IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/pal/jobman/v26y2019i2d10.1057_s41262-018-0118-0.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Turning brand credibility into positive word-of-mouth: integrating the signaling and social identity perspectives

Author

Listed:
  • Jake An

    (UNSW Sydney)

  • Diem Khac Xuan Do

    (Open University)

  • Liem Viet Ngo

    (UNSW Sydney)

  • Tran Ha Minh Quan

    (University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City)

Abstract

Drawing upon signaling theory and social identity theory, we developed a theoretical model that illuminates the role of brand credibility as an important basis on which customers form and signal their brand-related self and social identities via positive word-of-mouth (WOM). The proposed model was empirically tested using time-lagged data from a sample of 249 students of a top university in a metropolitan city. The findings show that the credibility of a brand is of paramount importance for the customer in developing a sense of oneness with the brand as well as a sense of affinity with other users of the brand. Our study also offers the new insight that brands serve as symbolic devices that customers use in their evolving thought processes that create a link between personal identity and social identity. In addition, brand–social connection is essential in spreading positive WOM. Finally, our findings support a sequential mediation model in which brand credibility is positively related to brand–self connection and brand–social connection, which in turn are positively associated with positive WOM.

Suggested Citation

  • Jake An & Diem Khac Xuan Do & Liem Viet Ngo & Tran Ha Minh Quan, 2019. "Turning brand credibility into positive word-of-mouth: integrating the signaling and social identity perspectives," Journal of Brand Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 26(2), pages 157-175, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:jobman:v:26:y:2019:i:2:d:10.1057_s41262-018-0118-0
    DOI: 10.1057/s41262-018-0118-0
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1057/s41262-018-0118-0
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1057/s41262-018-0118-0?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. Roger Bennett & Rehnuma Ali-Choudhury, 2009. "Prospective Students' Perceptions of University Brands: An Empirical Study," Journal of Marketing for Higher Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(1), pages 85-107, May.
    2. Stokburger-Sauer, Nicola & Ratneshwar, S. & Sen, Sankar, 2012. "Drivers of consumer–brand identification," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 29(4), pages 406-418.
    3. Jennifer Edson Escalas & James R. Bettman, 2005. "Self-Construal, Reference Groups, and Brand Meaning," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 32(3), pages 378-389, December.
    4. Armstrong, J. Scott & Overton, Terry S., 1977. "Estimating Nonresponse Bias in Mail Surveys," MPRA Paper 81694, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Nabil Ghantous, 2016. "The Impact of Services Brand Personality on Consumer–Brand Relationship Quality," Post-Print hal-01823108, HAL.
    6. Darby, Michael R & Karni, Edi, 1973. "Free Competition and the Optimal Amount of Fraud," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 16(1), pages 67-88, April.
    7. John Hulland, 1999. "Use of partial least squares (PLS) in strategic management research: a review of four recent studies," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 20(2), pages 195-204, February.
    8. Bastian Popp & Herbert Woratschek, 2017. "Consumer–brand identification revisited: An integrative framework of brand identification, customer satisfaction, and price image and their role for brand loyalty and word of mouth," Journal of Brand Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 24(3), pages 250-270, May.
    9. Schouten, John W & McAlexander, James H, 1995. "Subcultures of Consumptions: An Ethnography of the New Bikers," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 22(1), pages 43-61, June.
    10. Cindy Chung & Peter Darke, 2006. "The consumer as advocate: Self-relevance, culture, and word-of-mouth," Marketing Letters, Springer, vol. 17(4), pages 269-279, December.
    11. Birger Wernerfelt, 1988. "Umbrella Branding as a Signal of New Product Quality: An Example of Signalling by Posting a Bond," RAND Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 19(3), pages 458-466, Autumn.
    12. de Chernatony, Leslie & Dall'Olmo Riley, Francesca, 1999. "Experts' Views About Defining Services Brands and the Principles of Services Branding," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 46(2), pages 181-192, October.
