Business and Corporate Communications Commons^™

A Case Study Of Faculty Perspectives On Teaching Across Borders, Lucy Matthews, Diane R. Edmondson, Tammy Bahmanziari

Atlantic Marketing Journal

This study explores the differences between faculty who have and have not led study abroad programs at a southeastern U.S. public university. Using survey responses from 133 faculty members, the research examines professional and motivational variables that influence participation. Findings reveal that those who have led study abroad programs tend to be satisfied with their experiences, report higher perceptions of student cultural competency gains, and are more likely to recommend such programs to peers. Additionally, experiential learning emerged as a central theme, with faculty highlighting the pedagogical value of immersive global education. Barriers to participation were also investigated. The study …

Trust Migration In The Digital Era: Information Regimes And The Transformation Of Buyer–Seller Relationships, Stephen C. Carlson

Atlantic Marketing Journal

Business-to-business selling is being reshaped by rapid advances in digital platforms, enterprise systems, analytics, and artificial intelligence. Organizational buyers increasingly rely on algorithmic tools, peer communities, institutional certifications, and automated evaluation systems before engaging directly with sales representatives. Yet much of the buyer–seller trust literature continues to emphasize interpersonal communication quality, listening behaviors, and individual credibility as primary drivers of relational success.

This article argues that the central transformation in contemporary selling is not the erosion of trust, but its relocation. As technological infrastructures evolve, trust progressively migrates from individual sales representatives to organizational systems, platforms, governance mechanisms, and algorithmic …

A Captured Audience: How Job Stress Leads Employees To Online Shopping Via Cyberloafing, Seth Williams

Atlantic Marketing Journal

This paper investigates the hyper-connected workplace and how the modern employee deals with job stress in their work environment. Using the theory of compensatory consumer behavior and partial least squares structural equation modeling, we investigate how job stress impacts employees in the workplace to shop online. This shopping is done via cyberloafing, which is using the internet for personal reasons at work. Psychological detachment is also studied as a mediator. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed for managers in the workplace as well as businesses marketing to individuals taking a break on the clock.

Five Strategic Categories Ai Is Transforming Marketing, Ryan Matthews

Atlantic Marketing Journal

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a revolutionary technology that provides tools and methodologies to expand marketings impact. AI enables companies to better understand customer needs, preferences, and behaviors to personalize an approach to different market verticals and segments. AI has become a significant factor influencing how businesses interact and retain the attention of customers. Customers increasingly have an appetite for a highly personalized interaction. AI-driven data approaches and innovative technologies are increasing personalization and efficiency. AI is a revolutionary tool that enables marketing to grow beyond traditional limitations. Understanding the correct tool is vital for marketing executives, whether they are obtaining …

A Holistic Approach To Country Branding: Examining A Master Brand And Sub-Brand Framework, Musa Pinar, Aycan Duran Tekoglu, Tulay Girard

Atlantic Marketing Journal

Recently, nation branding has drawn the attention of policymakers worldwide, as nations recognize its strategic importance in achieving and sustaining success in the global competitive landscape. This study provides a conceptual framework based on master brand and sub-brand architecture to examine country branding holistically by integrating macro and micro perspectives, country brand equity, and their effects on consumer preferences. The specific objectives are to 1) identify the dimensions of master brand, sub-brand, and country brand equity and develop reliable and valid measurement scales for each dimension, and 2) develop a conceptual framework that integrates the master brand, sub-brand, and brand …

When Social Inflation Pushes The "Good Neighbor" Away: How Market Exit Behavior Triggers Brand Betrayal And Trust Erosion, Waros Ngamsiriudom, Mohan Menon, Mitra Devkota

Atlantic Marketing Journal

Social inflation, marked by rising litigation severity, shifting jury attitudes, and expanding third-party litigation funding, has intensified financial pressures on insurers operating in disaster-prone markets. In response, many insurers have withdrawn or restricted coverage, creating a sharp disconnect between long-standing brand promises and current market behaviors. This article examines how these systemic pressures produce “brand betrayal,” a consumer perception arising when insurers’ market exit actions contradict their relational positioning as reliable, community-oriented partners. Drawing on signaling theory, relationship marketing, and institutional perspectives, the article develops a conceptual framework linking social inflation to brand trust erosion through market exit behavior. The …

