedonic and functional brand images was tested using the bootstrapping approach in AMOS and Sobel test. Findings: The findings reported in this research demonstrate that there are positive and significant relationships between social media advertising content, social media sales promotion content, hedonic brand image, functional brand image and behavioural intention. Both hedonic and functional brand images have significant mediating effects on social media advertising content, social media sales promotion content and behavioural intention. However, the relationship between social media advertising content and behavioural intention is insignificant. Practical implications: This paper proffers insights to brand managers and marketers on how to leverage on social media contents by unearthing the roles of traditional marketing communications such as social media advertising and promotional information in enhancing brand preference and improving consumers’ purchase intention. Originality/value: This research advances the discussions in the realm of social media communications and branding by examining the mediating effects of both hedonic and functional brand images of automotive brands. In addition, this study focuses on two essential marketing communications, advertising and sales promotions, which are commonly disseminated by brand managers on social media platforms.

ISSN

2040-7122

Publisher

Emerald Group Publishing Ltd.

Volume

13

Issue

3

First Page

302

Last Page

330

Disciplines

Business | Social and Behavioral Sciences

Keywords

Advertising content, Brand management, Marketing communication, Sales promotion, Social media advertising

Scopus ID

85071546661

Indexed in Scopus

yes

Open Access

no

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