IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/jbrese/v158y2023ics0148296323000668.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Micro, macro and mega-influencers on instagram: The power of persuasion via the parasocial relationship

Author

Listed:
  • Conde, Rita
  • Casais, Beatriz

Abstract

This study analyzes the effect of the parasocial relationship on the audience’s intention to adopt the recommendations of micro, macro and mega-influencers, considering the number of followers, perceived popularity and opinion leadership. A sample of 140 Portuguese social media influencers (SMIs) was classified into micro, macro or mega-influencers. 577 valid responses to a questionnaire were analyzed using Andrew Hayes’ macro PROCESS for SPSS. The findings suggest that the indirect effect between the number of followers and the intention to adopt SMIs’ recommendations is mediated by the perceived popularity and opinion leadership, and are moderated by the parasocial relationship. Significant differences are found between micro, macro and mega-influencers in terms of credibility, attractiveness and established relationship. The categorization into micro, macro and mega-influencers is adapted to the context of a small country. This paper provides relevant information on the process of SMI selection.

Suggested Citation

  • Conde, Rita & Casais, Beatriz, 2023. "Micro, macro and mega-influencers on instagram: The power of persuasion via the parasocial relationship," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:158:y:2023:i:c:s0148296323000668
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2023.113708
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0148296323000668
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.jbusres.2023.113708?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Audrezet, Alice & de Kerviler, Gwarlann & Guidry Moulard, Julie, 2020. "Authenticity under threat: When social media influencers need to go beyond self-presentation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 557-569.
    2. Ladhari, Riadh & Massa, Elodie & Skandrani, Hamida, 2020. "YouTube vloggers’ popularity and influence: The roles of homophily, emotional attachment, and expertise," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    3. Sokolova, Karina & Kefi, Hajer, 2020. "Instagram and YouTube bloggers promote it, why should I buy? How credibility and parasocial interaction influence purchase intentions," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    4. Magno, Francesca, 2017. "The influence of cultural blogs on their readers’ cultural product choices," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 37(3), pages 142-149.
    5. Hu, Lixia & Min, Qingfei & Han, Shengnan & Liu, Zhiyong, 2020. "Understanding followers’ stickiness to digital influencers: The effect of psychological responses," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    6. Sheikhahmadi, Amir & Nematbakhsh, Mohammad Ali & Zareie, Ahmad, 2017. "Identification of influential users by neighbors in online social networks," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 486(C), pages 517-534.
    7. Teresa Borges-Tiago, Maria & Santiago, Joanna & Tiago, Flavio, 2023. "Mega or macro social media influencers: Who endorses brands better?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    8. Belanche, Daniel & Casaló, Luis V. & Flavián, Marta & Ibáñez-Sánchez, Sergio, 2021. "Understanding influencer marketing: The role of congruence between influencers, products and consumers," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 186-195.
    9. Uzunoğlu, Ebru & Misci Kip, Sema, 2014. "Brand communication through digital influencers: Leveraging blogger engagement," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 34(5), pages 592-602.
    10. Kim, Do Yuon & Kim, Hye-Young, 2021. "Influencer advertising on social media: The multiple inference model on influencer-product congruence and sponsorship disclosure," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 405-415.
    11. Uribe, Rodrigo & Buzeta, Cristian & Velásquez, Milenka, 2016. "Sidedness, commercial intent and expertise in blog advertising," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(10), pages 4403-4410.
    12. Campbell, Colin & Farrell, Justine Rapp, 2020. "More than meets the eye: The functional components underlying influencer marketing," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 63(4), pages 469-479.
    13. Xinshu Zhao & John G. Lynch & Qimei Chen, 2010. "Reconsidering Baron and Kenny: Myths and Truths about Mediation Analysis," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 37(2), pages 197-206, August.
    14. Sakib, MD Nazmus & Zolfagharian, Mohammadali & Yazdanparast, Atefeh, 2020. "Does parasocial interaction with weight loss vloggers affect compliance? The role of vlogger characteristics, consumer readiness, and health consciousness," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Hsieh, Jung-Kuei, 2023. "The impact of influencers' multi-SNS use on followers’ behavioral intentions: An integration of cue consistency theory and social identity theory," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    2. Osorio, Maria Lucila & Centeno, Edgar & Cambra-Fierro, Jesus, 2023. "An empirical examination of human brand authenticity as a driver of brand love," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ren, Shengnan & Karimi, Sahar & Bravo Velázquez, Alberto & Cai, Jianfeng, 2023. "Endorsement effectiveness of different social media influencers: The moderating effect of brand competence and warmth," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    2. Mukta Garg & Apurva Bakshi, 2024. "Exploring the impact of beauty vloggers’ credible attributes, parasocial interaction, and trust on consumer purchase intention in influencer marketing," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-14, December.
