Title: Text me on WhatsApp, let us talk about brands! The power of mobile word of mouth on mobile purchase intention

Authors: Ismail Erkan; Abdulaziz Elwalda; Mushfiqur Rahman; Seden Doğan; Sinan Nardali

Addresses: Department of Business Administration, Izmir Katip Celebi University, Turkey ' Department of Business Management, Misurata University, Libya ' Business School, Brunel University London, UK ' Department of Tourism Guidance, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Turkey ' Department of Business Administration, Izmir Katip Celebi University, Turkey

Abstract: The aim of this research is to examine the impacts of MWOM conversations in mobile messaging applications on mobile purchase intention. With this purpose, we developed a conceptual model based on the information acceptance model (IACM). Data collected from 385 participants were analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM). The results support the proposed model and provide both theoretical and practical implications for marketers. This study demonstrates that MWOM in messaging applications has a significant positive impact on mobile purchase intention, which in turn affects both social commerce intention and offline purchase intention.

Keywords: mobile word of mouth; MWOM; mobile purchase intention; messaging applications; WhatsApp; information acceptance model; IACM.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIMA.2019.102558

International Journal of Internet Marketing and Advertising, 2019 Vol.13 No.3, pp.218 - 234

Received: 19 Mar 2018
Accepted: 03 Aug 2018
Published online: 30 Sep 2019 *

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