Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Master of Sports Management, Shomal University, Amol, Iran.
2 Assistant professor, University of Art, Tehran, Iran.
3 Ph.D. student in Sports Management, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.
Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate the role of Instagram bloggers in influencing the intention to purchase sports products, with the mediating effect of attitude towards the brand. This research is of a descriptive-correlational nature in terms of both its practical objective and method. The statistical population of the study consisted of all Instagram users who had purchased sports products through this platform. Due to the limited statistical population, the sample was selected through convenience sampling, comprising 221 individuals. The research tools used in this study included a researcher-made questionnaire on the role of Instagram bloggers, the standard intention to purchase questionnaire by Naito and Kim (2006), and the standard attitude towards the brand questionnaire by Crystalis and Cherischo (2013). The face and content validity of the questionnaires were confirmed by 10 marketing and sports management experts, and the reliability of the three questionnaires was reported as 0.85, 0.86, and 0.88 respectively, based on Cronbach's alpha. Descriptive and inferential statistics such as Smirnov-Kolmogorov test, Spearman's correlation coefficient, stepwise regression analysis, and Sobel test were used for data analysis in the SPSS software version 25. The findings of the study indicated that the role of Instagram bloggers significantly influences the intention to purchase sports products. Specifically, there was a positive and significant relationship between the bloggers' expertise and purchase intention by 17%, the bloggers' likable personality and purchase intention by 22%, the trustworthiness of the blogger and purchase intention by 40%, the social attractiveness of the blogger and purchase intention by 57%, and finally, the blogger's personality style and purchase intention by 51%. Therefore, the attention to these factors by sports bloggers can have a positive impact on the minds of sports consumers who follow them. Furthermore, the results showed that the role of Instagram bloggers, with the mediating effect of attitude towards the brand, can significantly affect the intention to purchase sports products. As a result, organizations, companies, and sports producers can utilize popular domestic and international Instagram bloggers, considering the bloggers' characteristics and the public's mindset about them, to promote and sell their sports products for the advancement of their organizational goals.
Keywords
Main Subjects
- Abdul Husseini, M., Roshandel Arbatani, T., & Vahid Aghili, S. (2019). Designing metrics to measure the effectiveness of ads on the Instagram social network. Socio-Cultural Strategy, 8(2), 147-171. (In Persian)
- Abdullah, S., & Jafari, A. (2018). The role of Instagram and telegram on shopping behavior and brand interactions (Case study: Citizens of Ardabil). Paper presented at the 2nd National Conference on New Research in Management and Law, Kazerun. (In Persian)
- Afkar, A., Tajari, F., & Zarei, A. (2018). Testing the structural model of the intention to buy sports consumers based on the value-attitude-behavior hierarchy. New Approaches in Sports Management, 6(20), 50-39. (In Persian)
- Aji, P., Nadhila, V., & Sanny, L. (2020). Effect of social media marketing on Instagram towards purchase intention: Evidence from Indonesia’s ready-to-drink tea industry. International Journal of Data and Network Science, 4(2), 91-104.
- Arora, A., Bansal, S., Kandpal, C., Aswani, R., & Dwivedi, Y. (2019). Measuring social media influencer index-insights from Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 49, 86-101.
- Arrigo, E. (2018). Social media marketing in luxury brands: A systematic literature review and implications for management research. Management Research Review, 41(6), 657-679.
- Askeroğlu, E. D. (2017). A study on the effects of digital life and instagram celebrities on life styles of youth as a popular cultural element. In International Conference on Marketing and Business Development Journal, (1(1), 214-220), The Bucharest University of Economic Studies.
