Loading article...
Loading article...
Stream/Area:
-
Subject:
-
Paper ID:
IJSREM64378
Volume:
10 |
5 |
May 2026
Pages:
1-7
Publication Frequency:
Monthly (12 issues per year)
License:International Journal of Scientific Research in Engineering and Management follows the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) License, allowing free use and distribution with proper attribution.
Assistant Professor.Business Administration
Kaamadhenu Arts and Science College, Sathyamangalam.
Assistant Professor.Business Administration
Kaamadhenu Arts and Science College, Sathyamangalam.
This research focuses on studying the buying process of consumers in the case of complex purchases, with special emphasis on how this process is influenced by social media. Complex buying behavior refers to purchases that are made infrequently, involve high consumer involvement, and highlight significant differences between brands. In recent years, social media has become a growing trend. Over the last decade, the World Wide Web has witnessed a rapid expansion of user-generated technologies such as blogs, social networks, and various social media platforms. Collectively known as social media, these technologies have enabled the widespread creation and sharing of user-generated content, fostering a global community. Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter allow people to connect, share opinions, and exchange content. This revolution has introduced new ways for consumers to gather information about products and services. A single opinion or review on social media—even from a stranger—can strongly influence consumer perceptions, not only online but also in the offline world. Social media has thus shifted the power to consumers, as they themselves generate content and play a crucial role in building or damaging a brand’s reputation. Marketers, therefore, seek to understand how consumers use social media and how online content influences their decision-making patterns. This research also explores how the abundance of user-generated information can reshape consumer buying behavior. The study adopts the six phases of the customer decision process, also known as the Engel-Blackwell-Miniard (EBM) model, to examine its relevance in the context of social media usage. A quantitative survey has been conducted to investigate different aspects of the consumer decision-making process in this regard.
KEYWORDS
The research has demonstrated the powerful impact of social media on consumer buying behavior in the digital age. Undoubtedly, social media has brought significant changes for both consumers and businesses. Findings indicate that consumers are highly selective when making purchase decisions. Although social media provides abundant data and sources of information, consumers’ personal attitudes continue to play a decisive role in shaping their choices. The quality and relevance of content on social media have a substantial influence; therefore, marketing efforts must ensure consumer-oriented content. Social media marketing is not limited to creating awareness or promoting sales—it extends to nurturing and strengthening long-term relationships between consumers and corporations. In today’s digital marketplace, the consumer is considered the “king,” with easy access to information about products and services through peer interactions. Consequently, companies and marketers must be particularly cautious of negative word-of-mouth on social media, as it can seriously damage a company’s reputation. Many individuals also acknowledge that social media allows them to share their opinions and communicate more effectively with both other consumers and corporations. This medium has undoubtedly bridged the gap between brands and their audiences. Recognizing this, companies are making continuous efforts to foster stronger consumer connections by encouraging them to share their views, feedback, and experiences. Organizations that adopt an integrated strategic approach to social networking platforms are proving to be the most successful in acquiring, engaging, influencing, and retaining customers. Factors influencing consumers’ brand perception and purchase intentions include strategies aligned with consumer perspectives and the opinions of social media content creators. However, such strategies require ongoing attention and refinement. Therefore, companies employing these methods must be prepared to continuously optimize their marketing practices to retain existing customers and enhance customer lifetime value.
1. Barhemmati, N., & Ahmad, A. (2015). Effects of social network marketing (SNM) on consumer purchase behavior through customer engagement. Journal of Advanced Management Science, 3(4). 2. Godey, B., Manthiou, A., Pederzoli, D., Rokka, J., Aiello,G., Donvito,R., &Singh,R.(2016).Social media marketing efforts of luxury brands: Influence on brand equity and consumer behavior.Journalofbusinessresearch,69(12), 5833-5841. 3. Gupta, S., Agarwa, A. K., & Chauhan, A. K. (2018). Social media and its impact on consumers buying behavior with special reference to apparel industry in Bareilly region. SMART Journal of Business Management Studies, 14(2), 17-23. 4. Nasir, S., Vel, P., & Mateen, H. (2012). Social media and buying behavior of women in Pakistan towards the purchase of textile garments. 5. Varghese, S., Nandhini M. (2020). The Influence of Demographic Factors on the Customers of Online-Shopping with Special Reference to Kochi City. Journal of Adv Research in 6. Liu,Q., Zhang,X., Huang,S., Zhang,L., & Zhao,Y. (2020). Exploring consumers’ buying behavior in a large online promotion activity: The role of psychological distance and involvement. Journal of theoretical and applied electronic commerce research, 15(1), 66-80.
Publication Date
5/31/2026
Peer Review Type
Double-Blind Peer Review
Review Rounds: 2
Documents
Article Views
0
Total views since publication
PDF Downloads
2
Total downloads since publication
Geographic Reach
5
Digital Preservation: This article is permanently archived on Zenodo and complies with all data preservation standards across major indexing platforms.
Plagiarism Screening
This manuscript has been checked for plagiarism using TurnitinPlagiarismChecker software.
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest related to this research work.
Funding Information
No funding information available for this research.
Related research in the same subject area
Loading similar articles...