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Consumer engagement in online brand communities: a solicitation of congruity theory

Jamid Ul Islam (Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, India)
Zillur Rahman (Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, India)
Linda D. Hollebeek (Montpellier Business School, Montpellier, France) (NHH Norwegian School of Economics, Bergen, Norway)

Internet Research

ISSN: 1066-2243

Article publication date: 6 February 2018

9575

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is threefold: first, to study the influence of self-brand image congruity and value congruity on consumer engagement in online brand communities (OBCs); second to test whether gender moderates this effect; and third, it also examines the role of consumer engagement as a driver of brand loyalty.

Design/methodology/approach

Using an online questionnaire, 443 responses were collected from consumers who are members of at least one OBC on Facebook. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data.

Findings

The results revealed that both self-brand image congruity and value congruity significantly affect consumer engagement. A positive effect of consumer engagement on brand loyalty was also attained. Third, the results revealed that gender did not moderate the examined relationships.

Practical implications

This research integrates and broadens existing explanations of different congruity effects on consumer engagement. This study thus suggests the value of developing their OBCs to exhibit congruence with customers’ self-image and value, which in turn, will contribute to the development of brand loyalty.

Originality/value

This research applies congruity theory to examine the impact of self-brand image- and value congruity on consumer engagement in OBCs. Through the establishment of this novel theoretical link, this study furthers insight into the domain of social media marketing.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank two anonymous reviewers for their valuable suggestions, which have led to the improvement of the manuscript. The third author also thanks the Norwegian Research Council for its SFI-grant to the Norwegian School of Economics, and the University of Auckland.

Citation

Islam, J.U., Rahman, Z. and Hollebeek, L.D. (2018), "Consumer engagement in online brand communities: a solicitation of congruity theory", Internet Research, Vol. 28 No. 1, pp. 23-45. https://doi.org/10.1108/IntR-09-2016-0279

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

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