The impact of social media influencers on consumer perception about the product and purchase intention

Dissertation presented as the partial requirement for obtaining a Master's degree in Information Management, specialization in Marketing IntelligenceThe growing popularity of social media networks has been enabling individuals to attract large audiences on these platforms. This new group of opinion leaders, the social media influencers (SMIs), have massive network potential and influential power over consumers, representing a new type of independent third-party endorsers who shape audience attitudes and beliefs through the use of social media. SMIs increasing popularity and persuasion power are leading companies to start recognizing their value as endorsers and include SMIs in brand communication strategies, with the goal of diffusing brand messages to target consumers. This study is designed to identify the factors associated with SMIs that increase their endorsement effectiveness and stimulate consumers’ positive perceptions about the endorsed products and purchase intention, focusing on source credibility, source attractiveness, product match-up and communication. A quantitative method was used to operationalize this study and a sample of 306 participants, aged between 18 and 57 years old and who follow SMIs, was collected through an online questionnaire. The results showed that all the SMIs’ effectiveness factors – source credibility, source attractiveness, product match-up and communication – have a significant positive influence on consumer perception about the product and on purchase intention, individually and together. The factors with most impact on purchase intention are source attractiveness and communication when studied individually, and source attractiveness and product match-up when studied together. Moreover, consumer perception about the product positively impacts purchase intention directly and mediates the relationship between the set of SMIs effectiveness factors and purchase intention.A crescente popularidade das redes sociais tem permitido aos indivíduos atraírem grandes audiências nessas plataformas. Este novo grupo de líderes de opinião, os influenciadores das redes sociais (IRSs), têm uma grande rede de contactos e poder de influência sobre os consumidores, representando um novo tipo de endorser que molda as atitudes e opiniões do público através das redes sociais. A popularidade e o poder de persuasão crescentes dos IRSs estão a levar as empresas a reconhecer o seu valor como endorsers e a incluir os IRSs nas estratégias de comunicação da marca, com o objetivo de divulgar as mensagens da marca aos consumidores alvo. Este estudo foi desenvolvido para identificar os fatores associados aos IRSs que aumentam a eficácia dos seus endorsements, que despoletam perceções positivas dos consumidores sobre os produtos e estimulam a intenção de compra, com foco na credibilidade do endorser, atratividade do endorser, ligação entre o endorser e o produto, e comunicação. Este estudo foi operacionalizado através de uma metodologia quantitativa, cujos dados foram recolhidos através de um questionário online, e contou com a participação de 306 pessoas que seguem IRSs, com idades compreendidas entre 18 e 57 anos. Os resultados demostraram que todos os fatores de eficácia dos IRSs - credibilidade do endorser, atratividade do endorser, ligação entre o endorser e o produto, e comunicação - têm uma influência significativamente positiva na perceção do consumidor sobre o produto e na intenção de compra, individualmente e em conjunto. Os fatores com maior impacto na intenção de compra são a atratividade do endorser e a comunicação, quando estudados individualmente, e a atratividade do endorser e ligação entre o endorser e o produto, quando estudados em conjunto. Além disso, a perceção do consumidor sobre o produto impacta positivamente a sua intenção de compra de forma direta e medeia a relação entre o conjunto de fatores de eficácia do IRS e a intenção de compra dos consumidores

Energy efficiency of social housing existing buildings – a portuguese case study

The European energy performance building regulations, Directive 2002/91/EC - Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) of the European Parliament and Council, require that new buildings present minimum standards of energy efficiency. Accordingly the Portuguese regulations require that new buildings comply with minimum requirements on the energy performance and must have an energy performance certification through witch an energy efficiency label is attributed to the housing. It also require that existing buildings must have an efficiency energy label when submitted to a commercial transaction or to a deep rehabilitation. To achieve this goal the study of energy performance of existing buildings must be done. As many essentials elements to determine the U-factor and other thermal parameters are unknown, Portugal developed a simplified methodology to achieve the thermal performance of existing buildings. The aim of this paper is to present the study of the energy performance of a set of social dwellings that were constructed during the decade of 80, constructed before the former building thermal comfort specifications came into force. During the study the referred methodology was applied and conclusions of the energy efficiency label obtained were put out as the encountered difficulties. The study also compares the results obtained by the simplified methodology and by the detailed methodology that is required by Portuguese building thermal comfort specifications

Inspection and diagnosis tests for structural safety evaluation: A case study

Diagnosis and assessment of existing structures is a developing area due to the appearance of a high number of building defects, structural and non-structural deterioration and precocious loss of quality, and, consequently, lower expected durability. With the aim of verifying the viability of rehabilitation or the need to demolish an existing fifteen year old parking building, several inspections and diagnostic non-destructive and destructive testing, visual inspection, were carried out to evaluate the structural safety conditions

Síntese, caracterização e estudo em solução de um complexo de Cu II com o ligante tacn-iPr2mff:Potencial biomimético para nucleases/proteases.