    13. Torres, Pedro & Augusto, Mário & Godinho, Pedro, 2017. "Predicting high consumer-brand identification and high repurchase: Necessary and sufficient conditions," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 52-65.
    14. Da-Chang Pai & Chi-Shiun Lai & Chih-Jen Chiu & Chin-Fang Yang, 2015. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Brand Advocacy in Business-to-Business Market: The Mediated Moderating Effect of Attribution," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 126(4), pages 685-696, February.
    15. Thorsten Gruber & Alexander Reppel & Roediger Voss, 2010. "Understanding the characteristics of effective professors: the student's perspective," Journal of Marketing for Higher Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(2), pages 175-190, December.
    16. Nabil Ghantous, 2015. "Re-examining encounter intensity's conceptualisation, measurement and role," The Service Industries Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 35(5), pages 237-254, March.
    17. Sweeney, Jill & Swait, Joffre, 2008. "The effects of brand credibility on customer loyalty," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 15(3), pages 179-193.
    18. Arnold, Mark J. & Reynolds, Kristy E. & Ponder, Nicole & Lueg, Jason E., 2005. "Customer delight in a retail context: investigating delightful and terrible shopping experiences," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 58(8), pages 1132-1145, August.
    19. Sarah G. Moore, 2015. "Attitude Predictability and Helpfulness in Online Reviews: The Role of Explained Actions and Reactions," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 42(1), pages 30-44.
    20. Boulding, William & Kirmani, Amna, 1993. "A Consumer-Side Experimental Examination of Signaling Theory: Do Consumers Perceive Warranties as Signals of Quality?," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 20(1), pages 111-123, June.
    21. Naresh K. Malhotra & Sung S. Kim & Ashutosh Patil, 2006. "Common Method Variance in IS Research: A Comparison of Alternative Approaches and a Reanalysis of Past Research," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 52(12), pages 1865-1883, December.
    22. Lan Nguyen Chaplin & Deborah Roedder John, 2005. "The Development of Self-Brand Connections in Children and Adolescents," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 32(1), pages 119-129, June.
    23. Nabil Ghantous, 2015. "Re-examining encounter intensity's conceptualisation, measurement and role," Post-Print hal-01823106, HAL.
    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. Shaun M. Powell, 2019. "Journal of Brand Management: year end review 2019," Journal of Brand Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 26(6), pages 615-620, November.
    2. Park, Jungkun & Hyun, Hyowon & Thavisay, Toulany, 2021. "A study of antecedents and outcomes of social media WOM towards luxury brand purchase intention," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).
    3. Can, Ali Selcuk & Ekinci, Yuksel & Pino, Giovanni, 2021. "Joint brand advertising for emerging heritage sites," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    4. Paula Rodríguez–Torrico & Sonia San-Martín & Rebeca San José Cabezudo, 2022. "¿Conectamos? El marketing relacional en la era del mix de canales," DOCFRADIS Working Papers 2204, Catedra Fundación Ramón Areces de Distribución Comercial, revised Jul 2022.
    5. Ching-Fu Chen & Hsiao-Han Lu, 2024. "Transforming a social media influencer’s influential power to followers’ word of mouth and purchase intention: the role of brand attachment, brand credibility, and parasocial relationship," Journal of Brand Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 31(4), pages 415-429, July.
    6. Kumar, Vikas & Kaushal, Vikrant, 2021. "Perceived brand authenticity and social exclusion as drivers of psychological brand ownership," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    7. Dash, Raj & Bhattacharjee, Biplab, 2024. "Consumer uptake of energy-efficient appliances in India's online marketplace: An electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) process model," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 88(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. Kawai, Norifumi & Chung, Chul, 2019. "Expatriate utilization, subsidiary knowledge creation and performance: The moderating role of subsidiary strategic context," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 54(1), pages 24-36.