- Atieh Kar, Gh., Meshbaki, A., & Naami, A. (2016). Factors affecting pleasure shopping through Instagram. Modern Marketing Research, 6(2), 1-18. (In Persian)
- Azadfada, S., Droudian, A., Zamani, S. (2021). The effect of marketing based on social networks on the intention of customers to buy products of sports brands with the mediating role of the brand's mental image and brand fascination. Communication Management in Sport Media, 8(4), 31-46. (In Persian)
- Bagheri, H., & Biglary, N. (2020). The role of consumer attitudes in the credibility of commercial advertisements of certifying athletes. Journal of Sports Marketing Studies, 1(3), 51-72. (In Persian)
- Bagheri, H., Koozechian, H., Amiri, M., & Ehsani, M. (2016). Analysis of the validation process of Iranian athletes using data theory. Sports Management and Development, 5(2), 91-107. (In Persian)
- Borhani, L., Nouri, A., Molavi, H., & Samavatian, H. (2014). Investigating the relationship between organization image, brand image, service quality, and customer satisfaction with customer loyalty in the banking industry. Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences Research, 4(1), 115-130. (In Persian)
- Bashiri, M., Faraji, R., & Alabaf Yousefi, F. (2018). Evaluating the effective factors on the acceptance of athletes who approve products from the perspective of customers. Journal of Sports Management and Development, 7(4), 90-104. (In Persian)
- Colliander, J., & Marder, B. (2018). ‘Snap happy’brands: Increasing publicity effectiveness through a snapshot aesthetic when marketing a brand on Instagram. Computers in Human Behavior, 78, 34-43.
- Colliander, J., & Marder, B. (2018). ‘Snap happy’brands: Increasing publicity effectiveness through a snapshot aesthetic when marketing a brand on Instagram. Computers in Human Behavior, 78, 34-43.
- Dehdashti Shahrokh, Z., & Mobahan, S. (2012). Investigating the effect of personal motivation factors on online shopping. Business Management, 4(2), 37-52. (In Persian)
- Elenopoulou, C. (2018). Lifestyle micro-influencers and the practice of product endorsement on Instagram through the eyes of young female users (Master's thesis). Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands.-Foroudi, P. (2019). Influence of brand signature, brand awareness, brand attitude, brand reputation on hotel industry’s brand performance. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 76, 271-285.
- Freeman, B., & Chapman, S. (2007). Is “YouTube” telling or selling you something? Tobacco content on the YouTube video-sharing website. Tobacco Control, 16(3), 207-210.
- Hassani, Z., Goodarzi, M., Jalali Farahani, M., & Ali Doost Ghahfarkhi, I. (2018). The effect of the athlete brand on the replication and effectiveness of the famous athlete. New Approaches in Sports Management, 6(21), 20-9. (In Persian)
- Hedayatpour, P., Manouchehri, J., & Soheili, B. (2020). The effect of Facebook marketing on customer satisfaction of sports products. Journal of Interdisciplinary Communication and Media Studies, 3(3), 177-157. (In Persian)
- Heydari, M., & Taheri, M. (2017). Consumer satisfaction and trust in e-commerce, Paper presented at the 10th International Conference on Accounting and Management and 7th Conference on Entrepreneurship and Open Innovation, Tehran. (In Persian)
- Huang, Y. T., & Su, S. F. (2018). Motives for Instagram use and topics of interest among young adults. Future Internet, 10(8), 77.
- -Khalili, F., & Hemtian, N. (2018). Instagram and branding (Case study: Dunkin 'Donuts company). International Journal of Nations Research, 37(4), 33-50. (In Persian)
- Kunkel, T., Walker, M., & Hodge, C. M. (2019). The influence of advertising appeals on consumer perceptions of athlete endorser brand image. European Sport Management Quarterly, 19(3), 373-395.
- Lassar, W. M., Manolis, C., & Winsor, R. D. (2000). Service quality perspectives and satisfaction in private banking. Journal of Services Marketing, 14(3) , 244-271.
- Lee, J. E., & Watkins, B. (2016). YouTube vloggers' influence on consumer luxury brand perceptions and intentions. Journal of Business Research, 69(12), 5753-5760.
