The Influence of Celebrity Endorsements on Consumer Behavior in the Era of Social Media

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of celebrity endorsements on consumer behaviour in the era of social media. Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library. Findings: The findings revealed that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to the influence of celebrity endorsements on consumer behaviour in the era of social media. Preliminary empirical review revealed that in the dynamic era of social media, it is clear that celebrity endorsements continue to play a pivotal role in influencing consumer behavior. However, the evolving nature of this influence demands that brands and marketers stay attuned to changing consumer preferences, cultural nuances, and the authenticity of endorsements. As social media platforms and consumer behavior continue to evolve, so too will the strategies and approaches used in leveraging celebrity endorsements to shape consumer choices and behaviors. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Social Identity Theory (SIT), Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) and the Parasocial Interaction Theory (PIT) may be used to anchor future studies on consumer behaviours. The study made the following recommendations: leveraging authenticity and transparency; considering micro-influencers; monitoring of celebrity behaviour on social media; leveraging data analytics and diversifying marketing channels.