Trusted Advisor: Reality Or Fading Myth?, Stephen C. Carlson, Susanna Warnock, Gerald Sullivan, Margaret Ryder

Atlantic Marketing Journal

The role of trusted advisor has long differentiated the role of community banking from traditional national banks in its relationship with small businesses. This study serves two purposes. First is to confirm presence of a trusted advisor relationship and secondly, understand the impact of digital banking services on the community banker – small business owner relationship. Using data collected in a survey of community bankers and small business owners in five southeastern United States, this study assesses the viability of the trusted advisor construct by applying the Integrative Model of Organizational Trust (Mayer, Davis, & Schoorman, 1995, 2007), trust-building behaviors …

The Impact Of User-Generated Content And Online Reaction Videos On The Marketing Of Video Games, Diane R. Edmondson, Randy Clark, Trevor Golter

Atlantic Marketing Journal

Modern developments in social media, video streaming platforms, and user-generated online content from influencers have led to a growth in video game marketing. One of the prominent genres of user-generated content on video platforms is the reaction video. These videos are relied upon for spreading information and marketing in the video game industry. Providing a better understanding of the impact of this video game promotional outlet is beneficial for marketers, social media influencers, and businesses in this industry. We collected data from 623 Southeastern University undergraduate students to address this topic using a Qualtrics survey. The survey consisted of two …

Unveiling Risk Strategies In The Online Food Delivery Platforms: Evidence From Risk Disclosures And Reprisk Index, Maryam Mahdikhani, Jiyoon An, Arim Park

Atlantic Marketing Journal

Online Food Delivery Platforms (OFDPs) have faced unique challenges related to uncertainty and global risk in recent decades. To address these risks, this study utilized machine learning (ML) techniques, including Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) and Word2Vec, to extract and cluster OFDP-related risk factors. The analysis was conducted using unstructured text data from the annual reports of two prominent OFDP companies—Delivery Hero (DH) and Grubhub (GH)—from 2017 to 2020. We also examined the multidimensional RepRisk Index (RRI) for these companies and developed a two-dimensional matrix to evaluate preparedness and responsiveness across various risk categories in the OFDP sector. The results indicate …

Sales Skill Development For Next Generation Of Accounting Professionals: From Accountant To Partner, Scott Cohen, Dena Breece, Michael Rodriguez, Chelsea Schrader

Atlantic Marketing Journal

With the exodus of accounting professionals due to retirement, firms are challenged to replace skilled employees with a newer generation, Millenials and Generation Z (CPA Practice Advisor, 2024). To bridge the gap, the authors explore how soft skills (communication and relationship management) are necessary for newer accounting professionals to not only fill the talent gap but also help them be promoted to senior-level positions in their firms. Using Human Capital Theory (HCT) as our foundation, a content analysis using responses from 30 accounting leaders found unique skills such as communication, presentation, and relationship building are crucial in the development of …

Do The Effects Of Ethnocentrism And Cosmopolitanism Depend On Countries-Of-Origins? An Empirical Study Of U.S. Consumers, Thomas Tanner, Jung Kim, Ronda Mariani

Atlantic Marketing Journal

Consumer ethnocentrism and cosmopolitanism have been shown to be instrumental factors for the evaluation and purchase of foreign products. Many prior studies have provided evidence that ethnocentric consumers have lower willingness to buy for products that originated from foreign countries, while cosmopolitan consumers have higher willingness to buy. However, prior research has been conducted in the research setting where only one foreign country is pit against home country. Therefore, it is not clear whether their direct impacts on animosity, product judgement, and willingness to buy will be homogeneous, regardless of countries-of-origin. In other words, do consumers hold the same degree …

From Backlash To Brand Loyalty: How Self-Congruity And Generation Shape Consumer Intentions After A Failed Influencer Campaign, Dexter L. Purnell, Kimberly V. Legocki, Steven R. Barnes, Jessica Chapman

