In traditional marketing communication, celebrity endorsement has long been the core strategy for brand promotion. However, with the rapid development of internet technologies, online new media have become increasingly diversified and widespread. Amid...
In traditional marketing communication, celebrity endorsement has long been the core strategy for brand promotion. However, with the rapid development of internet technologies, online new media have become increasingly diversified and widespread. Amid this wave of transformation, corporate CEOs from various industries have gradually stepped out from behind the scenes to the forefront, directly engaging in marketing and promotional activities. To strengthen brand image, an increasing number of CEOs personally take part in brand promotion. These CEOs not only appear in television commercials and programs but also actively express their opinions and promote their companies through social media platforms such as Twitter and Instagram, a phenomenon that is becoming increasingly common.
This study focuses on corporate CEOs and explores how their personal characteristics on social networking services (SNS) influence brand image through Parasocial Interaction(PSI). The study adopts the TEARS model—comprising Expertise, Trustworthiness, Attractiveness, Respect, and Similarity—to conceptualize the CEOs’ personal traits, and introduces the three dimensions of PSI—Cognitive, Affective, and Behavioral—as mediating variables.
The analysis results indicate that Trustworthinessand Expertisehave significant direct effects on brand image, serving as key drivers of brand perception. Similarityand Attractivenessprimarily exert indirect effects through parasocial interaction, while Respectshows no significant direct influence but contributes positively to brand image via a purely mediated PSI pathway. Further analysis reveals that all three dimensions of PSI significantly enhance brand image, with behavioral interactionexerting the strongest impact—implying that actual participation and feedback behaviors strengthen brand evaluation more effectively than mere cognitive or emotional engagement.
Theoretically, this study extends the integrated application of the TEARS model and PSI theory, providing a systematic framework for understanding CEO communication mechanisms in the context of new media. Practically, it offers actionable managerial implications for developing brand communication strategies based on trust and expertise, and for enhancing interactive design to reinforce brand image.