TCC (graduação) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Ciências Físicas e Matemáticas, Curso de Química.Uma das áreas de ação para os químicos sintéticos em bioinorgânica é o projeto, síntese e caracterização de moléculas inorgânicas de baixa massa molar que apresentem propriedades estruturais, espectroscópicas e/ou de reatividade que mimetizem metaloenzimas de interesse. Considerando o exposto, o objetivo principal deste trabalho foi sintetizar e caracterizar um novo ligante bioinspirado em enzimas como a carboxipeptidase A e galactose oxidase, e seu complexo de CuII que apresentem as características requeridas para que estes sejam considerados modelos estruturais e/ou funcionais para nucleases e/ou proteases. O composto de coordenação de CuII obtido foi estruturalmente caracterizado por difratometria de raios X e estudos preliminares em solução foram realizados pela técnica eletroquímica de voltametria cíclica e também por espectroscopia vibracional IV e espectroscopia eletrônica UV-Vis. Através dos estudos reportados neste trabalho pode-se constatar características estruturais e físico-químicas que fazem do complexo em questão um possível agente de clivagem hidrolítica de ligações peptídicas e ligações fosfodiéster, tal como compostos reportados em publicações recentes, onde têmse o intuito da exploração da promiscuidade catalítica em diversas áreas da ciência

Equity research | Netflix Inc. (Nflx) - Netflix´s gambit of original content

The present report serves to expose the current and future Netflix’s state, plus the market and competition analysis. Additionally, there is a special focus placed on 2020 year, due to the global pandemic circumstances, where the impact it is included on valuation. Subsequently, considering the implicit risks ,it was possible to reach a target share price of $605bythe end of2021.Nevertheless, some sensitivity analyses were carried out in order to recognize the share price variation according to certain assumptions

Antônio Conselheiro, profeta do sertão?

O artigo aborda a questão da diferença entre a grande quantidade de relatos orais que atribuem ditos proféticos a Antônio Conselheiro, líder do arraial de Canudos, e a absoluta ausência desses em seus escritos. Esse silêncio parece ter algo de significativo a dizer ao historiador; para tentar entendê-lo formulei cinco hipóteses que discuto ao longo da comunicação, após uma breve introdução do problema e da obra do Conselheiro. _________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTThis article deals with the difference between what has been said concerning prophecies supposedly proferred by Antônio Conselheiro, the leader of Canudos and the complete absence of prophetical sayings in his writings. The silence involving this matter seems to be relevant to the historian; trying to understand it I formulated five hypothesis that are discussed along the text, following a brief introduction of the problem and of Conselheiro's work

Seismic performance and strengthening of traditional masonry buildings in the city centre of Coimbra

The increasing concern and consequent appraisal on durability, conservation state and changeable use and function of old buildings in urban centres relies a great deal on the structural safety evaluation of vertical load capacity but also the capable resistance to horizontal forces. The need to assess seismic vulnerability, particularly of the traditional masonry buildings is a key issue. Particular attention has been put upon the building stock of the old city centre of Coimbra, mainly constituted by old masonry load-bearing buildings of significant architectural value. The evaluation of the seismic vulnerability of old buildings is essential in the definition of the strengthening needs and minimization of possible damages due to seismic actions, in safeguarding of built heritage or in the identification of critical buildings. This paper intends to contribute for the assessment of old buildings considering the local seismic risk. A three dimensional model was developed for an aggregate of four buildings. The finite element modelling of these buildings has intended to identify structural fragilities, help understand the damages detected in the existing structures (crack opening) and evaluate the global structural safety of this type of buildings. It will be presented the main results obtained in this study, interpreted the structural damage, stress distribution and verified the global stability and its consequences. The dynamic response of such constructions to seismic actions has allowed studying the structural vulnerability. Different strengthening techniques to improve the global behaviour of these buildings were modelled and analysed. Efficiency comparison of the strengthening strategies is also discussed

Reflexões sobre erros frequentes na concepção e execução de moradias unifamiliares: casos de estudo

A deficiente concepção, a não aplicação das boas práticas construtivas, a negligência e ausência de acompanhamento na construção de moradias unifamiliares tem reflexo directo no aparecimento de várias anomalias. Este artigo apresenta e analisa patologias e defeitos de construção de três habitações unifamiliares, frequentemente observados em outros casos de estudo, suas causas e consequências, discutindo ainda outros factores como os custos de reparação, as obrigações e responsabilidades dos intervenientes.The faulty conception, disrespect of good constructive practices, neglection and absence of accompaniment of the small and medium constructions is evident that lead to the appearance of several defects. This article presents and analyzes the pathologies and construction defects in three house dwellings, frequently observed in cases of study, its causes and consequences, still discussing other factors such as the repair costs, the obligations and responsibilities of the intervenients

Evaluation of strengthening techniques of traditional masonry buildings: case study of a four-building aggregate

Increasing appraisal of the durability, conservation state, and changeable use and function of old buildings in urban centers relies a great deal on the structural safety evaluation of vertical load capacity and the ability to resist horizontal forces. The need to assess seismic vulnerability, particularly of traditional masonry buildings, is a key issue. Evaluation of the seismic vulnerability of old buildings is essential in the definition of strengthening needs and minimization of damage from seismic actions in the safeguarding of built heritage. A three-dimensional model was developed for an aggregate of four traditional masonry buildings located in the old city center of Coimbra, in Portugal. The finite element modeling of these buildings has aimed to identify structural fragility, understand the damages detected, and evaluate the global structural safety of these types of buildings. The primary results obtained in this case study helped to interpret the structural damage and stress distribution, and verified global stability and its consequences. Different strengthening techniques to improve the global behavior of these buildings were modeled and analyzed. A comparison of the efficiencies of strengthening strategies is also discussed. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)CF.1943-5509.0000164. (C) 2011 American Society of Civil Engineers