Yes / The use of the internet and social media have changed consumer behavior and the ways in which companies conduct their business. Social and digital marketing offers significant opportunities to organizations through lower costs, improved brand awareness and increased sales. However, significant challenges exist from negative electronic word-of-mouth as well as intrusive and irritating online brand presence. This article brings together the collective insight from several leading experts on issues relating to digital and social media marketing. The experts’ perspectives offer a detailed narrative on key aspects of this important topic as well as perspectives on more specific issues including artificial intelligence, augmented reality marketing, digital content management, mobile marketing and advertising, B2B marketing, electronic word of mouth and ethical issues therein. This research offers a significant and timely contribution to both researchers and practitioners in the form of challenges and opportunities where we highlight the limitations within the current research, outline the research gaps and develop the questions and propositions that can help advance knowledge within the domain of digital and social marketing.

Yes / This special issue of the Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services aims to bring together a variety of disciplines and a scholarly community for the advancement of knowledge regarding practice and research related to digital and social media marketing. Accordingly, the special issue includes papers using a variety of theories, research methods, contexts, and conceptualizations to enrich our understanding of digital and social media marketing from consumer and practitioner perspectives. The thirteen articles accepted for inclusion in this special issue are summarised in this editorial introduction.

Social media platform TikTok has grown in recent years to become a market leader. Gen Z is a large part of the app's users and they are also more likely to make impulsive purchases. TikTok exposes personalized content to the individuals, which provokes unexpected purchase intentions. The focus of the study is on consumer discovery of viral content related to products from the furniture and interior design industry. The theory review of the research highlights the connection between TikTok and the impulsive buying behavior, as well as the layers that the individual goes through in between.  The purpose of this study is to explore and understand how furniture and interior design that has gone viral on TikTok contributes to Gen Z's impulsive buying behavior. This study aims to provide an understanding of the phenomenon of virality as well as an insight into Gen Z's impulsive buying behaviors. In order to answer the research question, empirical data was collected through a qualitative research method using ten semi-structured interviews. The respondents belonged to Gen Z and were resident in Sweden. The empirical data was analyzed using the method of thematic analysis, which produced three new themes and enabled the research question to be answered.  The conclusion of the thesis showed that TikTok contributes to Gen Z's impulsive buying behavior. EWOM has played a major role in the respondents' purchase decisions. Reviews have evoked needs that then led to impulse purchases while also preventing other purchases when reviews explained the negative features of the product. The results of the study show that the sample means that more impulse purchases have been made since TikTok became the market leader.

Idag finns hög konkurrens på marknaden och detta gör att det är svårt för varumärken att bli sedda av sin kund. Dagens konsument rör sig mellan olika kanaler och kommunikationen från företag måste uppdateras och anpassas efter konsumentens beteende. Det är avgörande för företag att engagera sina kunder för att bli uppmärksammade. Konsumenter kommunicerar åsikter sinsemellan i form av electronic word of mouth (eWOM) som påverkar företaget. Komplexitet kan ligga i att veta vilka kanaler som är bäst utifrån sina förutsättningar. Syftet med denna kvalitativa studie är att undersöka vad små och medelstora e-handelsföretag (SMeF) har för förutsättningar till kommunikation digitalt och fysiskt. Vidare ämnar studien att undersöka hur en kombination av olika kanaler kan användas för att göra företaget synligt genom bruset på marknaden. Insamlad empiri består av åtta semi-strukturerade intervjuer med specifikt utvalda respondenter genom ett målstyrt urval och, till viss del, kedjeurval. Respondenterna valdes ut för att representera flera erfarenheter ur ett företagsperspektiv. Shannon och Weavers (1949) kommunikationsmodell med sändare, verktyg, brus och mottagare utvecklas till en analysmodell för ämnet. SMeF förutsättningar undersöks samt att fysisk närvaro kan skapa en interaktiv miljö för företaget och kunden att mötas i. Digitala verktyg kan vara ett kostnadseffektivt sätt nå ut till konsumenten. Dessa kan bilda en enad kundupplevelse genom omnikanaler. Slutsatsen av studien är att SMeF kan nå nu ut genom bruset genom att använda verktyg utefter en fokuserad omnikanalmodell. Strategiskt utvalda kanaler kan ge SMeF effektiv kommunikation som når genom bruset till kunden. Denna studie är skriven på svenska. / The high market competition today makes it difficult for brands to be seen by their customers. The consumer is drifting between channels and the way companies communicate has to be updated and adapted to this behaviour. It is crucial for companies to engage their customers in order to get noticed. Consumers also communicate opinions among themselves in the form of electronic word of mouth (eWOM) affecting the company. There is a complexity into which channels are best amended to face these circumstances. The purpose of this qualitative study is to investigate small and medium-sized e-commerce enterprises (SMeE) potential to communicate through digital and physical platforms. Furthermore, the study aims to examine how a combination of different channels can be used to make the company visible through the noise of competitors. Collected empirical data consists of eight semi-structured interviews with respondents specifically selected through purposive sampling and, to some extent, snowball sampling. The respondents were selected to represent several practises from a business perspective. Shannon and Weaver's (1949) model of communication consist of transmitter, tools, noise and receiver and is used as an analysing tool. The SMeE opportunities are explored as well as if a physical presence can create an interactive environment for the company and the customer. Digital tools can be a cost-effective way for SMeE to reach out to the consumer. These can in turn form a unified customer experience in creating an omnichannel. The conclusion of the study is that SMeE can reach through the noise by focusing the tools across an omnichannel model. Strategically selected channels can provide SMeE effective communication that penetrates the noise and reach the customer. This study is written in swedish.