    3. Bu, Yi & Parkinson, Joy & Thaichon, Park, 2022. "Influencer marketing: Homophily, customer value co-creation behaviour and purchase intention," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    4. Cheung, Man Lai & Leung, Wilson K.S. & Aw, Eugene Cheng-Xi & Koay, Kian Yeik, 2022. "“I follow what you post!†: The role of social media influencers’ content characteristics in consumers' online brand-related activities (COBRAs)," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    5. Li Chen & Yajie Yan & Andrew N. Smith, 2023. "What drives digital engagement with sponsored videos? An investigation of video influencers’ authenticity management strategies," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 51(1), pages 198-221, January.
    6. Barta, Sergio & Belanche, Daniel & Fernández, Ana & Flavián, Marta, 2023. "Influencer marketing on TikTok: The effectiveness of humor and followers’ hedonic experience," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    7. Robert Zniva & Wolfgang J. Weitzl & Christina Lindmoser, 2023. "Be constantly different! How to manage influencer authenticity," Electronic Commerce Research, Springer, vol. 23(3), pages 1485-1514, September.
    8. Wong, Amy & Wei, Joicey, 2023. "Persuasive cues and reciprocal behaviors in influencer-follower relationships: The mediating role of influencer defense," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    9. Filieri, Raffaele & Acikgoz, Fulya & Du, Hao, 2023. "Electronic word-of-mouth from video bloggers: The role of content quality and source homophily across hedonic and utilitarian products," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    10. Aw, Eugene Cheng-Xi & Chuah, Stephanie Hui-Wen, 2021. "“Stop the unattainable ideal for an ordinary me!” fostering parasocial relationships with social media influencers: The role of self-discrepancy," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 146-157.
    11. Thi Cam Tu Dinh & Mengqi Wang & Yoonjae Lee, 2023. "How Does the Fear of Missing Out Moderate the Effect of Social Media Influencers on Their Followers’ Purchase Intention?," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(3), pages 21582440231, September.
    12. Venciute, Dominyka & Mackeviciene, Ieva & Kuslys, Marius & Correia, Ricardo Fontes, 2023. "The role of influencer–follower congruence in the relationship between influencer marketing and purchase behaviour," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    13. (Chloe) Ki, Chung-Wha & Park, Sangsoo & Kim, Youn-Kyung, 2022. "Investigating the mechanism through which consumers are “inspired by” social media influencers and “inspired to” adopt influencers’ exemplars as social defaults," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 264-277.
    14. Zofia Saternus & Patrick Weber & Oliver Hinz, 2022. "The effects of advertisement disclosure on heavy and light Instagram users," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 32(3), pages 1351-1372, September.
    15. Xu, Zhen & Islam, Tahir & Liang, Xiaobei & Akhtar, Naeem & Shahzad, Mohsin, 2021. "‘I'm like you, and I like what you like’ sustainable food purchase influenced by vloggers: A moderated serial-mediation model," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    16. Zhang, Peilin & Chao, Chih-Wei (Fred) & Chiong, Raymond & Hasan, Najmul & Aljaroodi, Hussain M. & Tian, Feng, 2023. "Effects of in-store live stream on consumers’ offline purchase intention," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    17. Kim, Minseong, 2022. "How can I Be as attractive as a Fitness YouTuber in the era of COVID-19? The impact of digital attributes on flow experience, satisfaction, and behavioral intention," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    18. Syed Asim Shah & Muhammad Haroon Shoukat & Waseef Jamal & Muhammad Shakil Ahmad, 2023. "What Drives Followers-Influencer Intention in Influencer Marketing? The Perspectives of Emotional Attachment and Quality of Information," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(2), pages 21582440231, June.
    19. Masuda, Hisashi & Han, Spring H. & Lee, Jungwoo, 2022. "Impacts of influencer attributes on purchase intentions in social media influencer marketing: Mediating roles of characterizations," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    20. Belanche, Daniel & Casaló, Luis V. & Flavián, Marta & Ibáñez-Sánchez, Sergio, 2021. "Building influencers' credibility on Instagram: Effects on followers’ attitudes and behavioral responses toward the influencer," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:158:y:2023:i:c:s0148296323000668. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jbusres .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.