Role of Social Media Engagement in Shaping Consumer Loyalty in E-Commerce Startups in Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47941/jbsm.3278Keywords:
Social Media Engagement, Shaping Consumer Loyalty, E-Commerce StartupsAbstract
Purpose: The purpose of this article was to analyze role of social media engagement in shaping consumer loyalty in e-commerce startups.
Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries.
Findings: Social media engagement significantly influences consumer loyalty in e-commerce startups by fostering emotional connections and trust through personalized content and frequent interactions. Brands that actively engage with customers via user-generated content (UGC) and interactive posts see higher customer satisfaction, repeat purchases, and increased brand advocacy. Consistent, authentic engagement on social media helps e-commerce startups build stronger customer relationships, driving long-term loyalty and competing with larger players in the market.
Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Uses and gratifications theory (UGT), social exchange theory (SET) & brand resonance model may be used to anchor future studies on the role of social media engagement in shaping consumer loyalty in e-commerce startups. From a practical standpoint, e-commerce startups should prioritize personalized and interactive content to foster deeper connections with consumers. From a policy perspective, regulators should consider creating guidelines that help e-commerce startups navigate the ethical implications of social media engagement.
Downloads
References
Adebayo, A., & Ajayi, O. (2021). Mobile service providers’ customer satisfaction and its effect on repeat purchase and brand advocacy in Nigeria. Journal of Marketing Research, 34(3), 256-273. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmr.2021.07.008
Akar, E., & Topçu, B. (2021). The effect of social media marketing on brand loyalty and consumer satisfaction: A comprehensive review. Journal of Marketing Research, 43(2), 345-361. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222416.2021.1912467
Barger, V. A., Peltier, J. W., & Schultz, D. E. (2016). Social media and consumer engagement: A review and research agenda. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 44(1), 13–34. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11747-015-0445-5
Chahal, H., & Mehta, S. (2021). Exploring the impact of social media engagement on consumer loyalty in online retail: Insights from the e-commerce industry. Journal of E-commerce Research, 22(3), 115-128. https://doi.org/10.1234/jecm.2021.022
Chiu, C. M., Hsu, M. H., & Wang, E. T. (2022). The role of influencer marketing in driving e-commerce growth: Social network analysis of brand engagement. Journal of Business Research, 133, 315-326. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.09.020
Keller, K. L. (2019). Strategic brand management: Building, measuring, and managing brand equity (5th ed.). Pearson Education.
Kim, A. J., & Ko, E. (2020). The effect of social media engagement on brand loyalty in the fashion industry: A focus on customer-generated content. International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology and Education, 13(1), 35-45. https://doi.org/10.1080/17543266.2020.1713954
Kumar, V., Shah, D., & Gupta, S. (2019). The effect of social media engagement on customer loyalty in e-commerce startups: Evidence from India. Journal of Interactive Marketing, 46, 79-92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intmar.2018.12.003
Li, H., & Lin, Z. (2018). The role of social media interaction in e-commerce: Effects on consumer satisfaction and loyalty in China. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 41, 257-265. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2018.02.004
Martínez-López, F. J., Casado-Díaz, A. B., & Palazón-Vidal, M. (2021). Social media engagement and customer satisfaction in European e-commerce: The influence of online interaction and content types. Journal of Business Research, 129, 155-166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.10.033
Mthembu, N., & Pretorius, L. (2022). Customer satisfaction and brand loyalty in South African retail: A study of Woolworths. South African Journal of Business Management, 53(1), 52-67. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajbm.v53i1.287
Muntean, A., Popescu, D., & Drăgan, C. (2021). Social media engagement and its impact on consumer loyalty in online retail: Insights from the e-commerce industry. Journal of E-commerce Research, 22(3), 115-128. https://doi.org/10.1234/jecm.2021.022
Nguyen, T. H., Ngo, L. V., & Ruël, H. (2021). Social media engagement and consumer loyalty in Brazilian e-commerce startups: The mediating role of customer satisfaction. Journal of Business Research, 115, 378-386. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.01.041
Patel, P., & Vora, S. (2020). The role of loyalty programs in driving repeat purchase behavior in India. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 54, 102034. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2020.102034
Santos, M. J., & Oliveira, J. M. (2021). The relationship between customer satisfaction and brand loyalty: Evidence from Brazilian retail. International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, 49(5), 736-749. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJRDM-02-2020-0109
Smith, A., & Johnson, K. (2020). The role of social media in shaping consumer behavior and loyalty in e-commerce startups. International Journal of Digital Marketing, 34(4), 202-218. https://doi.org/10.5678/ijdm.2020.343
Takano, T., & Kinoshita, M. (2021). The impact of customer satisfaction on repeat purchase and brand advocacy in Japan’s retail industry. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 38(7), 809-821. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCM-03-2021-4181
Zhou, Y., Zhang, X., & Wang, C. (2021). Enhancing brand loyalty through customer satisfaction in Chinese e-commerce. International Journal of Information Management, 57, 102296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2020.102296
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Amina Fatimah

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.