- Mansouri, H., Golami, M., Sadeghi Boroujerdi, S., & Sadeghi, M. (2020). The effect of Instagram advertising indicators on the immediate and hidden behavioral response of consumers of sports products. Journal of Communication Management in Sports Media, 7(4), 56-65. (In Persian)
- McGillory, J. (2018). Money making secrets from Instagram (M. R. Omrani, Trans) (6th ed.). Tehran: New Look Publications. (In Persian)
- Mirfeizi, S. Z., & Madadi, M. S. (2016). Investigating the impact of advertising on brand attitude and advertising efforts in Iran. Paper presented at the First International Conference on New Research in Management Studies, Shiraz. (In Persian)
- Mohammad Karimi, F. (2017). Investigating the factors affecting the consumer behavior of electronic consumer sportswear (Case study: Female athletes in Ilam) (Unpublished master's thesis). Bakhtar Ilam Higher Education Institute, Iran. (In Persian)
- Mahmoudian, A., Sadeghi Boruojerdi, S., Ghasemi Siani, M., & Ibrahim Faqe Mahmoud, A. (2021). Moderating role of using instagram in relation between involvement with the team, attachment and fan loyalty (Case study: Persepolis football team). Communication Management in Sport Media, 8(2), 103-115. (In Persian)
- Mohammadi, S., & Mahmoudian, A. (2019). Identify the impact of Instagram social network on athletes' brand image. Sports Management and Development, 8(1), 32-46. (In Persian)
- Munro, B.H. (2005). Statistical methods for health care research (4th ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.
- Najafzadeh, F. (2015). Factors affecting the intention to buy luxury sports products from the perspective of sports consumers. Paper presented at the Annual Conference on Management and Business Economics, Tehran. (In Persian)
- Tatari, M., Ehsani, M., & Tatari, E. (2016). Investigating the impact of different online advertising methods on consumer purchasing behavior of sports goods. Paper presented at the First National Conference on Future Research, Humanities, and Social Security, Khorramabad. (In Persian)
- Naghizadeh Khoei, N. (2018). Investigating the role of social media on customer satisfaction with the moderating role of promotional advertising (Case study of domestically produced menswear industry) (Unpublished master's thesis). Payame Noor University of Tehran, Payame Noor Center, West Tehran. (In Persian)
- Natarajan, T., Balasubramanian, S. A., & Kasilingam, D. L. (2017). Understanding the intention to use mobile shopping applications and its influence on price sensitivity. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 37, 8-22.
- Patet, I. (2011). Consumer attitude toward mobile marketing (Unpublished master's thesis). University of Technology Department of Business Adminestration.
- Rahimnia, F., Islami, Q., & Ghaderi, F. (2019). Investigating the relationship between social media marketing and customer commitment by brand value (Case study: Customers of women's clothing online stores). Business Reviews, 17 (94-95), 23-39. (In Persian)
- Roşca, V. (2010). Celebrity endorsement in advertising. Management & Marketing-Craiova, (2), 365-372.
- Salarzehi, H., & Amiri, Y. (2011). Investigating the effective factors on the establishment of customer relationship management process in insurance companies. Public Management Research, 4(12), 131-144. (In Persian)
- Sallam, M. A. A. (2011). The impact of source credibility on Saudi consumer's attitude toward print advertisement: The moderating role of brand familiarity. International Journal of Marketing Studies, 3(4), 63.
- Sharghi, L. (2016). The effect of the desire to use online social networks on brand performance and customer-based brand equity (Unpublished master's thesis). Business Management, Kushiar Higher Education Institute. (In Persian)
- Teo, L. X., Leng, H. K., & Phua, Y. X. P. (2019). Marketing on Instagram: Social influence and image quality on perception of quality and purchase intention. International Journal of Sports Marketing and Sponsorship.
- Tulai, R., Mohammadi, E., & Khatibi, N. (2015). Investigating the new capabilities of social networks in the development of marketing research using cognitive mapping method. Paper presented at the Second National Conference on Marketing Research, Tehran. (In Persian)
- Yu, X., & Yuan, C. (2019). How consumers’ brand experience in social media can improve brand perception and customer equity. Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics, 31(5), 1233-1251.
- Zakerian, A., Jalali Farahani, M., & Takli, H. (2017). Investigating the effect of online advertising factors on the intention of sports consumers to buy. Journal of Applied Research in Sports Management, 6(2), 11-19. (In Persian)
- Zenozi, S. J., & Milani, F. (2018). Investigating the factors affecting purchase intention on social networking sites (Case study: Instagram). Paper presented at the Second International Conference on Management and Business, Tabriz. (In Persian)