Spokes-character usage as a marketing tool on Twitter

Abstract

This research investigates how marketers use spokes-characters on Twitter to communicate with consumers subscribing to the character's Twitter feed. This research content analyzes Twitter posts for 20 spokes-characters representing a variety of brands and different product categories. A random sample of 2,691 tweets were selected to be analyzed for content, links, and timing. The results proved several relationships between different spokes-character demographics and their tweeting habits. When compared to male characters, female characters are significantly more likely to tweet original content, while males are significantly more likely than females to respond to queries. The most frequently tweeted type of content for all characters is pass along content, with news being the least frequently observed content category. Significant content differences are observed between spokes-characters based upon the spokes-character's gender, appearance and product type represented. When all characters are considered, most spokes-characters tweet during weekday mornings. Similar patterns are observed for monthly tweet activity: tweet frequency peaks in the summer, and declines during the October, November and December. (Published By University of Alabama Libraries