• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.77-85
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• 2020

Purpose: This study examined marketing value as online word-of-mouth media in the foodservice industry, and it did research on online word-of-mouth (e-WOM) communication marketing schemes using mass communication in the industry. The study is also intended to investigate the impact of electronic word-of-mouth (e-WOM) information and communication on product awareness risks, benefits, and word-of-mouth (WOM) impacts on restaurant consumers. Research design, data, and methodology: The analysis was conducted on a valid questionnaire of 425 menu product consumers. The survey was conducted for two months in March 2019. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS and hierarchical regression analysis was applied. Results: It did empirical research on the reciprocal casual relations to online and the existing word-of-mouth communication that have to be preceded to understand characteristics of online word-of-mouth communication for the purpose of this study. The result is summarized as follows. First, the online word-of-mouth (e-WOM) effect on product recognition risk shows the statistically significant effect of information sender characteristics, information recipient characteristics, and online word-of-mouth (e-WOM) communication on product recognition risk. Second, the influence of online word-of-mouth (e-WOM) on product risk benefits shows that the information sender characteristics, the information receiver characteristics, and online communications have a statistically significant effect on product risk benefits. Third, online word of mouth risk recognition had a statistically significant effect on word of mouth acceptance. Fourth, online risk benefit had a statistically significant positive effect on word of mouth (WOM) effect. Conclusions: The communication between online word of mouth (e-WOM) sender and recipient had a positive influence on the product evaluation and attitude change in the foodservice industry, and the word-of-mouth (WOM) effect affected financial and non-financial performance. The results mentioned above indicated that the communication between the sender of the information and the receiver of the information had a positive effect on the product evaluation and attitude change of the menu consumer, and the word-of-mouth (WOM) result affected the financial. Therefore, the online word-of-mouth (e-WOM) effect has a positive effect on the word-of-mouth (WOM) effect of menu products when performed simultaneously and positively between the information sender and the information receiver.

• Asia Marketing Journal
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.73-98
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• 2019

As information and communication technology continue its remarkable development, the exchange of information online becomes as prevalent and frequent as face-to-face communication in daily life. Therefore, the management and application of WOM (word of mouth) practices will become more important than ever to companies. Currently, there are various types of communication channels for online WOM, and each channel has its own unique traits. Most of the previous research studies online WOM by examining the information inside a single communication channel, but this research chooses two different communication channels and analyzes the effects of online WOM with each channel's unique characteristics. More specifically, this research focuses on the expectation that the effects of information from Twitter and blogs on product sales may differ because Twitter and blogs, two different communication channels for online WOM, have their own unique traits. Our particular aim is to perform an in-depth examination on the effects of communication channel's volume and valence on product sales, two important attributes of online WOM. Furthermore, while most of the empirical research focuses on online WOM and analyzes its effect on markets of temporary experience goods, such as movies and books, this research highlights focuses on the automobile market, a durable goods market. The results of our analysis are as follows: First, regarding blogs, a positive valence significantly and positively affects the sales of products, and this result indicates that consumers are influenced more by the emotional aspect of a product presented in a post than by the number of blog posts. Second, regarding Twitter, the volume of online WOM significantly and positively affects sales, an indication that as the number of posts increase, the sales increase. Through this research, we suggest that even those firms that sell durable goods can increase sales through the management and application of online WOM. Moreover, according to the characteristics of communication channels, the effects of online WOM on sales differ. As a practical implication of this research, we suggest that companies can and should create marketing strategies appropriate to their targeted communication channels.

• International Journal of Contents
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.71-78
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• 2012

The emergence of the Internet has provided a new outlet for consumers who experience service failure from products and services, augmenting the traditional options of entry, voice and action. Consumers' negative word of mouth through online (word-of-mouse or eWOM) far exceeds traditional word of mouth (WOM) in respect of its potential effectiveness, speed and spread. This paper tries to figure out the service failure themes in the health care industry by analyzing online word-of-mouse using the critical incidents technique (CIT). Complaint themes in the area of healthcare are identified and analyzed. The results identify that major complaint theme differed according to the site type. Also, the findings indicate that delivery and customer services are critical issues when consumer makes negative WOM.

• Knowledge Management Research
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-19
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• 2013

Consumers have collected information and sought advices from other consumer through Internet. They could collect information in virtual space (online) not real world, that is Electronic Word of Mouth (eWOM). This study focused on research the factors on effect in Electronic Word-of-Mouth (eWOM) in the open market which is mediate between individuals and online stores. This is an exploratory study for research on finding factors of effect in eWOM. First of all, 5factors are selected from interview with 31 consumers. Then online surveys are conducted and 5 factors are significantly supported. This study is academically new approach on an exploratory study and it could suggest marketers to strategically manage eWOM.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.31 no.3 s.162
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• pp.410-419
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• 2007

The purposes of this study were to segment consumers by on-line word of month and to find the differences among the segmented groups in regard to fashion involvement, internet perceived risk, and internet purchase behavior. The subjects of this study were female consumers who were members of online cafe in Korea. The data were collected during October, 2004. The respondents returned the questionnaires through internet and 480 questionnaires were finally used in the data analysis. The statistical analyses used for the study were factor analysis, cluster analysis, t-test, and $X^2-test$. The results showed that word-of·mouth communication on internet(e-WOM) is composed of two factors, word-of-mouth transmission and word-of-mouth acceptance. These two factors were put under cluster analysis and were classified into two groups of the word-of·mouth communication: WOM group and non-WOM group. T-test showed that word-of-mouth communication groups were significantly different in regard to fashion involvement, internet perceived risk, and internet purchase behavior. For example, WOM group was more uncertain of their clothing choices, put more weight on the internal factors of clothing selection, and was a frequent purchaser of internet fashion products. Internet fashion business needs to implement the proper marketing strategies based on the results of the study.

