Social media platforms have significantly transformed the marketing landscape, providing brands with powerful new opportunities to engage with their target audiences. This study delves into the comparative analysis of social media influencer marketing and electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) within the context of outdoor branded products in China, examining their effects on consumer purchase decisions. A structured online questionnaire survey was employed as the primary research method due to the significant advantages of quantitative methods in providing objective, quantifiable data. Through statistical analysis, the study reveals the magnitude and correlation of the effects of social media influencer marketing and eWOM on consumer purchase intention. The findings revealed that both influencer marketing and eWOM significantly influence consumer purchase intentions for outdoor branded products in China. Additionally, the study highlighted the pivotal role of informativeness, which showed higher significance in eWOM channels compared to influencer marketing. These outcomes offer valuable insights for marketers operating in the outdoor branded products sector, providing actionable implications for enhancing consumer engagement and driving sales in the dynamic landscape of digital marketing.

Submitted by Jonas Christopher Timmermann (jonas.c.timmermann@gmail.com) on 2016-10-04T18:27:56Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Master Thesis - JONAS TIMMERMANN.pdf: 1404671 bytes, checksum: 7ad23245ed5fcd573456e475852faca6 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ana Luiza Holme (ana.holme@fgv.br) on 2016-10-04T18:30:23Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Master Thesis - JONAS TIMMERMANN.pdf: 1404671 bytes, checksum: 7ad23245ed5fcd573456e475852faca6 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-10-04T18:38:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Master Thesis - JONAS TIMMERMANN.pdf: 1404671 bytes, checksum: 7ad23245ed5fcd573456e475852faca6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-09-14 / Brazilian beef companies have been very successful in recent years due to a range of external factors. These factors include a favourable climate in Brazil and an abundant supply of natural resources (such as supply of water and cheap farmable land). Economically wise, Brazilian beef companies benefitted from cheap labour, reduced trade barriers and a favourable exchange rate. To investigate the quality perception of Brazilian beef, a quantitative study was conducted with German, French and Italian consumers. The results reveal that Brazilian beef lacks brand equity: Respondents that have never bought (or experienced) Brazilian beef have subconsciously a negative impression of the quality of Brazilian beef. Moreover, the image of Brazil as a country has an effect on how consumers perceive Brazilian beef. This paper suggests that Brazilian beef companies should intensify their marketing efforts and invest in the brand building of Brazilian beef. Since the beef industry is important to Brazil’s GDP, the government (supported by ABIEC) is advised to support these marketing programs as well. Brand building serves as a form of protection against times when external factors may worsen. / Empresas brasileiras de carne bovina foram muito bem sucedidas nos últimos anos devido a uma série de fatores externos. Esses fatores incluem um clima favorável no Brasil e uma oferta abundante de recursos naturais (como o fornecimento de água e terras cultiváveis baratas). Em termos econômicos, as empresas brasileiras de carne bovina foram beneficiadas pela mão de obra barata, pelas barreiras comerciais reduzidas e por uma taxa de câmbio favorável. Para investigar a percepção de qualidade da carne bovina brasileira, um estudo quantitativo foi realizado com consumidores alemães, franceses e italianos. Os resultados revelam que a carne brasileira carece de brand equity: os respondentes que nunca compraram (ou experimentaram) carne brasileira têm inconscientemente uma impressão negativa com relação à qualidade da carne brasileira. Além disso, a imagem do Brasil como país tem um efeito sobre como os consumidores percebem a carne brasileira. Este trabalho sugere que as empresas brasileiras de carne bovina devem intensificar os seus esforços de marketing e investir na construção da imagem da marca da carne brasileira. Dado que a indústria da carne é importante para o PIB do Brasil, o governo também (apoiada pela ABIEC) é aconselhado a apoiar estes programas de marketing. Construção de marca serve como uma forma de proteção contra tempos em que fatores externos podem piorar.