Titel: Service Recovery genom hantering av eWOM - En studie om e-handelns modebransch. Nivå: Examensarbete på grundnivå (kandidatexamen) i ämnet företagsekonomi. Författare: Omar Aboukhaled & Viktor Oleandersson. Handledare: Akmal Hyder. Datum: 2022 juni. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka hur e-handelsföretag inom modebranschen hanterar negativ eWOM genom nyttjandet av Service Recovery. Metod: Studien utgår från en kvalitativ metod med ett hermeneutistiskt synsätt samt en induktiv forskningsansats. Empirin består av sju semistrukturerade intervjuer. Slutsats: Digitala utvecklingen har givit ett stort utrymme för Service Failure, det har även underlättat för eWOM att spridas. Vanligaste orsakerna till att negativ eWOM sprids enligt studien är framförallt leveransproblem eller missnöje över en produkt. Studien visar även att majoriteten av företagen saknar en plan för Service Recovery och istället förlitar sig på kundserviceavdelningen. Studiens bidrag: Studiens bidrag till teorin inom marknadsföring är en ökad förståelsekring hur svenska företag inom e-handelns modebransch hanterar negativ eWOM samtorsakerna till eWOMs uppkomst. Det praktiska bidraget är en visdom för ehandelsföretag inom modebranschen för att kunna utforma en Service Recovery strategisamt vilka aspekter som kan förebygga negativ eWOM. Förslag till vidare forskning: Forskningen kan fördjupas ytterligare genom att ta hänsyn till kundens perspektiv. Vidare framgick det i denna studie att den digitala utvecklingen har påverkat e-handelsföretag och eWOM markant, därav blir det av intresse att undersöka hur företag ska handskas med digitaliseringen. Slutligen är ett förslag att undersöka detta ämne inom andra branscher. / Title: Service Recovery by managing eWOM - A study of the e-commerce fashion industry. Level: Final assignment for Bachelor Degrees in Business Administration. Authors: Omar Abou Khaled & Viktor Oleandersson. Supervisor: Akmal Hyder. Date: 2022 June. Aim: The purpose of this study is to investigate how e-commerce companies in the fashion industry manage negative eWOM through the use of Service Recovery. Method: This study is based on a qualitative method with a hermeneutic approach and an inductive research approach. The empirical data consists of seven semi-structured interviews. Conclusion: Digital development has given a lot of room for mistakes, it is also easier for eWOM to spread. The most common reasons for negative eWOM spreading are mainly delivery issues or dissatisfaction with a product. The study also shows that the majority of companies lack strategies and instead rely on the customer service department, which makes it important to have well-trained staff. Contribution: The study’s contribution to the theory in marketing is an increased understanding of how Swedish companies in the e-commerce fashion industry manage negative eWOM and the reasons for eWOM’s emergence. The practical contribution is a wisdom for e-commerce companies in the fashion industry to be able to design a Service Recovery strategy and the aspects that can prevent negative eWOM. Suggestions for future research: The research can be further deepened by taking the customer perspective into account. It will also be of interest to investigate how companies should deal with digitalisation. Finally, a suggestion is to study this topic in other industries.