• Proceedings of the CALSEC Conference
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• 2005.03a
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• pp.155-160
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• 2005

This study identified online information characteristics and investigated the effects of information characteristics on word of mouth performance in online environment. And the comsumer knowledge was found to be a moderator of the relationship between information characteristics and WOM performance in online environment. The implication of this work to both researchers and practitioners were discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.27-38
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• 2013

Word-of-mouth (WOM) communication (traditionally important in consumption) is expanding its influence into cyber space and is playing an important role in online shopping. Consumers who use online shopping might not readily make purchasing decisions due to information overload, lack of accurate product recognition, and the distrust of commercial information. Subsequently, people use WOM communication for a mutual interchange with others who share common concerns, interests, and purposes. This study examines the consumer characteristics, perceived risk on online shopping and benefits of online shopping according to WOM behavior that may significantly affect consumer actions. Factor analysis, t-test, one-way ANOVA, cluster analysis, and Chi-square analysis were used for statistical analysis to identify the differences in consumer characteristics. Online WOM behavior consumers purchased more various items than offline WOM behavior consumers; however, the most influential purchasing factor was price regardless of WOM behavior. Offline WOM behavior consumers have shown higher perceived online shopping risks and benefits.

• Journal of Contemporary Eastern Asia
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.3-14
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• 2014

Online communities are an important source of electronic-word-of-mouth (eWOM), however few studies have examined these types of messages within the Middle Eastern context. This study focuses on Kuwaiti women as members of an online beauty forum; previous work has suggested a mediating effect of gender with women being more likely to trust and follow-up word-of-mouth with a purchase. A conceptual model, based on existing theoretical contributions, provides the basis of a coding framework for the message characteristics that influence members' eWOM adoption. A sub-set of the analysis is presented: 218 threads (1820 messages, coded into 6702 units) illustrating cases where eWOM was adopted and thereby demonstrating continuance intention with members returning to the forum. Content analysis revealed the prevalence of emotional aspects in messages, coded into a new category of 'community bonding'. Findings show that emotion expressed in messages is as influential and important as cognitive aspects of argument quality.

• Journal of Information Technology Services
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.177-193
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• 2015

A great number of customers, who want to watch movies usually check out online reviews before choosing what to watch a movie. The most representative online media that customers consult are portal sites and SNS (Social Network Service). Although there have been numerous studies on online eWOM (e-Word of Mouth) and the effects of online media in businesses, it remains a question that which media is best for WOM (Word of Mouth) when selecting movies. This research examines customer's intention for consulting eWOM and for watching movies according to the number and tendency of online replies. We have compared portal sites and SNS about information of movie. The study shows that a large number of positive replies can affect the intention for WOM and choosing movies. Facebook has more influence than portal sites when choosing what to watch when replies consist of large and positive comments. However, there is no difference between the two types of media when they consist of negative comments.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.75-86
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• 2017

Purpose - The online-to-offline (O2O) business model has brought considerable changes to the traditional Chinese business model. The main difference between O2O and pure online consumption is that O2O offers a richer experience and word-of-mouth. it is easier to trigger online word-of-mouth. However, few scholars have been concerned about the impact of experiential value on customer satisfaction and online word-of-mouth (e-WOM) in the study of O2O. This study takes the O2O business model in China's catering industry as its research object and uses structural equation modelling to analyze the impact of online and offline experiential values on customer satisfaction and e-WOM. Research design, data, and methodology - According to previous researches, consumer experiential value is mainly divided into return on investment (economy and efficiency), service excellence, playfulness and aesthetics. According to the characteristics of O2O in China's catering industry, this study divides the online experience value into efficiency and economy (return on investment). The offline part is divided into return on investment (economy and efficiency), service excellence, playfulness and aesthetics. Using a web-based survey, we collected 303 valid samples. Structural equation modelling was used to create the research model. Results - The results show that efficiency (online) and service excellence (offline) have a significant effect on customer satisfaction. Economics (online) and playfulness (offline) have a positive impact on customers' e-WOM. In addition, the higher the customer satisfaction, the greater the positive impact on the spread by word of mouth. However, aesthetic(offline) and return on investment(offline) have no significant impact to customer satisfaction and e-WOM. Conclusions - The study findings show that the key to boost customer satisfaction in the catering industry is to improve product quality and service. Although traditional competitive strategies such as online discount have been questioned by many scholars about their decreasing effectiveness, they are indispensable means to attract online traffic and trigger e-WOM. The traditional enterprises can reconstruct traditional business processes through the O2O model to effectively improve customer satisfaction and word of mouth by improving the experiential value of economy and efficiency. Additionally, it can be used as the natural advantages of online communication to induce customers to engage in word of mouth and attract more potential customers.