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This article investigates the role of trust/reputation and parasocial influence in influencing purchase intention among consumers of baby products who frequent Polish parenting blogs. Empirical data was collected by survey (n-1050) of blog readers to construct a model to assess the impact of trust/reputation and parasocial influence. Factor analysis was used to create scores which were then tested using a multiple binary logistic regression model. The research found that while both trust/reputation and parasocial influence were important determinants of consumer purchase intention, trust was significantly more important to baby product consumers than parasocial influence. Additionally, parasocial influence was a more important indicator of purchase intention among younger respondents (under 23 years of age) than those 23 years and older. Additionally, readers who have read blogs for longer are more likely to trust these sources, perceiving them to be reputable. Hence, bloggers should aim to foster long-term relationships with consumers when endorsing products that demand higher trust, such as baby products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite marketers increasing interest in influencer marketing, selecting the right influencer(s) for such campaigns remain a challenge. The success of any marketing strategy can simply be attributed to its ability to achieve desired objectives. Hence, to advise brands, the present study examines the role of influencer credibility and influencer-brand congruence in impacting the brand's two main goals of conducting influencer marketing campaigns on Instagram, i.e., brand attitude and electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) intention. This research intends to recommend which factors brands should consider while selecting influencer(s) for their marketing campaigns on Instagram. A survey using a self-administered questionnaire was performed on 383 Instagram users. Data analysis was conducted using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) technique. The findings indicate that expertise, similarity, and congruence have a positive relationship with brand attitude. While expertise, trustworthiness, and similarity have a positive relationship with users' intention to engage in eWOM. The current study also offers theoretical and managerial implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have found that information from celebrities, social media influencers, and people whom they know in real life affects millennial consumers' purchasing decisions. This study investigates how celebrities, influencers, and people whom consumers know personally impacts the ways in which millennials utilize social media information to gain information about consumer products. The study also addresses factors that contribute to trusting that information. Using data from millennial college students, the authors found that Instagram was most utilized for apparel information, while YouTube was most relevant for cosmetic and hair products. However, information from people whom they knew personally was still deemed more trustworthy than that from other sources. Although research suggests that celebrities and social media influencers' have a positive impact on raising product awareness, marketers should be cognizant that consumers still trust endorsements from people whom they know personally, above all else, regarding their purchasing decisions. Relying on celebrities and social media influencers to promote products does not substitute for or replace targeted marketing efforts to build consumers' trust. Implications for research and practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]