Datum: 2023-05-30 Nivå: Kandidatuppsats i Företagsekonomi, 15 hp  Institution: Akademin för Ekonomi, Samhälle och Teknik, Mälardalens Universitet  Författare: Alva Landberg (96/07/03), Emma Inge (98/02/15), Felicia Schönning (98/11/02)                                                                                 Titel: Användargenererat innehåll på TikTok och dess påverkan; En kvantitativ undersökning av generation Z's köpintention och köpbeslut Handledare: Pejvak Oghazi Nyckelord: Användargenererat innehåll, Attityder, Elektronisk Word of Mouth (eWOM), Generation Z, Köpbeslut, Köpintention, TikTok Forskningsfrågor: (1) Hur påverkar användandet av TikTok generation Z’s köpbeslut? (2) Har användargenererat innehåll på TikTok något samband med generation Z’s köpintention? (3) Hur påverkas generation Z’s köpbeslut av användargenererat innehåll på TikTok? (4) Hur påverkar användandet av TikTok generation Z’s attitydkomponenter; kognitiv, affektiv och beteende? (5) Vilka skillnader finns mellan generation Z och millennials vid användandet av TikTok?   Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka ifall användargenererat innehåll på sociala medieplattformen TikTok påverkar generation Z's köpintention och köpbeslut. Metod: Studien är baserad på en kvantitativ forskningsansats där primärdata samlats in i form av en digital enkätundersökning. Datan samlades in med ett resultat av 183 respondenter med ett bortfall på 30, vilket gav 150 validerade svar. Datan analyserades sedan via en korrelationsanalys, Cronbach’s alfa, regressionsanalys och en korstabulering i det statistiska dataprogrammet SPSS. Slutsats: Resultatet visade att användargenererat innehåll på TikTok har ett samband med generation Z’s köpintention och köpbeslut. En ökad användning av TikTok bidrar till att attitydkomponenterna; kognitiv, affektiv, beteende påverkas positivt av rekommendationer från användare på TikTok, vilket bidrar till en ökad köpintention som senare leder till ett köpbeslut. / Date: 2023-05-30 Level: Bachelor thesis in Business Administration, 15 cr Institution: School of Business, Society and Engineering, Mälardalen University Authors: Alva Landberg (96/07/03), Emma Inge (98/02/15), Felicia Schönning (98/11/02)  Title: User-generated content on TikTok and its impact; A quantitative study of generation Z's purchase intention and purchase decision Supervisor: Pejvak Oghazi Keywords: Attitudes, Electronic Word of Mouth (eWOM), Generation Z, Purchase decision, Purchase intention, TikTok, User Generated Content (UGC) Research questions: (1) How does the use of TikTok affect generation Z's purchase decisions? (2) Does user-generated content on TikTok relate to generation Z's purchase intention? (3) How does user-generated content on TikTok influence generation Z’s purchasing decisions? (4) How does using TikTok affect generation Z's attitudinal components; cognitive, affective, and behavioral? (5) What are the differences between generation Z and millennials when using TikTok? Purpose: This study aims to investigate if user-generated content on the social media platform TikTok influences generation Z's purchase intention and purchase decision. Method: This study is based on a quantitative research approach where primary data has been collected through an online survey. The data was collected with a result of 183 respondents with a non-response rate of 30, which gave a total of 150 validated responses. The data were analyzed through a correlation analysis, Cronbach's Alpha, regression analysis and a cross-tabulation in the statistical data program SPSS. Conclusion: The result showed that user-generated content on TikTok has a connection with generation Z's purchase intention and purchase decision. Increased use of TikTok contributes to the attitudinal components; cognitive, affective and behavior is positively affected by recommendations from users on TikTok, which contributes to an increased purchase intention that leads to a purchase decision.

