The relevance of images in user generated content. A mixed method study of when and why major brands retweet

Somerfield, K., Mortimer, K. and Evans, G. (2018) The relevance of images in user generated content. A mixed method study of when and why major brands retweet. International Journal of Internet Marketing and Advertising (IJIMA). 12(4), pp. 340-357. 1477-5212.

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Item Type:	Article
Abstract:	This paper develops unique new insight for business practitioners and academic researchers into the interaction between consumers and brands on social media platforms, principally where brands choose to interact with, and amplify, user-generated content (UGC) by retweeting it on their own brand channels. Despite increasing research into social media in general, there is a relative lack of available academic research on major brands engaging with consumer content, which may, be in part due to the pace of change and exponential growth in this emerging area. This mixed method study develops insight conducted over an 18-month period with leading social media practitioners, concluding that primarily a brand's social media team opportunistically seek out and retweet organic image-led UGC to convey specific messages across multiple platforms. Content containing imagery lends authenticity to brand storytelling; brands with tangible products are more likely to receive organic UGC which contains images than intangible brands.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	social media, branded content, community management, user-generated content, ugc, images, engagement, retweet, platform, twitter, facebook, instagram, branded UGC
Creators:	Somerfield, Kardi, Mortimer, Kathleen and Evans, Geraint
Faculties, Divisions and Institutes:	Faculties > Faculty of Business & Law > Marketing and Entrepreneurship Faculties > Faculty of Business & Law
Date:	24 September 2018
Date Type:	Publication
Page Range:	pp. 340-357
Journal or Publication Title:	International Journal of Internet Marketing and Advertising (IJIMA)
Volume:	12
Number:	4
Number of Pages:	17
Language:	English
DOI:	https://doi.org/10.1504/IJIMA.2018.095360
ISSN:	1477-5212
Status:	Published / Disseminated
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/id/eprint/10794

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