Title: Some antecedents and effects of participation in Spanish virtual brand communities

Authors: L.V. Casalo, C. Flavian, M. Guinaliu

Addresses: Department of Firm Economics and Management, University of Zaragoza, Gran Via 2, 50.005, Zaragoza, Spain. ' Department of Firm Economics and Management, University of Zaragoza, Gran Via 2, 50.005, Zaragoza, Spain. ' Department of Firm Economics and Management, University of Zaragoza, Gran Via 2, 50.005, Zaragoza, Spain

Abstract: Virtual brand communities are increasing their importance day by day due to the fact that many consumers are using several online tools to share ideas and contact fellow consumers. For this reason, this work explores some antecedents and outcomes of consumer participation in virtual brand communities. The data, obtained through a web survey using Spanish-speaking members of several virtual communities, show that propensity to trust, familiarity with the community, satisfaction in previous interactions with other community members and communication in the community are the main precursors of consumers intentions to participate in a virtual community. Additionally, consumer participation in the activities carried out in a virtual brand community may enhance consumer loyalty to the brand around which the community is centred.

Keywords: virtual brand communities; consumer participation; consumer trust; consumer satisfaction; brand loyalty; Spain; virtual communities; web based communities; online communities; economic consequences.

DOI: 10.1504/IJWBC.2010.030015

International Journal of Web Based Communities, 2010 Vol.6 No.1, pp.25 - 42

Published online: 03 Dec 2009 *

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