Profiling consumers’ online shopping and following social media influencers behaviors

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51359/2526-7884.2024.261052

Keywords:

Consumer Profiling, Consumer Demographics, Market Segmentation, Social Media Influencer, Decision Tree

Abstract

In order to develop effective digital marketing strategies, this study explores how demographic factors may affect consumers’ online shopping and following social media influencers behaviors.  Market segmentation theory and consumer demographics theory provide the theoretical foundation for this study.  By analyzing survey data collected from 6,034 U.S. adults with decision tree analysis, there are a number of significant findings.  First, educational level, income, and age category are the important predictors for consumers’ buying things online using a desktop or laptop computer behavior.  Second, age category, geographic location (urban, suburban, rural) are the predictors for consumers’ buying things online using a smartphone behavior.  Third, educational level, age, and geographic location are the predictors for consumers’ preferring online shopping over in-store shopping behavior.  Fourth, age category and race-ethnicity are the predictors for following social media influencers behavior.  Fifth, gender and age category are the predictors for purchasing something after seeing an influencer’s posts behavior.  Finally, age category and gender are the predictors for purchase decisions getting impacted by influencers.  The results provide valuable insights about consumer behaviors online, market segmentation, and influencer marketing strategies.

Author Biography

Ming-Yi Wu, Northeastern University

Dr. Ming-Yi Wu is a Graduate Faculty at Master Program in Corporate and Organizational Communication & Master Program in Commerce and Economic Development, Northeastern University.  She is also a Research Consultant/Business Strategist.  She received her Ph.D. degree in organizational communication from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.  She also has a MA degree in marketing and advertising communication and a BA degree in public relations.  She has a variety of research areas, such as consumer behaviors, information and communication technologies (ICTs), gender and communication, organizational and leadership communication, international public relations, e-commerce, and social media marketing.  She has published many articles in academic journals, such as Consumer Behavior Review (CBR), Intercultural Communication Studies (ICS), Journal of Communication Technology (JoCTEC), Journal of Intercultural Communication Research (JICR), Public Relations Quarterly (PRQ), and Public Relations Review (PRR).

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Published

2024-04-30