Atlantic Marketing Journal

This study examines consumer responses to corporate social advocacy (CSA) surrounding Bud Light’s partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. We fielded a cross-sectional survey of U.S. beer drinkers (N = 386) measuring actual and ideal self-congruity, generational cohort, and purchase intention. Using PROCESS Model 4 with bootstrap confidence intervals, we tested whether self-congruity mediates the relationship between generation and purchase intention. Self-congruity strongly predicted purchase intention, and indirect effects of generation via both actual and ideal self-congruity were statistically significant. Conditional (contrast-specific) indirect effects were observed only for Gen X, indicating cohort-specific pathways from CSA to purchase intention through identity …

Podcast Advertising And Its Role In Higher Education Marketing, Mark D. Cistulli, Jason L. Snyder

Atlantic Marketing Journal

Podcast advertising has become an important component in marketing campaigns for organizations to reach their target audiences. With the explosion of popularity of podcasts, so too does the opportunity for marketers to promote their products and services. In this study, we are focusing on the impact of a graduate program ad on attitudes and behavioral intentions associated with the university in the ad. Participants were exposed to part of a podcast with the ad embedded mid-roll and then responded to a survey about their evaluation of the ad and subsequent intentions to consider attending graduate school at the university advertised. …

Warhol Speaks: How One Museum Leverages Communications Strategies To Engage In An Era Of Innovation And Value Creation, Kristina Kaufman, Peter Kaufman

Atlantic Marketing Journal

As museums face increasing competition for guests amidst a growing number of cultural options, these institutions are challenged to reinvent themselves to offer a more modern experience for guests that addresses inclusivity, and a balance of active (engaging) and passive (reflective) experiences. This paper documents researcher observation at The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Through the lens of sensory perception theory, several themes emerge as communication strategies that aim to offer visitor engagement and added value. This paper analyzes and highlights how museums can offer multisensory experiences which cater to guests’ ability to cognitively invest and engage with the …

Honesty In Marketing Communications: The Role Of Humor, Can Trinh

Atlantic Marketing Journal

Amid the crisis of trust in the marketplace, there have been increasing calls for advertisers to show more honesty in marketing communications. However, firms are still hesitant to follow suit out of concerns that more honesty may mean more losses than gains. Against such background, there is still scant empirical evidence about the effect of honest marketing communications on marketing outcomes to help provide practical guidance for marketers. The present research helps fill this crucial gap by examining the role of humor in honest marketing communications. Three studies in this research reveal novel insights that an interrelationship exists between humor …

The Impact Of “Humorous” Ads Featuring Social Media Influencers On Perceptions Of The Influencer, Brand, And Purchase Intention, Jason L. Snyder, Robert Forbus

Atlantic Marketing Journal

The present study explored the use of humor in social media ads that featured both a product being advertised and a social media influencer (SMI). Using extant literature and the theory of planned behavior as guides, the goal of the study was to explore the role of perceived humorousness on consumer perceptions of the SMI, the ad, the brand, and consumer purchase intentions. The experiment (N = 292) exposed self-identified males living in the U.S. between the ages of 18 and 40 to one of two versions of an ad for a men’s grooming product. The ads were run …

The Body Positivity Movement: Improving Female College Students Mental Health And Body Appreciation, Emilie Conners, Lucy Matthews, Diane R. Edmondson

Atlantic Marketing Journal

Body image concerns among college-aged women continue to be an immense issue across many college campuses. As technology advances, it has become more common for young girls and women to edit their social media photos and focus more on their flaws. Body image has a significant impact on mental and physical health; therefore, it is vital that these concerns are addressed and fought. One movement recently used as a possible way to combat this concern is the body positivity movement. However, more research is needed to understand the impact of this movement on young women. Survey data was collected via …

Trust Relationships: Tales From The Web, Magdoleen Ierlan

Atlantic Marketing Journal

Trust is an important component of any purchasing situation. In an online setting, trust becomes even more important as buyer and seller are not able to directly interact with one another. Compounding the situation is the fact that the consumer cannot directly experience the product under consideration. Organizations have attempted to address this shortcoming by allowing third parties to offer reviews of the product in question. This paper addresses how consumers process these product reviews.

