Brand community integration and satisfaction with social media sites: a comparative study

Purpose This paper aims to address two primary research questions: Why does a consumer integrate into a brand community and how does that impact overall satisfaction with the brand? Which of the main social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Pinterest) is more/less appropriate for cultivating a brand community? Design/methodology/approach Data were collected via an online survey of college students at two universities. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling with AMOS software. Findings Results suggest that brand community does lead to satisfaction with a social media brand. Consumers are more likely to integrate into a brand community if they view the site as personally relevant. Relevancy is affected by the frequency with which the consumer visits the site. The analysis also indicates that there are interesting differences among the different sites. Research limitations/implications This study has some limitations due to the demographics of the respondents and the finite listing of sites. Practical implications Social media marketers looking to build brand community and increase satisfaction will be able to use the results of this study to make informed decisions regarding these efforts. Social implications Society could benefit from this study if marketers use the findings to engage consumers in brand communities through social media. Brand communities help participants to feel more engaged and connected to others. It is well known that people thrive in community settings and this togetherness, as opposed to isolation, will be good for the participants and society in general. Originality/value The understanding of why a consumer would integrate into a brand community is valuable information because it is generally known and accepted that there are positive results for the brand, but this study takes it a step further and looks at the specific social media sites to give guidance to marketing practitioners as to which ones are best for brand community building.