Abstract

Purpose: The primary aim of this study is to explore how social media marketing influences customer purchase intention, focusing on the roles of customer engagement and trust as mediators. Research Design, Data, and Methodology: The investigation utilized an online survey conducted in Chinese on the Questionnaire Star platform. It targeted male and female consumers aged 18 and above who purchase products online, yielding 1107 valid responses from across major Chinese cities. Results: Analysis reveals that social media marketing significantly affects customer purchase intention in a positive manner. It also enhances customer engagement and trust, which serve as crucial mediating variables linking social media marketing to purchase intention. The study found that engagement and trust facilitate brand identification and alignment, thereby directly boosting purchase intention. Conclusion: The findings offer essential insights for businesses aiming to improve their social media marketing impact on consumer behavior. It highlights the importance of fostering user engagement and trust, as well as creating a favorable brand image. These elements are key to influencing consumer purchase decisions within social media contexts. The study advises businesses to engage deeply with consumers and build trust, providing practical recommendations for navigating the evolving social media environment towards sustainable growth.