The Megaphone Effect in Social Media: How Ordinary Consumers Become Style Leaders

McQuarrie Edward F. () and Phillips Barbara J. ()
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McQuarrie Edward F.: Professor of Marketing, Santa Clara University, USA
Phillips Barbara J.: Rawlco Scholar in Advertising, Professor of Marketing, University of Saskatchewan, Canada

NIM Marketing Intelligence Review, 2014, vol. 6, issue 2, 16-20

Abstract: Amassing an audience by blogging is a very recent form of online consumer behavior. Consumers not only seek community as earlier studies show, they also look for taste leadership from certain peers Fashion bloggers take hold of the Internet “megaphone” to broadcast and influence taste within an elaborate social and cultural process. It teaches us some general principles about the ways professional marketing is affected by these “citizen journalists” on social media, and how their behavior is affected by marketers. These megaphone-holding consumers have real power, and their consumer-to-consumer relationships depend upon brands. Brands are increasingly coming to depend upon them as well. Although these bloggers started out as ordinary consumers, they were soon integrated into the professional fashion system and do not oppose it. They therefore pose no threat to professional marketers, but rather offeran alternative marketing opportunity within the complex web of social media.

Keywords: Blog; Consumption; Consumer Culture; Social Brand Engagement; Fashion; Cultural Capital (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:vrs:gfkmir:v:6:y:2014:i:2:p:16-20:n:3

DOI: 10.2478/gfkmir-2014-0092

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