PROPOSED MODELS FOR CSR MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS ON FACEBOOK BASED ON COMPANY-CAUSE FIT AND CONSUMER RESPONSES

Abstract

Businesses should use Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) marketing communications to show genuine support for stakeholders affected by the Covid19 pandemic. Two forms of CSR marketing communications were focused on: cause-related marketing (CRM) and cause sponsorship (CS). This research looked into how CRM and CS impact customer responses to: a) like/join the company's Facebook page, b) exchange CSR activities through eWOM (electronic word-of-mouth), and c) intention to buy the company's products and services (purchase intention). The company-cause fit was the dependent variable that was tested against the three responses. A survey-based within-subjects experiment of CRM and CS x 2 (good fit / bad fit) was conducted on active Facebook users aged 18 to 64 years old. Ten (10) pre-selected firms from the Philippines' Top 30 Businesses were listed, These companies released both CRM and CS Facebook posts. The CRM posts were shown to half of the sample size (n=136), while the CS posts were shown to the other half (n=136) and rated by a questionnaire. This research suggested models based on regression analysis and modeling that would advise companies how to better conduct CRM and CS online operations in order to maximize investments, especially during periods of crisis like the Covid19 pandemic.