Does Influencer Credibility Directly Drive Purchases? Evidence from Indonesian Social Commerce Users
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.38035/dijefa.v6i4.4767Keywords:
Social Commerce, Sales Promotion, Influencer Credibility, Purchase Intention, Purchase Decision, IndonesiaAbstract
This paper discusses the effects of credibility of influencer and sales promotions on consumers' purchasing decisions within social commerce, particularly in the Indonesian market. It further analyzes how purchase intention mediates, offering guidance for optimizing marketing tactics in this expanding digital landscape. A quantitative approach was utilized through an empirical survey involving 150 active social commerce users to perform the research. The survey held across the Indonesian cities of Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi (Jabodetabek). Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and principal component analysis (PCA) were applied using SmartPLS software for structural model analysis and measurement. This paper reveals that both sales promotions and influencer credibility significantly enhance customers' purchase intentions, which subsequently drive their purchase decisions in social commerce. Sales promotions directly affect purchasing, while influencer credibility primarily boosts purchase intentions that indirectly lead to buying actions. This highlights the value of credible influencers and targeted promotions in increasing consumer engagement and conversions. This paper combined an analysis of influencer credibility and sales promotions on purchase decisions within social commerce, specifically in the Indonesian market. Unlike prior studies that examine these factors individually, this research integrates both elements with purchase intention as a mediating factor. This approach provides a more enhanced model for understanding consumer behavior in a social commerce environment.
References
AlFarraj, O., Alalwan, A. A., Obeidat, Z. M., Baabdullah, A., Aldmour, R., & Al-Haddad, S. (2021). Examining the impact of influencers’ credibility dimensions: attractiveness, trustworthiness and expertise on the purchase intention in the aesthetic dermatology industry. Review of International Business and Strategy, 31(3), 355–374. https://doi.org/10.1108/RIBS-07-2020-0089
Anderson, J. C., Kellogg, J. L., & Gerbing, D. W. (1988). Structural Equation Modeling in Practice: A Review and Recommended Two-Step Approach. In Psychological Bulletin (Vol. 103, Issue 3).
Ao, L., Bansal, R., Pruthi, N., & Khaskheli, M. B. (2023). Impact of Social Media Influencers on Customer Engagement and Purchase Intention: A Meta-Analysis. Sustainability (Switzerland), 15(3). https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032744
Arief, M., Mustikowati, R. I., & Chrismardani, Y. (2023). Why customers buy an online product? The effects of advertising attractiveness, influencer marketing and online customer reviews. LBS Journal of Management & Research, 21(1), 81–99. https://doi.org/10.1108/lbsjmr-09-2022-0052
Bagozzi, R. P., & Yi, Y. (1988). On the evaluation of structural equation models. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 16(1), 74–94. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02723327
Bandyopadhyay, N., Sivakumaran, B., Patro, S., & Kumar, R. S. (2021). Immediate or delayed! Whether various types of consumer sales promotions drive impulse buying?: An empirical investigation. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2021.102532
Caiado, F., Fonseca, J., Silva, J., Neves, S., Moreira, A., Gonçalves, R., Martins, J., Branco, F., & Au-Yong-Oliveira, M. (2023). The impact of digital influencers on product/service purchase decision making—An exploratory case study of Portuguese people. Expert Systems. https://doi.org/10.1111/exsy.13381
Chen, L. R., Chen, F. S., & Chen, D. F. (2023). Effect of Social Presence toward Livestream E-Commerce on Consumers’ Purchase Intention. Sustainability (Switzerland), 15(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043571
Firdausy, C. M., & Fernanda, M. (2021). The effects of sales promotion, attractiveness of internet advertising, and website quality on impulse buying of consumers of Tokopedia in Indonesia The effects of sales promotion, attractiveness of internet advertising. In Int. J. Management and Enterprise Development (Vol. 20, Issue 1).
Fornell, C., & Larcker, D. F. (1981). Evaluating Structural Equation Models with Unobservable Variables and Measurement Error. Journal of Marketing Research, 18(1), 39–50. https://doi.org/10.2307/3151312
Gorji, M., & Siami, S. (2020). How sales promotion display affects customer shopping intentions in retails. International Journal of Retail and Distribution Management, 48(12), 1337–1355. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJRDM-12-2019-0407
Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C. M., Sarstedt, M., Danks, N. P., & Ray, S. (2021). An Introduction to Structural Equation Modeling. In J. F. Hair Jr., G. T. M. Hult, C. M. Ringle, M. Sarstedt, N. P. Danks, & S. Ray (Eds.), Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) Using R: A Workbook (pp. 1–29). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80519-7_1
Hidayat, A., Wijaya, T., Ishak, A., & Endi Catyanadika, P. (2021). Consumer trust as the antecedent of online consumer purchase decision. Information (Switzerland), 12(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/info12040145
Hmurovic, J., Lamberton, C., & Goldsmith, K. (2022). Examining the Efficacy of Time Scarcity Marketing Promotions in Online Retail. Journal of Marketing Research, 60(2), 299–328. https://doi.org/10.1177/00222437221118856
Jee, T. W. (2021). The perception of discount sales promotions – A utilitarian and hedonic perspective. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2021.102745
Kaveh, A., Nazari, M., van der Rest, J. P., & Mira, S. A. (2021). Customer engagement in sales promotion. Marketing Intelligence and Planning, 39(3), 424–437. https://doi.org/10.1108/MIP-11-2019-0582
