• (The) Korean Journal of Advertising
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.7-42
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• 2014

This study is designed to examine the effects of information source's social distance on message attitude and online word-of-mouth intention (e-WOM). It also examined the moderation effects of blatant persuasive intention of message, the normative interpersonal influences, and the informative interpersonal influences on the relationship between social distance and advertising effectiveness. This study employed an experiment: 2(far/near social distance far/near) ${\times}2$(high/low blatant persuasive intention of message) ${\times}$(high/low normative interpersonal influences) ${\times}2$(high/low informative interpersonal influences). The results of this study are as follows. First, closer social distance led to more positive message attitude and higher online word-of-mouth intention. Second, when blatant persuasive intention of message is low, the effects of social distance on message attitude and WOM intention were more noticeable while those effects were less significant for high blatant persuasive intention of message. Third, there were no interaction effects of social distance and normative interpersonal influences on advertising effectiveness. Fourth, the effects of social distance on message attitude and WOM intention were more significant for high informative interpersonal influences than for low informative interpersonal influences. Implications of study findings are provided for strategic use of corporate Facebook page to generate positive consumer responses.