THE FUTURE OF SOCIAL PROOF: TRENDS AND INNOVATIONS SHAPING THE FUTURE OF SOCIAL PROOF IN DIGITAL MARKETING

Authors

  • Li Jiaying City Graduate School, City University Malaysia, Malaysia
  • Masri Abdul Lasi City Graduate School, City University Malaysia, Malaysia

Keywords:

: social proof, digital marketing, user-generated content, social media influencers, social listening

Abstract

Abstract: Social proof is a critical component of digital marketing that has taken on new forms in today's digital age, including user-generated content and social media influencers. This study explores the latest trends and innovations in social proof and their impact on consumer behavior, particularly in the context of Malaysia. Through a thorough review of the literature on social proof and digital marketing, this study provides insights into the most effective strategies for building trust and engagement with customers. The study found that user-generated content, social media influencers, and social listening are among the most effective strategies for building trust and engagement with customers in Malaysia. Authenticity and transparency are crucial for building long-term relationships with customers. The study concludes by discussing the practical implications of these findings for businesses in Malaysia and beyond, including the need to develop a comprehensive social media marketing strategy that aligns with their overall marketing goals and objectives. This study contributes to the literature on social proof and digital marketing and provides valuable insights for businesses looking to enhance their digital marketing efforts.

References

Araujo, T., Finney, R. Z. & Vida, I. 2017. Emotional experiences, motivations and network properties in viral marketing. Journal of Business Research 77: 1-11.

Cao, L. & Li, X. 2015. The effects of social media on firms' online performance. Journal of Management Information Systems 32(1): 187-218.

Chen, Y., Fay, S. & Wang, Q. 2011. The role of marketing in social media: How online consumer reviews evolve. Journal of Interactive Marketing 25(2): 85-94.

Goldsmith, R. E. & Horowitz, D. 2006. Measuring motivations for online opinion seeking. Journal of Interactive Advertising 6(2): 1-16.

Hennig-Thurau, T., Malthouse, E. C., Friege, C., Gensler, S., Lobschat, L., Rangaswamy, A. & Skiera, B. 2010. The impact of new media on customer relationships. Journal of Service Research 13(3): 311-330.

Hutter, K., Hautz, J., Dennhardt, S. & Füller, J. 2013. The impact of user interactions in social media on brand awareness and purchase intention: The case of MINI on Facebook. Journal of Product & Brand Management 22(5/6): 342-351.

Kaplan, A. M. & Haenlein, M. 2012. Social media: Back to the roots and back to the future. Journal of Systems and Information Technology 14(2): 101-104.

Kozinets, R. V., de Valck, K., Wojnicki, A. C. & Wilner, S. J. S. 2010. Networked narratives: Understanding word-of-mouth marketing in online communities. Journal of Marketing 74(2): 71-89.

Lee, H. J., Kim, J. K. & Park, S. Y. 2018. Social media for public health: An exploratory investigation among Korean adults. Journal of Health Communication 23(5): 425-432.

Lin, K. Y. & Lu, H. P. 2011. Why people use social networking sites: An empirical study integrating network externalities and motivation theory. Computers in Human Behavior, 27(3): 1152-1161.

Luo, M. M. & Li, X. R. 2019. Corporate social responsibility communication on social media: An empirical study of Fortune 500 corporations. Public Relations Review 45(1): 118-128.

Muniz, A. M. & Schau, H. J. 2011. How to inspire value-laden collaborative consumer-generated content. Business Horizons 54(3): 209-217.

Nguyen, T. H., Li, Y. & Li, S. 2019. The impact of social media influencers on purchase intention and the mediation effect of customer attitude. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services 51: 246-253.

Pereira, R. & Tafur, J. 2017. An exploratory study of social media marketing and firm performance. Journal of Promotion Management 23(1): 1-19.

Rizwan, M., Raza, S. A. & Zaheer, A. 2019. Impact of social media marketing on consumer buying behavior in Pakistan: Evidence from Facebook. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services 51: 52-61.

Shih, H. P. 2013. Effects of social media on hotel industry. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology 4(3): 217-230.

Voorveld, H. A., van Noort, G., Muntinga, D. G. & Bronner, F. 2018. Engagement with social media and social media advertising: The differentiating role of platform type. Journal of Advertising 47(1): 38-54.

Wirtz, J. & Chew, P. 2002. The effects of incentives, deal proneness, satisfaction and tie strength on word-of-mouth behaviour. International Journal of Service Industry Management 13(2): 141-162.

Xiang, Z., Du, Q., Ma, Y. & Fan, W. 2017. A comparative analysis of major online review platforms: Implications for social media analytics in hospitality and tourism. Tourism Management 58: 51-65.

Zhang, X. & Mao, E. 2018. Social media marketing: Definition, history and scholarship. Journal of Business Research 86: 95-101.

Zhang, X., Zhao, L. & Zhao, Y. 2019. Examining the relationship between social media usage and emotional exhaustion. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology 10(1): 55-67.

Zhao, X., Lynch Jr, J. G. & Chen, Q. 2010. Reconsidering Baron and Kenny: Myths and truths about mediation analysis. Journal of Consumer Research 37(2): 197-206.

Zhou, Y., Ye, Q. & Yuan, S. 2019. The influence of social media on consumer behavior: An empirical study on factors influencing consumer purchase intention in China under the social media context. Journal of Customer Behaviour 18(3): 211-234.

Zhu, F. & Zhang, X. 2010. Impact of online consumer reviews on sales: The moderating role of product and consumer characteristics. Journal of Marketing 74(2): 133-148

Downloads

Published

2023-12-20