Website words matter: an analysis of business schools' online brand personalities

Abstract

This study investigates how a business school website informs a prospective student about the school's brand personality. Using a content analytical approach, words were extracted from business school websites in one major US market. The results of this research demonstrated the utility of a dictionary-based approach to identifying brand personality, and that within the sample, business schools at public universities signalled more competence, while those at private universities exhibited more excitement and sincerity. Also, higher enrolment business schools portrayed themselves as more competent, while lower enrolment schools described themselves as more sincere. Interestingly, there was no difference between AACSB-accredited and non-AACSB schools on the brand personality dimension, competence. Implications and directions for future research are discussed in detail.