Management and Labour Studies, Ahead of Print.
In the contemporary business environment, the increasing competition and dynamics have made it very difficult for businesses to attract and retain customers. Understating the variables of consumer buying behaviour can go a long way in addressing this problem. This study explores the impact of social media on users’ complex buying behaviour. The mediating effect of perception has been studied between social media and users’ complex buying behaviour; also, the moderating effect of extended social media usage on the proposed relationships was evaluated. Data for the study were collected from social media users through an online survey using a structured questionnaire specifically developed and validated for the purpose. The data were analysed with the help of structural equation modelling using SPSS and AMOS software. The results of the study indicated that social media has a positive and significant effect on users’ complex buying behaviour as well as users’ perception. In addition, the results demonstrated that perception partially mediates the relationship between social media and users’ complex buying behaviour. Finally, the study indicated that extended social media usage acts as an enhancing moderator in the proposed framework. The outcomes of this study may be used as the basis by marketing managers to assimilate social media into the existing integrated marketing mix, to attract, retain and nurture customers.