How Streamers Enhance Consumer Engagement and Brand Equity in Live Commerce

Abstract

Live steamers play key roles in enhancing brand equity in live commerce. Understanding the mechanism of how streamers impact brand equity in live commerce is of great significance for firms to launch live streaming, influencer, and engagement marketing campaigns. Building on social support, consumer engagement and brand equity theories, this study investigates the impact of perceived streamer support on consumer engagement, which in turn affects brand equity in live commerce settings. Based upon analysis of the data from 264 questionnaires with SmartPLS3.0 software, the results demonstrate that 1) perceived emotional, informational and financial support positively impact brand engagement, streamer engagement and live studio engagement separately; 2) brand engagement and streamer engagement positively impact brand equity respectively; and 3) streamer engagement positively impacts brand engagement and live studio engagement respectively. The findings provide conducive guidance for firms to develop live streaming, influencer, and engagement marketing campaigns.