Search results

Behavioral targeting has become a popular marketing strategy among brands as it enables advertisers to display ads to consumers based on their previous surfing behaviors. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effectiveness of behaviorally targeted ads for luxury brands and to explore how and when behavioral targeting works.

A 2 (targeted vs non-targeted ads) ×2 (culture: China vs the Netherlands) between-subjects factorial design is conducted to test the hypothesis.

The result reveals that as for luxury brands, behavioral targeting can shorten the psychological distance and in turn lead to a more positive attitude toward the ad. However, the effect of behavioral targeting depends on the culture. In the Netherlands, behavioral targeting can enhance the attitude toward the ad by lowering the psychological distance. However, in China, these effects are mitigated.

This study contributes to the research of online luxury marketing. First, luxury brands should adapt their marketing strategy to different regional markets. In addition, luxury marketers should not worry about a shorter distance with consumers caused by the use of internet. A shorter distance does not mean to reduce an aura of mystery, but to build up a closer relationship with consumers. Luxury brands are not necessary to be aloof and supercilious like an indifferent robot. A closer relationship with consumers brings more positive effects.

The current research makes important contributions both to the scientific literature and to the luxury industry. First, this research reveals the effectiveness and underlying mechanisms of behavioral targeting for luxury brands and also compares the effectiveness of behavioral targeting in two cultures, which contributes to the current cross-cultural studies and international marketing research. Second, this study also helps luxury marketers to realize the importance of behavioral targeting and to know how and when they can use this new marketing strategy in a global environment.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of level of graphic threat (weak and strong) and the amount of information (low and high) on message effectiveness for an unfamiliar (a muscle disorder due to lack of physical exercise) vs a familiar (injuries as a result of traffic accidents due to drunk driving) issue.

The method employed was experimental 2 (issue familiarity: unfamiliar, familiar issue)×2 (amount of information: low, high)×2 (graphic threat level: weak, strong) full factorial between‐subjects design. Data are collected from a sample of 206 Belgians.

It was found that a strong graphic threat message has a greater effect for an unfamiliar than for a familiar issue. For a familiar issue, adding information to a weak threat appeal increases perceived severity. For an unfamiliar issue, adding information to a strong graphic threat appeal has a similar effect. Perceived severity of threat, perceived probability of occurrence, evoked fear and perceived coping efficacy have a significant effect on the intention to adopt the recommended behavior. For an unfamiliar issue, perceived efficacy and perceived probability of occurrence primarily have the greatest impact on coping intention. For a familiar issue, perceived severity, evoked fear and perceived efficacy determine coping intention.

The results substantially support the use of different message tactics for health threats that are either new or familiar for the target group.

Most studies have limited themselves to studying the impact of threat strength on perceived threat and response efficacy, on evoked fear and on message acceptance. The present study adds the contextual and message elements, namely issue familiarity and amount of information provided, the link of which with threat appeal has – as far to the authors' knowledge never been studied before in one integrated analysis.

This study aims to address the credibility effects of refutational versus non-refutational two-sided messages. Additionally, it aims to unravel the moderating role of issue ambivalence and argument type.

A 2 × 2 × 2 between-subjects factorial experimental design (N = 853 adolescents) investigates the effect of eight anti-binge drinking and anti-marijuana messages on source and message credibility.

The results show that refutation increases credibility compared to non-refutation. Additionally, a three-way interaction effect is found: credibility depends on the ambivalence of the issue and the argument type.

First, this study clarifies the inconsistencies found in previous literature regarding (non-)refutational two-sided messages by addressing two important (and so far neglected) moderating variables. Second, we provide useful new insights for health practitioners who develop campaigns to prevent drug abuse among adolescents.