Brand community, loyalty and promise in myfootballclub.co.uk

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to link the notions of brand community, loyalty and promise as a reminder to marketers of the importance to brands of keeping their commercial promises to brand community members.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reports on a questionnaire survey (n=500) of members of a sport brand community as part of an investigation into the relationship between brand community and brand loyalty.

Findings

Brand loyalty was predicted by age, frequency of attendance, motivations for joining the brand community and the degree to which expectations built by the brand promise are met.

Research limitations/implications

In common with many inquiries in the area of brand community, this is a single case study. It is primarily a cross-sectional study, with a minor longitudinal element.

Practical implications

Branding practitioners and consultants with responsibility for brand community management issues need to balance the consumer-to-consumer dimensions of community with a careful understanding and operationalisation of the brand promise.

Originality/value

This is the first paper to integrate the constructs of brand community and brand loyalty with that of brand promise.

Citation

Guimaraes, G., Stride, C. and O'Reilly, D. (2016), "Brand community, loyalty and promise in myfootballclub.co.uk", Sport, Business and Management, Vol. 6 No. 2, pp. 137-157. https://doi.org/10.1108/SBM-09-2012-0039