Khan, Y., Hameed, I., & Akram, U. (2023). What drives attitude, purchase intention and consumer buying behavior toward organic food? A self-determination theory and theory of planned behavior perspective. British Food Journal, 125(7), 2572–2587. https://doi.org/10.1108/BFJ-07-2022-0564
Konstantopoulou, A., Rizomyliotis, I., Konstantoulaki, K., & Badahdah, R. (2019). Improving SMEs’ competitiveness with the use of Instagram influencer advertising and eWOM. International Journal of Organizational Analysis, 27(2), 308–321. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOA-04-2018-1406
Li, S., & Jaharuddin, N. S. (2021). Influences of background factors on consumers’ purchase intention in China’s organic food market: Assessing moderating role of word-of-mouth (WOM). Cogent Business and Management, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2021.1876296
Liu, M. (2022). Determining the Role of Influencers’ Marketing Initiatives on Fast Fashion Industry Sustainability: The Mediating Role of Purchase Intention. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.940649
Lou, C., & Yuan, S. (2019). Influencer Marketing: How Message Value and Credibility Affect Consumer Trust of Branded Content on Social Media. Journal of Interactive Advertising, 19(1), 58–73. https://doi.org/10.1080/15252019.2018.1533501
Mahmud, M. S., Islam, M. N., Ali, M. R., & Mehjabin, N. (2024). Impact of Electronic Word of Mouth on Customers’ Buying Intention Considering Trust as a Mediator: A SEM Approach. Global Business Review, 25(2_suppl), S184–S198. https://doi.org/10.1177/0972150920976345
Mandolfo, M., Bettiga, D., Lamberti, L., & Noci, G. (2022). Influence of Sales Promotion on Impulse Buying: A Dual Process Approach. Journal of Promotion Management, 28(8), 1212–1234. https://doi.org/10.1080/10496491.2022.2060415
Masuda, H., Han, S. H., & Lee, J. (2022). Impacts of influencer attributes on purchase intentions in social media influencer marketing: Mediating roles of characterizations. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 174, 121246. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2021.121246
Meilatinova, N. (2021). Social commerce: Factors affecting customer repurchase and word-of-mouth intentions. International Journal of Information Management, 57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2020.102300
Ngarmwongnoi, C., Oliveira, J. S., AbedRabbo, M., & Mousavi, S. (2020). The implications of eWOM adoption on the customer journey. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 37(7), 749–759. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCM-10-2019-3450
Oebit, C. E. S., & Juniarti, S. (2023). Measurement of Determinants of Purchase Decision on Retail Products. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 7(8), 482–492. https://doi.org/DOI:,
Pick, M. (2021). Psychological ownership in social media influencer marketing. European Business Review, 33(1). https://doi.org/10.1108/EBR-08-2019-0165
Pop, R. A., S?pl?can, Z., Dabija, D. C., & Alt, M. A. (2022). The impact of social media influencers on travel decisions: the role of trust in consumer decision journey. Current Issues in Tourism, 25(5), 823–843. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2021.1895729
Shamim, K., & Islam, T. (2022). Digital influencer marketing: How message credibility and media credibility affect trust and impulsive buying. Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science: Bridging Asia and the World, 32(4), 601–626. https://doi.org/10.1080/21639159.2022.2052342
Sinha, S. K., & Verma, P. (2020). Impact of sales Promotion’s benefits on perceived value: Does product category moderate the results? Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2019.101887
Sohn, J. W., & Kim, J. K. (2020). Factors that influence purchase intentions in social commerce. Technology in Society, 63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2020.101365
Sokolova, K., & Kefi, H. (2020). Instagram and YouTube bloggers promote it, why should I buy? How credibility and parasocial interaction influence purchase intentions. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2019.01.011
Statista. (2024, August 26). Indonesia: social commerce users 2028 | Statista. Statista. https://www.statista.com/forecasts/1450115/indonesia-social-commerce-users
Weismueller, J., Harrigan, P., Wang, S., & Soutar, G. N. (2020). Influencer endorsements: How advertising disclosure and source credibility affect consumer purchase intention on social media. Australasian Marketing Journal, 28(4), 160–170. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ausmj.2020.03.002
Wiedmann, K. P., & von Mettenheim, W. (2020). Attractiveness, trustworthiness and expertise – social influencers’ winning formula? Journal of Product and Brand Management, 30(5), 707–725. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPBM-06-2019-2442
Wim, Janssens., Wijnen, Katrien., Pelsmacker, P. de., & Van Kenhove, Patrick. (2008). Marketing research with SPSS. [FT Publishing International].
Wu, Y., Xin, L., Li, D., Yu, J., & Guo, J. (2021). How does scarcity promotion lead to impulse purchase in the online market? A field experiment. Information and Management, 58(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.im.2020.103283.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Anthony Kurniawan, Christian Setiawan, Fredric Wijaya, Anthonius Sogodoran Hutabarat

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish their manuscripts in this journal agree to the following conditions:
- The copyright on each article belongs to the author(s).
- The author acknowledges that the Dinasti International Journal of Economics, Finance & Accounting (DIJEFA) has the right to be the first to publish with a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license (Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0).
- Authors can submit articles separately, arrange for the non-exclusive distribution of manuscripts that have been published in this journal into other versions (e.g., sent to the author's institutional repository, publication into books, etc.), by acknowledging that the manuscript has been published for the first time in the Dinasti International Journal of Economics, Finance & Accounting (DIJEFA).










