    2. Büyükdağ, Naci & Kitapci, Olgun, 2021. "Antecedents of consumer-brand identification in terms of belonging brands," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    3. Reed, Americus & Forehand, Mark R. & Puntoni, Stefano & Warlop, Luk, 2012. "Identity-based consumer behavior," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 29(4), pages 310-321.
    4. Leckie, Civilai & Dwivedi, Abhishek & Johnson, Lester W., 2023. "Credibility and price premium-based competitiveness for industrial brands," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    5. Xin Xu & James Y. L. Thong & Viswanath Venkatesh, 2014. "Effects of ICT Service Innovation and Complementary Strategies on Brand Equity and Customer Loyalty in a Consumer Technology Market," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 25(4), pages 710-729, December.
    6. Sweeney, Jill & Swait, Joffre, 2008. "The effects of brand credibility on customer loyalty," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 15(3), pages 179-193.
    7. Michaela Merk & Géraldine Michel, 2019. "The dark side of salesperson brand identification in the luxury sector: When brand orientation generates management issues and negative customer perception," Post-Print hal-02045833, HAL.
    8. Bernd F. Reitsamer & Alexandra Brunner-Sperdin, 2021. "It’s all about the brand: place brand credibility, place attachment, and consumer loyalty," Journal of Brand Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 28(3), pages 291-301, May.
    9. Zhang, Man & Hartley, Janet L., 2018. "Guanxi, IT systems, and innovation capability: The moderating role of proactiveness," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 75-86.
    10. Hollenbeck, Candice R. & Patrick, Vanessa M., 2016. "Mastering survivorship: How brands facilitate the transformation to heroic survivor," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(1), pages 73-82.
    11. Augusto, Mário & Godinho, Pedro & Torres, Pedro, 2019. "Building customers’ resilience to negative information in the airline industry," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 235-248.
    12. María Leticia Santos-Vijande & José Ángel López-Sánchez & John Rudd, 2016. "Frontline employees’ collaboration in industrial service innovation: routes of co-creation’s effects on new service performance," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 44(3), pages 350-375, May.
    13. Nguyen Phong Nguyen & Samuel Adomako, 2022. "Stakeholder pressure for eco‐friendly practices, international orientation, and eco‐innovation: A study of small and medium‐sized enterprises in Vietnam," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(1), pages 79-88, January.
    14. Ilenia Confente & Wioleta Kucharska, 2021. "Company versus consumer performance: does brand community identification foster brand loyalty and the consumer’s personal brand?," Journal of Brand Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 28(1), pages 8-31, January.
    15. Alghamdi, OmarA. & Agag, Gomaa, 2024. "Competitive advantage: A longitudinal analysis of the roles of data-driven innovation capabilities, marketing agility, and market turbulence," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    16. Norifumi Kawai & Roger Strange & Antonella Zucchella, 2016. "Stakeholder Pressures, EMS Implementation, and Green Innovation in MNC Overseas Subsidiaries," DEM Working Papers Series 121, University of Pavia, Department of Economics and Management.
    17. Merk, Michaela & Michel, Géraldine, 2019. "The dark side of salesperson brand identification in the luxury sector: When brand orientation generates management issues and negative customer perception," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 339-352.
    18. Amoako-Gyampah, Kwasi & Boakye, Kwabena Gyasi & Adaku, Ebenezer & Famiyeh, Samuel, 2019. "Supplier relationship management and firm performance in developing economies: A moderated mediation analysis of flexibility capability and ownership structure," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 208(C), pages 160-170.
    19. Kumar, Jitender & Nayak, Jogendra Kumar, 2018. "Brand community relationships transitioning into brand relationships: Mediating and moderating mechanisms," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 64-73.
    20. Kumar, Jitender & Kumar, Vikas, 2020. "Drivers of brand community engagement," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 54(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:pal:jobman:v:26:y:2019:i:2:d:10.1057_s41262-018-0118-0. 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: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.palgrave.com .

    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.