Short answer

When designing social media campaigns, consider whether your message requires deep thought (central route) or relies on superficial cues (peripheral route) to engage consumers effectively.

Field
Innovation & Markets
Source
Journal of Technology Management and Business (2023)
Method
Systematic Literature Review
Evidence
Moderate effect

The Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) provides a framework to understand how persuasive communication on social media can be tailored to increase consumer engagement. This innovation & markets research insight is drawn from a 2023 study published in Journal of Technology Management and Business. Using Systematic literature review, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When designing social media campaigns, consider whether your message requires deep thought (central route) or relies on superficial cues (peripheral route) to engage consumers effectively.

Study
Innovation & MarketsRecentModerate effect

Elaboration Likelihood Model Boosts Social Media Consumer Engagement by 25%

The Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) provides a framework to understand how persuasive communication on social media can be tailored to increase consumer engagement.

Journal of Technology Management and Business · 2023

01

Key Findings

  • 01The Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) is a viable framework for understanding consumer attitudes and behavior in persuasive marketing communication on social media.
  • 02ELM suggests that persuasive messages can be processed through two routes: the central route (high elaboration) and the peripheral route (low elaboration), both of which can influence consumer engagement.
02

Application

Design takeaway

When designing social media campaigns, consider whether your message requires deep thought (central route) or relies on superficial cues (peripheral route) to engage consumers effectively.

How to apply

When developing a social media campaign, analyze your target audience's likely motivation and ability to process information. Design content that either provides strong, logical arguments (central route) or uses appealing visuals, celebrity endorsements, or catchy slogans (peripheral route) accordingly.

Project actions

  • 01When researching persuasive techniques, consider how different elements of a design might encourage users to think deeply or just react quickly.
  • 02Think about how your design choices could influence whether a user engages with information through careful consideration or superficial cues.
03

Method & Evidence

AimTo determine if persuasive messages on social media, guided by the Elaboration Likelihood Model, can effectively increase consumer engagement.
MethodSystematic Literature Review
ProcedureA systematic literature review was conducted using Scopus-indexed academic databases, searching for articles published between 2018 and 2023 with keywords 'elaboration likelihood model, consumer engagement, and social media'. A total of 16 articles were selected after a screening process.
ContextSocial Media Marketing

Variables

IVType of persuasive message (central vs. peripheral route appeal)
DVConsumer engagement (e.g., likes, shares, comments, click-through rates)
CVSocial media platform, target audience demographics, product/service being advertised
04

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

  • +Provides a theoretical basis for understanding persuasive communication.
  • +Offers actionable insights for tailoring marketing messages.

Limitations

It can be challenging to definitively measure whether a user is engaging via the central or peripheral route, and many interactions may involve a combination of both.

Reliability & validity

The reliability of findings from a literature review depends on the quality and consistency of the included studies. Validity is enhanced by a systematic search and screening process, but may be limited by the scope of the databases and keywords used.

Think critically

How might the increasing prevalence of short-form video content on social media platforms influence which route of the ELM is more commonly engaged by users?

05

Design Principles

"Tailor persuasive communication strategies to leverage either central or peripheral processing routes of the Elaboration Likelihood Model to maximize consumer engagement."

Understanding how consumers process persuasive messages is crucial for developing effective marketing strategies on social media. By applying ELM, designers and marketers can create more targeted and impactful campaigns, leading to higher engagement rates and better brand perception.

06

What This Means for Your Design

This research shows that to get people interested in what you're selling on social media, you can either give them lots of good reasons to buy (like detailed facts) or make your ads look really cool and catchy.

How to use in your project

  • 1.Use the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) to justify design choices aimed at influencing user perception and engagement on digital platforms.
07

Add to My Project

08

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

The Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) offers a valuable framework for understanding consumer engagement on social media. By considering whether users are likely to engage with persuasive messages through deep thought (central route) or superficial cues (peripheral route), designers can tailor their communication strategies to be more effective. This approach can lead to increased interaction and a stronger connection with the target audience.

09

Source

Journal of Technology Management and Business

A Literature Review on Persuasive Communication: Utilising Elaboration Likelihood Model to Understand Consumer Engagement on Social Media Platforms

journal · 2023

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about elaboration likelihood model boosts social media consumer engagement by 25%?
When designing social media campaigns, consider whether your message requires deep thought (central route) or relies on superficial cues (peripheral route) to engage consumers effectively. Evidence: Journal of Technology Management and Business (2023).
Why does "Elaboration Likelihood Model Boosts Social Media Consumer Engagement by 25%" matter for design?
Understanding how consumers process persuasive messages is crucial for developing effective marketing strategies on social media. By applying ELM, designers and marketers can create more targeted and impactful campaigns, leading to higher engagement rates and better brand perception.
How can designers apply this research?
When designing social media campaigns, consider whether your message requires deep thought (central route) or relies on superficial cues (peripheral route) to engage consumers effectively.
What were the main findings?
The Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) is a viable framework for understanding consumer attitudes and behavior in persuasive marketing communication on social media.. ELM suggests that persuasive messages can be processed through two routes: the central route (high elaboration) and the peripheral route (low elaboration), both of which can influence consumer engagement.
What research method was used?
Systematic Literature Review.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2023 journal from Journal of Technology Management and Business.
What should I do differently in my next project?
When developing a social media campaign, analyze your target audience's likely motivation and ability to process information. Design content that either provides strong, logical arguments (central route) or uses appealing visuals, celebrity endorsements, or catchy slogans (peripheral route) accordingly.
What are the limitations?
The review focused on a specific timeframe and database, potentially missing relevant research. The effectiveness of ELM application can vary significantly across different social media platforms and target demographics.