As influencer marketing becomes increasingly popular, marketers and influencers both need research-based insights to optimize the creative and the messaging in videos. For example, The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires that influencers acknowledge sponsorships, but when and how the brand appears is likely to affect consumer response. Read more »
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What makes consumers more likely to buy during a livestream shopping event? This Journal of Advertising Research study finds that benefit-focused messaging—where influencers emphasize how a product improves consumers' lives—significantly increases sales. Analyzing real-world TikTok livestreams and validating the findings through controlled experiments, the researchers also show that customer engagement, facial attractiveness and expressive body movement amplify the effectiveness of these benefit appeals. The findings provide practical guidance for brands and creators looking to improve livestream performance.
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As marketers invest more heavily in short-form and social video platforms, understanding how Gen Z allocates attention has become increasingly important. This literature review examines what current research reveals about Gen Z’s attention across social feeds, short-form video, creator content, streaming and emerging formats. The evidence suggests that Gen Z attention is not necessarily shorter, but faster, more selective and highly dependent on platform context, creative execution and brand familiarity.
Member Only AccessAs influencer marketing becomes increasingly popular, marketers and influencers both need research-based insights to optimize the creative and the messaging in videos. For example, The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires that influencers acknowledge sponsorships, but when and how the brand appears is likely to affect consumer response. Read more »
Member Only AccessAs influencer marketing becomes increasingly popular, marketers and influencers both need research-based insights to optimize the creative and the messaging in videos. For example, The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires that influencers acknowledge sponsorships, but when and how the brand appears is likely to affect consumer response. Read more »
Member Only Access
As brands increasingly experiment with virtual influencers, new research, published in the Journal of Advertising Research, offers one of the most comprehensive examinations of the virtual influencer landscape to date. Through a systematic review of 117 academic articles, the authors introduce a formal “virtual influencer ecosystem” framework that maps the relationships among creators, brands, consumers, AI technologies and social platforms. The study explores how authenticity, credibility, autonomy, emotional connection and consumer unease shape audience responses to virtual influencers—and what these dynamics mean for marketers navigating the future of AI-driven influence.
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Retail media networks and commerce media are redefining the data and measurement landscape, creating new opportunities—and complexity—for marketers and researchers alike. At Commerce & Shopper Intelligence 2026, brands, retailers, and researchers revealed how they’re adapting methodologies and frameworks to better understand increasingly fluid, data-rich shopping journeys.
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New research reveals that virtual influencers, despite their growing popularity and flexibility, are less effective than human influencers in driving engagement and brand outcomes. The reason lies in consumer psychology: people perceive virtual influencers as less deserving of success, which reduces feelings of envy—an emotion that typically drives social media engagement. However, this disadvantage can be mitigated when virtual influencers are paired with futuristic, technology-focused brands, where their artificial nature feels more congruent.
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