By rooting this paper in trust and uncertainty reduction theory, a testable model was developed. The model was tested, and in general, more helpful reviews, …

The Impact Of Demographics And Cause Related Marketing Participation In The Black Lives Matter Movement On Company Image, Jerome Christia, Joseph Njuki

Atlantic Marketing Journal

Cause Related Marketing is an impactful marketing strategy for companies concerned about improving or maintaining their company image. This study examines the effect of cause related marketing participation Black Lives Matter movement and demographics of supporters on company image. Questionnaires from 106 respondents were collected, analyzed, and results presented. The paper reviews cause related marketing, the Black Lives Matter movement, and company image. In addition, demographic characteristics are investigated for respondent perspectives on company image. Our research indicates that there is a positive and significant relationship between cause related marketing participation in the Black Lives Matter movement on company image. …

The Black Lives Matter Movement: A Systemic Crisis That Expands Crisis Response Theory, Pam Richardson-Greenfield, Alyssa Reynolds, Ryan Cruz, Monique Bell

Atlantic Marketing Journal

Relevance to Marketing Educators, Researchers, and/or Practitioners – In response to George Floyd’s death, a variety of organizations posted messages against racism and some began to openly support Black Lives Matter, often by name, in their corporate communication initiatives. With promises of financial commitments to uplift Black communities, calls for action, and initiatives to support internal change—large and small companies, non-profits and universities—could be perceived as courageous for establishing new protocols to support such a warranted change. However, in the era of “woke washing,” or inauthentic social justice messaging, the need to assess the authenticity of corporate statements of support …

Healthcare Marketing Communication: Media Usage And Psychographic Profiles For Baby Boomer, Gen X, And Millennial Consumers, Terry Damron, Joe Cangelosi, David Kim, Ed Ranelli

Atlantic Marketing Journal

Abstract

Purpose Preventive health care information (PHCI), which functions as a cost-effective or cost-saving means of reducing mortality and improving life quality, also fuels consumer demand for otherwise underutilized preventive medical services, thereby improving profitability for service providers. This study provides healthcare marketing professionals with media usage insights and psychographic profiles useful for developing effective PHCI communication strategies.

Design This research is based on questionnaire responses (n = 813). Analysis of the variance (ANOVA) was used to assess and compare the importance consumers assigned to online PHCI sources. Factor analysis was used to determine whether attitude patterns tended to …

Generating Clicks: Display Advertising Within Social Media, Ronda Mariani, Thomas Tanner, Loreen Powell

Atlantic Marketing Journal

This research study developed a comprehensive social community prototype and tested a variety of display advertising scenarios to determine which scenario motivated social media users to click. Empirical research based upon 503 users of social media led to the development of several independent variables, which were identified in the study as display advertising scenarios. The display advertising scenarios tested in the study were video, animation, engagement, and brand familiarity, as well as the size and location of the display advertising within each social media prototype web page. Data collected identified which display advertisement scenarios motivated a social media user to …

Chatgpt Unveiled: Unleashing Ai Magic In Online Shopping And Digital Marketing, Jianping Huang, Mark J. Sciuchetti Dr.

Atlantic Marketing Journal

This research paper explores the use of AI, specifically ChatGPT, in interactive activities within

online shopping and digital marketing. The paper examines the potential of AI-powered chatbots

to enhance customer engagement, personalization, and marketing effectiveness. Through a

literature review, case studies, and user feedback analysis, the research highlights the benefits of

AI chatbots in providing real-time assistance, personalized recommendations, and improved

customer experiences. The paper also addresses ethical and privacy concerns associated with AI

implementation and discusses future research directions. The findings are expected to suggest

that AI-powered chatbots have the potential to revolutionize online shopping and digital

marketing by …

Great Expectations: Consumer-Brand Relationships And Their Influence On The Organizational Outcomes Of Brand Transgressions, Sabrina Viscomi

Atlantic Marketing Journal

The business landscape has shifted from simply delivering quality products and services to creating shared value. It does this by fulfilling consumers’ deeper needs and meeting their increasingly high expectations. Brand transgressions inhibit organizations’ ability to meet consumers’ demands, complicating the consumer-brand relationship. As a result, brands are often unprepared to deal with the consequences of transgressions, which can be costly. The purpose of this research is to explore the influence of prior consumer-brand relationships on the organizational outcomes of brand transgressions through the lens of social contract theory. This systematic review synthesizes 39 articles to derive five analytical themes: …

