Northampton Electronic Collection of Theses and Research

Buy, boycott or blog: exploring online consumer power to share, discuss and distribute controversial advertising messages

Kerr, G., Mortimer, K., Dickinson, S. and Waller, D. S. (2012) Buy, boycott or blog: exploring online consumer power to share, discuss and distribute controversial advertising messages. European Journal of Marketing. 46(3/4), pp. 387-405. 0309-0566.

Item Type: Article
Abstract: Purpose - The purpose of this study is to examine the concept of consumer power, in particular the power or bloggers in the online environment and how this might be applied to the regulation of advertising. Design/methodology/approach - Utilising Denegri-Knott’s (2006) four on-line power strategies, a content analysis of weblogs of Tourism Australia’s "Where the bloody hell are you?" advertising campaign is undertaken. Blogger behaviour towards this controversial campaign is documented and consumer power strategies are examined. Findings - This study reveals that bloggers are circumventing the traditional self regulatory process by distributing information, opinion, and even banned advertising material, thereby forming power hubs of like-minded people, with the potential to become online pressure groups, augmenting the traditional powers of consumers in the self regulatory process. Research limitations/implications - Limitations include a single case context and its exploration of a single media tool (weblogs). Also, bloggers are not representative of the general public, but do provide an alternative to the general category of complainants. Practical implications - The paper provides evidence that bloggers are defacto regulators in the online environment providing judgements on advertising campaigns, supporting those with like-minded views and disciplining others, and even making banned advertisements publicly available. Advertisers should be mindful of this activity in developing campaigns, especially in formulating controversial campaigns aimed to be disseminated online. Originality/value - The paper is the first to relate consumer power in the online environment to self regulation. It is also first to study a new group of advertising complainants – the bloggers
Creators: Kerr, Gayle, Mortimer, Kathleen, Dickinson, Sonia and Waller, David S
Faculties, Divisions and Institutes: University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Research Centre > Centre for Sustainable Business Practices
Research Centres > Centre for Sustainable Business Practices

Faculties > Faculty of Business & Law > Marketing and Entrepreneurship
Date: 1 January 2012
Date Type: Publication
Page Range: pp. 387-405
Journal or Publication Title: European Journal of Marketing
Volume: 46
Number: 3/4
Number of Pages: 19
Language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/03090561211202521
ISSN: 0309-0566
Status: Published / Disseminated
Refereed: Yes
URI: http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/id/eprint/10798

Actions (login required)

Edit Item Edit Item