Study goals
To propose an integrated conceptual model combining perceived authenticity, symbolic congruence, emotional engagement, and virality to explain the causal cycle of digital influence in brand endorsement and its effects on consumer behavior and brand relationships.
Relevance / originality
Integrates fragmented literature into an iterative causal model, connecting psychosocial, strategic, and reputational aspects of digital influence, offering a novel approach to understand and predict brand endorsement effects on social media.
Methodology / approach
Systematic literature review in Scopus and Web of Science (2019–2023), thematic analysis using Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) topic modeling, and theoretical interpretation to propose an iterative conceptual model of the digital influence cycle.
Main results
The proposed model identifies five interconnected dimensions in the digital influence cycle, exposure, engagement and credibility, symbolic alignment, purchase intention conversion, and virality providing a systemic, predictive reading of endorsement impact in social media.
Theoretical / methodological contributions
Advances influencer marketing theory by integrating antecedents, mediators, and effects of brand endorsement into an iterative causal structure validated through automated thematic analysis, overcoming fragmented approaches and providing a conceptual basis for future empirical research.
Social / management contributions
Offers managers strategic parameters to select influencers, plan campaigns, and assess impacts considering authenticity, congruence, and reputation, enabling evidence-based decisions and optimized communication in complex digital ecosystems.