Bakgrund Digitaliseringen har kommit långt och samhället behöver anpassa sig efter dess utveckling. Idagsläget finns det olika typer av reklam som framhävs på olika sätt. På 1990-talet användes provokativ marknadsföring på ett annat sätt i jämförelse med dagsläget. På sociala medier har det blivit alltmer lättare att sprida information, därav har den provokativ marknadsföringen enstörre effekt. Syfte Syftet med denna studie är att ge en ökad förståelse av unga vuxnas attityd till provocerande marknadsföring på sociala medier. Metod Studien har utförts utifrån en kvalitativ ansats, 15 respondenter har intervjuats uppdelat i 4 gruppintervjuer. Med det insamlade data från intervjuerna samt i det teoretiska materialitet, har en analys kunnat utföras. Resultat Studien visade att många av respondenterna har blivit utsatta för provokativ marknadsföring, attityd gentemot denna typ av marknadsstrategi var mycket varierande. Marknadsföring generellt på sociala medier har respondenterna funnit en irritation, och med de provokativa marknadsföringen resulterade i att respondenterna fann ännu mer irritation. Respondenterna har fått ett förstående till varför små företag väljer att använda denna typ av marknadsföringsstrategi men de stora företagen som använder denna typ av marknadsföring förstår de sig inte på. Slutsats Studien kom fram till att respondenterna ansåg att denna marknadsföringsstrategi kan vara kontroversiell och provocerande beroende på vem det är som ser reklamen. Unga vuxna anser att provokativ marknadsföring är acceptabelt om de inte överskrider dess etiska aspekter. / Background Digitization has come a long way and society needs to adapt to its development. Currently, there are different types of advertising that are highlighted in different ways. In the 1990s, provocative marketing was used in a different way compared to the current situation. On social media, it has become increasingly easier to spread information, hence the provocative marketing has a greater effect. Purpose The aim of this study is to provide an increased understanding of young adult's attitudes towards provocative marketing on social media. Methodology The study has been carried out based on a qualitative approach, 15 respondents have been interviewed divided into 4 group interviews. With the collected data from the interviews as well as in the theoretical materiality, an analysis has been able to be carried out. Results The study showed that many of the respondents have been exposed to provocative marketing, attitudes towards this type of marketing strategy were very variable. Marketing in general on social media has been found irritating by the respondents, and with the provocative marketing resulted in the respondents finding even more irritation. The respondents have gained an understanding of why small companies choose to use this type of marketing strategy, but they do not understand the large companies that use this type of marketing. Conclusion The study concluded that respondents felt that this marketing strategy could be controversial and provocative depending on who is viewing the ad. Young adults consider provocative marketing to be acceptable as long as they do not overstep its ethical aspects.

Lyxvarumärken har en status att erhålla, som är en utmaning, speciellt i ett samhälle somutvecklas snabbt genom teknologi. Därmed befinner sig lyxvarumärken på en marknad medhög efterfrågan. För att kunna hålla sig väsentlig i dagens samhälle är det viktigt förlyxvarumärken att vara medveten om sina marknadsföringsstrategier. Till följd av detta harlyxvarumärken behövt omvärdera sina marknadsföringsplaner, och ett sätt somlyxvarumärken marknadsför sig idag är genom sociala medie marknadsföringsaktiviteter(SMMA). Denna studie undersöker hur SMMAs dimensioner kan bidra till en förbättradkundlojalitet för lyxvarumärken. Genom en kombination av empirisk forskning och teoretiskaperspektiv analyseras SMMAs olika dimensioner: Underhållning, Interaktion, Trendighet,Anpassning och eWOM för att kartlägga dess roll i att skapa och stärka kundens anknytningtill lyxvarumärken. För att uppnå dessa mål genomfördes en kvalitativ intervjuundersökning där respondenterdelade sina upplevelser av att följa och interagera med lyxvarumärken på sociala medier.Dessutom användes en teoretisk ram för att kontextualisera och förstå resultaten i förhållandetill befintlig forskning och teori om marknadsföring och kundlojalitet. Genom att även observera sambandet mellan SMMA och kundrespons har studien kunnatmed detalj se hur konsumenters kundlojalitet påverkas. Resultatet betonar att Underhållning,Interaktion och eWOM identifieras som de mest inflytelserika aspekterna för att skapaintresse och engagemang hos kunderna med lyxvarumärken. Dessa insikter kan vara enavgörande betydelse för utformning av effektiva marknadsföringsstrategier förlyxvarumärken. Genom att tillämpa SMMA på ett korrekt sätt kan lyxvarumärken skapapositiva upplevelser för sina kunder och därmed förbättra kundlojaliteten. / Luxury brands have a status to sustain, which is a challenge, especially in a society that develops fast with the help of technology, thus luxury brands find themselves in a market with high demand. In order for luxury brands to stay relevant in today's society, it is important for luxury brands to reflect about their marketing strategies. This leads to luxury brand shaving to be aware of their marketing plans, for example through social media and throughso-called social media marketing activities (SMMA). This study explores how the dimensions of SMMA contribute to enhanced customer loyalty for luxury brands. Through a combination of empirical research and theoretical perspectives analyze SMMA's different dimensions: Entertainment, Interaction, Trendiness, Customization and eWOM to map its role in creatingand strengthening the customer's connection to luxury brands. To achieve these objectives, a qualitative interview study was conducted where respondents shared their experiences of following and interacting with luxury brands through social media. Additionally, a theoretical framework was used to contextualize and understand the results in relation to existing research and theories on marketing and customer loyalty. By examining the relationship between SMMA and customer response, the study has been able to see in detail how consumer loyalty is impacted. The results emphasize that Entertainment, Interaction, and eWOM were identified as the most influential aspects ingeneration interest and engagement among customers with luxury brands. These insights can be crucial for developing effective marketing strategies for luxury brands. By implementing SMMA correctly, luxury brands can create positive experiences for their customers, thereby enhancing customer loyalty.

