Cool by association: examining the impact of influencers on brand coolness

In this master's thesis, the components of brand coolness and the significance of social media influencers in perceived brand coolness were investigated. The aim was to enhance understanding of the meanings brand coolness and influencer-brand relationships hold from the consumers' perspect...

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Main Author: Rekiö, Jenna-Juulia
Other Authors: Jyväskylä University School of Business and Economics, Jyväskylän yliopiston kauppakorkeakoulu, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylän yliopisto
Format: Master's thesis
Language:eng
Published: 2024
Subjects:
Online Access: https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/95277
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author Rekiö, Jenna-Juulia
author2 Jyväskylä University School of Business and Economics Jyväskylän yliopiston kauppakorkeakoulu University of Jyväskylä Jyväskylän yliopisto
author_facet Rekiö, Jenna-Juulia Jyväskylä University School of Business and Economics Jyväskylän yliopiston kauppakorkeakoulu University of Jyväskylä Jyväskylän yliopisto Rekiö, Jenna-Juulia Jyväskylä University School of Business and Economics Jyväskylän yliopiston kauppakorkeakoulu University of Jyväskylä Jyväskylän yliopisto
author_sort Rekiö, Jenna-Juulia
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description In this master's thesis, the components of brand coolness and the significance of social media influencers in perceived brand coolness were investigated. The aim was to enhance understanding of the meanings brand coolness and influencer-brand relationships hold from the consumers' perspective. The goal of the study was to depict the potential impacts that social media influencers have on the perceived brand coolness of the brands associated with them. Additionally, the study aimed to describe the defining characteristics and factors influencing perceived brand coolness. The target organization of the study was Vitunleija Oy, and the research was conducted as a qualitative interview study. Semi-structured interviews with 19 participants who were customers of Vitunleija Oy were conducted in late 2023 and early 2024. Content analysis was employed as the method of analysis. The study highlights authenticity, popularity, aesthetic appeal, and originality as the key defining characteristics of cool brands. Participants described cool influencers similarly, emphasizing authenticity and distinctive content. The study emphasizes the significance of social media influencers in shaping brand coolness, highlighting both positive impacts on brands such as increased coolness and visibility, and negative effects due to for example the mis-alignment between influencers and brands and influencer controversies. Furthermore, the study suggests that some components of brand coolness transfer more easily from influencers to brands than others. Participants underscored the importance of alignment and consistency between influencers and brands as criteria for enhancing brand coolness. Additionally, the study suggests that brand coolness itself is perceived as an important value that positively influences consumer engagement and purchase decisions. Tässä pro gradu -tutkielmassa tutkittiin brändicooleuden osatekijöitä sekä sosiaalisen median vaikuttajien merkitystä koettuun brändicooleuteen. Tarkoituksena oli lisätä ymmärrystä siitä, millaisia merkityksiä brändicooleus ja vaikuttajabrändisuhteet saavat kuluttajien näkökulmasta. Tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli kuvata mahdollisia vaikutuksia, joita sosiaalisen median vaikuttajilla on heihin yhdistettäviin brändeihin koettuun brändicooleuteen. Lisäksi tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli kuvata niitä määritteleviä ominaisuuksia ja osatekijöitä, jotka vaikuttavat koettuun brändicooleuteen. Tutkimuksen kohdeorganisaationa toimi Vitunleija Oy, ja tutkimus toteutettiin laadullisena haastattelututkimuksena. Loppuvuonna 2023 ja alkuvuonna 2024 toteutettiin puolistrukturoidut haastattelut 19 osallistujan kanssa, jotka olivat Vitunleija Oy:n asiakkaita. Analyysimenetelmänä toimi sisällönanalyysi. Tutkimuksessa nousee esiin keskeisinä cooleja brändejä määrittelevinä ominaisuuksina alkuperäisyys, suosio, visuaalinen vetovoima sekä aitous. Tutkimuksen osallistujat kuvasivat cooleja vaikuttajia samankaltaisesti, korostaen aitoutta ja erottuvaa sisältöä. Tutkimuksessa korostuu sosiaalisen median vaikuttajien merkitys brändin cooleuden rakentumisessa, korostaen sekä positiivisia vaikutuksia, kuten lisääntynyttä cooleutta ja näkyvyyttä, että negatiivisia vaikutuksia, johtuen esimerkiksi vaikuttajien ja brändin välisestä sopimattomuudesta ja vaikuttajien osallistumisesta kiistanalaisiin aktiviteetteihin. Tutkimuksessa nousee lisäksi esiin, että osa brändicooleuden osatekijöistä siirtyy helpommin vaikuttajista brändeihin kuin toiset. Tutkimuksen osallistujat korostavat vaikuttajien ja brändien välisen soveltuvuuden ja sidosteisuuden merkitystä brändicooleuden parantumisen kriteerinä. Tutkimuksessa nousee lisäksi esiin, että brändicooleus itsessään nähdään tärkeänä arvona, joka vaikuttaa positiivisesti kuluttajien sitoutumiseen ja ostopäätöksiin.
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spellingShingle Rekiö, Jenna-Juulia Cool by association: examining the impact of influencers on brand coolness Corporate Communication Viestinnän johtaminen
title Cool by association: examining the impact of influencers on brand coolness
title_full Cool by association: examining the impact of influencers on brand coolness
title_fullStr Cool by association: examining the impact of influencers on brand coolness Cool by association: examining the impact of influencers on brand coolness
title_full_unstemmed Cool by association: examining the impact of influencers on brand coolness Cool by association: examining the impact of influencers on brand coolness
title_short Cool by association: examining the impact of influencers on brand coolness
title_sort cool by association examining the impact of influencers on brand coolness
title_txtP Cool by association: examining the impact of influencers on brand coolness
topic Corporate Communication Viestinnän johtaminen
topic_facet Corporate Communication Viestinnän johtaminen
url https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/95277 http://www.urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:jyu-202405284042
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