The Impact Of Insult Ad Reads On Podcast Listeners, Jason L. Snyder, Mark D. Cistulli

Atlantic Marketing Journal

Audio podcasts have grown in popularity. Forty-six million Americans tune into an average of six podcasts each week (Nielson, 2020) and ad revenues are projected to top $4 billion by 2024 (IAB, 2022). To enhance the appeal of ads, many podcasters use humor in their ad reads. Although humor can be effective (Weinberger & Gulas, 1992) and reinforce the parasocial relationship between podcaster and audience, are there times when that humor has negative consequences? In this study, we are concerned primarily with the use of insult advertising in which the podcaster uses humor that targes the brand/product being endorsed. Participants …

An Investigation Of The Association Between Tourist Pre-Trip Planning Time And Length Of Trip, Lodging Choice, Tourist Psychographics And Demographics: An Application Of Correspondence Analysis And Cramér’S V Effect Size, James E. Stoddard, George D. Shows

Atlantic Marketing Journal

When performing survey research it is normal to collect descriptive information such as income, gender, highest education attainment, and others. This information is used to categorize the collected research responses into groups. This nominal or ordinal data may also be used to find patterns in the collected data and suggest relationships. As an exploratory research method, it can suggest future research possibilities to confirm these relationships. This paper introduces the use of Correspondence Analysis (CA) as a research technique to suggest possible relationships using nominal or ordinal data, using collected research from a survey performed to measure tourist preferences in …

Images In Service Marketing: Does Presentation Style Matter?, Can Trinh

Atlantic Marketing Journal

This research presents a pioneering attempt to examine whether the use of abstract images would be more effective than the use of concrete images in the case of service marketing. Based on construal level theory, we hypothesize that relative to the use of concrete images, the use of abstract images in service marketing will better match the intangible nature of services and will thus increase communication effectiveness. Two studies in this research provide evidence to support these propositions by showing that relative to the use of concrete images, the use of abstract images can enhance ad visuals, which in turn …

Happy Campers Or Unhappy Prisoners: How Materialism Punishes Us In Lockdown Times, Banwari Mittal

Atlantic Marketing Journal

COVID-19 and the resulting lockdowns created an unprecedented upheaval in consumers’ daily lives and lifestyles. The purpose of this research was to understand the psychological experience of life under lockdowns and the role of individual difference variables in that experience. Using survey data from U.S. consumers, the research identified two opposite feelings, coexisting: happy camper feeling or unhappy prisoner feeling. Younger, lower income, and less educated consumers felt more like prisoners than campers. Ability to maintain life as usual, and positive pre-pandemic life conditions (health, social network, and job satisfaction) led to happy camper feelings. In contrast, pre-pandemic materialism led …

Marketing Orientation: A Longitudinal Study Of Community Banks, Stephen C. Carlson, Gerald Sullivan, Susanna Warnock, Margaret Ryder

Atlantic Marketing Journal

Marketing orientation has long been touted as a means of improved business performance and a key to success in marketing management (Kotler, Keller & Chernev, 2021). This is a longitudinal study of community banks examining marketing orientation and business performance using a survey instrument based on the work of Narver and Slater (1990) and Kohli and Jaworski (1990).

Four survey datasets cover the period preceding the Great Recession (2003-2005), the Great Recession and its fallout (2008-2010), a Post–Great Recession period (2014-2016), and the COVID-19 period (2020). Survey responses were gathered from a selected set of community bank CEOs in the …

Brand Activism In The Age Of Black Lives Matter Movement, Peter M. Mwencha, Reuben K. Njuguna

Atlantic Marketing Journal

This study provides a review of brand activism phenomenon against the background of the Black Lives Matter movement. It is informed by the growing number of activist customers, leaders and corporations that are taking a stand on divisive social and political issues that exists in today’s America. It finds that while socially-conscious consumers respond better to brands that support socio-political causes that they identify with, leaders and corporations should exercise caution when engaging in activism due to its divisiveness as well as the difficulty in aligning a brand’s public stance on an issue and consumers’ beliefs. The study recommends that …