The concept of the sharing economy has gained increased attention among academicresearch and practitioners alike. The sharing economy presents a shift from the traditionalcommerce way of business to a more collaborative sharing of resources. Companies suchas Uber, Airbnb and TaskRabbit have contributed to the raising popularity of sharingservices, by providing consumers with a platform to engage in peer-to-peer sharing. Inaddition, Web 2.0 has proven to be an essential factor in the rigorous growth of the sharingeconomy among consumers, by connecting them and enabling consumer engagement.Despite academic researchers devoting more attention to the sharing economy, there hasbeen a lack of research addressing specific influences that Web 2.0 has on the consumerin the sharing economy. In order to fill this gap, this research seeks to gain a deeper understanding of the consumerperspective by providing valuable insights into how Web 2.0 affects consumer behaviorwithin the sharing economy. Therefore, this research first aims to identify the aspects thatdrive consumers to consider the sharing economy as an alternative to traditional options.Following this, the research intends to uncover how both companies and peer consumersin the sharing economy attempt to influence potential consumers’ consideration of asharing option. Finally, it is equally important to highlight how participation and Web 2.0affects the outcomes. To fulfill this purpose, a qualitative study has been conducted among users of the sharingeconomy. The sample group for the semi-structured interviews was selected based ontheir shared characteristic of belonging to Generation Y and having used a sharing optionin the past. In order to add a degree of credibility to our findings, a product manager fromthe sharing economy shared comments and insights in regards to the data gathered duringthe interviews. Several themes were derived from the gathered data through the analysis and discussionin regards to the drivers, influencing factors and outcomes of the participation in thesharing economy. In terms of the drivers, the first theme is financial considerations, whoseimportance is dependent on the nature of the sharing option. The second theme is the needfor experience, which includes authentic and local experiences. Finally, the theme ofsecurity considerations is concerned with the perception of risk of participation in thesharing economy. Within the company influencing factors, the first theme of onlinemarketing is subjected to factors such as presentation and delivery which affect thecredibility of these activities. Meanwhile, the second theme of consumer referral systemsenjoys more credibility due to the overwhelming involvement of peers. On the other hand,influences by other consumers show the importance of trust in peers through eWOM,including reviews and recommendations, as part of the identified receiving consumerengagement theme. The final influencing factors are part of the third-party theme, whichincludes the importance of online news and pop culture as a source of awareness. Lastly,the identified themes in terms of outcomes after participating in the sharing economyrevolve around the change in concerns regarding risk and uncertainty, which affect thedegree of online trust. Finally, the creating consumer engagement theme shows that thequality of the sharing experience motivates the consideration to engage in eWOM and inturn become an advocate for sharing options.

Digital platforms such as blogs and social networking sites provide new means for individuals to gather and spread information about products and services through electronic Word of Mouth (eWOM). Within those platforms, individuals have the potential to emerge to become influential actors with the power to affect the behaviours and attitudes of others. Despite the growing interest in online influence, there is still a limited understanding of how key individuals share and engage in eWOM. This study looks at tech-bloggers as an emerging actor category that create and develop consumption oriented online content such as product reviews using blogs and associated technologies. This thesis presents an in depth qualitative investigation to understand how this emerging actor category have been able to establish an influential status. Existing literature often labelled bloggers as “opinion leaders” obscuring what is new and different about them. Building a practice based discussion of these emerging actors aims to capture activities and processes in a wider, natural setting. Paired with the exploratory nature of research, this thesis draws on a conceptually grounded, qualitative research approach utilising interviews with key tech-bloggers, marketers and blog analysis. Findings show that these emerging actors engage in three distinct but interrelated practices centred on audience construction, content development and network formation. Audience construction requires emerging actors to develop quality content utilising existing networks composed of other actors within the same category and the audience. As a consequence, emerging actors are socially embedded in a multiplicity of interactions online and offline to develop their blog and their content. This study contributes to existing concepts in eWOM by showing how emerging actors develop a particular expertise, distinct from consumers, in attracting an audience. Furthermore, these emerging actors transform from being knowledge replicators to become knowledge producers developing communication content in line with a wider audience. As tech-bloggers become more established as emerging actors, tech companies are adapting their marketing to account for these practices. The result is a co-creation of product news and advice on new products between emerging actors, marketers and the audience. Thus, this work gives a more nuanced account of eWOM and the role of emerging actors shaping communication in this sector.