Blogs: effective social media marketing tools?. An examination of how blogs are effective tools in influencing readers purchasing behaviour

      Аннотация: This piece of research examined the effectiveness of blogs as social media marketing tools, while investigating the power of a bloggers influence on the buying habits of its readers. Probing into the relationship between all stakeholders of a blog; (the reader, blogger, and brands), it was found that bloggers are hugely influential on their readers buying habits, as blogger trust and credibility led readers to purchase goods. Blogs as social media marketing tools were found to have a valuable effect on all stakeholders; the reader gained truthful information on goods and services, the brand received marketing via the blog, resulting in increased sales and the blogger increased their readership and gained financially.

Ключевые слова: bloggers, blogs, Brands, Influencers, Lifestyle.