Author
M. Nathiya, Dr. E. Karthikeyan, P. Puvanendran
Keywords
Social Media Marketing; Consumer Behavior; Online Shopping; Brand Awareness; Digital Marketing.
Abstract
This study investigates the profound impact of Social Media Marketing (SMM) on consumer buying behavior, with a specific focus on the Namakkal district in India. Utilizing a descriptive research design, primary data was collected from 128 respondents through a structured questionnaire, employing stratified random sampling. The analysis, conducted using percentage analysis, Chi-square tests, and ANOVA, reveals that an overwhelming majority (98.4%) of consumers engage in online shopping, primarily driven by convenience and time savings (55.5%). Key challenges identified include product quality issues (44.5%). The Internet is the dominant medium for consumer engagement, with most users possessing intermediate to advanced proficiency. The study concludes that SMM is not merely an option but a necessity for modern businesses, significantly enhancing brand awareness, loyalty, and purchase intention. It provides strategic insights for marketers to leverage digital platforms effectively, address consumer concerns, and tailor strategies to the evolving digital landscape.
References
[1] D. L. Keller, “Strategic Brand Management: Building, Measuring, and Managing Brand Equity,” 4th ed. Pearson Education, 2013.
[2] P. Kotler and K. L. Keller, “Marketing Management,” 15th ed. Pearson Education, 2016.
[3] S. Bikhchandani, D. Hirshleifer, and I. Welch, “Learning from the Behavior of Others: Conformity, Fads, and Informational Cascades,” Journal of Economic Perspectives, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 151-170, 1998.
[4] M. Ahuja and M. K. Sharma, “An Empirical Study of Consumer Buying Behaviour on the Internet,” Journal of Internet Commerce, vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 37-51, 2003.
[5] M. Shafiqul and A. Rahman, “Impact of Social Media on Consumer Buying Behaviour,” Journal of Research in Social Sciences, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 45-50, 2004.
[6] R. Ramsunder, “The Influence of Online Brands on Consumer Decision Making,” International Journal of E-Business Research, vol. 7, no. 4, pp. 58-70, 2011.
[7] R. Iyengar, C. Van den Bulte, and T. W. Valente, “Opinion Leadership and Social Contagion in New Product Diffusion,” Marketing Science, vol. 30, no. 2, pp. 195-212, 2012.
[8] I. Mir and M. A. Rehman, “Factors Affecting Consumer Behaviour in Online Shopping,” Journal of Management Research, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 1-22, 2012.
[9] A. Dhegiha and A. Alryalat, “The Impact of Knowledge Cascades on Consumer Trust and Brand Image,” Journal of Marketing Communications, vol. 19, no. 5, pp. 321-335, 2013.
[10] J. Scott, The New Rules of Marketing and PR. Wiley, 2017
[2] P. Kotler and K. L. Keller, “Marketing Management,” 15th ed. Pearson Education, 2016.
[3] S. Bikhchandani, D. Hirshleifer, and I. Welch, “Learning from the Behavior of Others: Conformity, Fads, and Informational Cascades,” Journal of Economic Perspectives, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 151-170, 1998.
[4] M. Ahuja and M. K. Sharma, “An Empirical Study of Consumer Buying Behaviour on the Internet,” Journal of Internet Commerce, vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 37-51, 2003.
[5] M. Shafiqul and A. Rahman, “Impact of Social Media on Consumer Buying Behaviour,” Journal of Research in Social Sciences, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 45-50, 2004.
[6] R. Ramsunder, “The Influence of Online Brands on Consumer Decision Making,” International Journal of E-Business Research, vol. 7, no. 4, pp. 58-70, 2011.
[7] R. Iyengar, C. Van den Bulte, and T. W. Valente, “Opinion Leadership and Social Contagion in New Product Diffusion,” Marketing Science, vol. 30, no. 2, pp. 195-212, 2012.
[8] I. Mir and M. A. Rehman, “Factors Affecting Consumer Behaviour in Online Shopping,” Journal of Management Research, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 1-22, 2012.
[9] A. Dhegiha and A. Alryalat, “The Impact of Knowledge Cascades on Consumer Trust and Brand Image,” Journal of Marketing Communications, vol. 19, no. 5, pp. 321-335, 2013.
[10] J. Scott, The New Rules of Marketing and PR. Wiley, 2017
Received : 05 February 2025
Accepted : 17 April 2025
Published : 22 April 2025
DOI: 10.30726/ijmrss/v12.i2.2025.12206