The Influence of Online Consumer Reviews and Viral Marketing on Purchasing Decisions with Consumer Trust as an Intervening Variable for Elformula Products on TikTok Shop in Tebing Tinggi City

Authors

  • Ismail Napitupulu Universitas Sumatera Utara
  • Endang Sulistya Rini Universitas Sumatera Utara
  • Fadli Universitas Sumatera Utara

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55927/ijabm.v4i3.385

Keywords:

Online Consumer Reviews, Viral Marketing, Consumer Trust, Purchasing Decisions

Abstract

This study is a quantitative study that aims to examine the influence of online consumer reviews and viral marketing on purchasing decisions, with consumer trust as an intervening variable, among consumers of Elformula products on TikTok Shop in Tebing Tinggi City. Using purposive sampling, this study involved 147 respondents who had been exposed to viral content and Elformula reviews on TikTok. Analysis was conducted using SEM-PLS techniques on 21 indicators. The results of the study indicate that online consumer reviews do not have a direct effect on purchasing decisions but significantly influence consumer trust, which in turn mediates their effect on purchasing decisions. Viral marketing was found to have a direct and significant effect on purchasing decisions and on consumer trust, and also has an indirect effect on purchasing decisions through consumer trust

References

Aaker, David A, V Kumar, Robert P Leone, and George S Day. 2019. Marketing Research. Edited by Wiley India Pvt. 11th ed. Wiley India Pvt. www.wileyindia.com.

Achrol, Ravi, and Philip Kotler. 2016. “Marketing’s Lost Frontier: The Poor.” Markets, Globalization & Development Review 1 (1).

Aditi, Bunga, Arifin Djakasaputra, Dwi Dewianawati, Soegeng Wahyoedi, and T Titin. 2022. “Supply Chain Performance and Visit Interest of Restaurants: The Role of Buzz and Viral Marketing Strategic.” Uncertain Supply Chain Management 10 (2): 437–44.

Aileen, Ezra, Orlando Gaberamos, Innocentius Bernarto, and Henry Pasaribu. 2021. “The Effect Of Social Media Marketing, Word Of Mouth, And Effectiveness Of Advertising On Brand Awareness And Purchase Intention On Grab Application Users Domicile Of Tangerang.” Enrichment: Journal of Management 12 (1): 426–41.

Aji, Martani, Netti Nurlenawati, Dexi Triadinda, Program Studi Manajemen, Fakultas Ekonomi dan Bisnis, and Universitas Buana Perjuangan Karawang. 2023. “The Influence Of Online Customer Review And Customer Rating On Interest In Buying Fashion Products On The Shopee Platform (Study On Management Students At University Buana Perjuangan Karawang) Pengaruh Online Customer Review Dan Customer Rating Terhadap M.” Management Studies and Entrepreneurship Journal 4 (6): 9373–92. http://journal.yrpipku.com/index.php/msej.

Alan, Wilson, Valarie Zeithaml, Mary Bitner, and Dwayne Gremler. 2020. Services Marketing: Integrating Customer Focus Across the Firm. Managing Service Quality: An International Journal. Vol. 14. https://doi.org/10.1108/msq.2004.14.5.436.1.

Algharabat, Raed, Nripendra P Rana, Ali Abdallah Alalwan, Abdullah Baabdullah, and Ashish Gupta. 2020. “Investigating the Antecedents of Customer Brand Engagement and Consumer-Based Brand Equity in Social Media.” Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services 53: 101767.

Almazrouei, Fatima Ahmed, Muhammad Alshurideh, Barween Al Kurdi, and Said A Salloum. 2021. “Social Media Impact on Business: A Systematic Review BT - Proceedings of the International Conference on Advanced Intelligent Systems and Informatics 2020.” In , edited by Aboul Ella Hassanien, Adam Slowik, Václav Snášel, Hisham El-Deeb, and Fahmy M Tolba, 697–707. Cham: Springer International Publishing.

Alzate, Miriam, Marta Arce-Urriza, and Javier Cebollada. 2021. “Online Reviews and Product Sales: The Role of Review Visibility.” Journal of Theoretical and Applied Electronic Commerce Research 16 (1): 638–69. https://doi.org/10.3390/jtaer16010038.

Anas, Haryudi, Pratiwi Nilasari, Rini Wijayaningsih, and Andrian. 2023. “The Influence of Price Perception and Trust on Purchasing Intention of Women’s Care at E-Commerce.” East Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research 2 (7): 2931–44. https://doi.org/10.55927/eajmr.v2i7.5082.

Andora, Marisa, and Abdul Yusuf. 2021. “Pengaruh Viral Marketing Terhadap Keputusan Pembelian Melalui Kepercayaan Pelanggan Pada Platform Shopee.” Jurnal MANAJERIAL 20 (2): 208–16. https://doi.org/10.17509/manajerial.v20i2.29138.

Annas, Mohammad. 2023. “Lifestyle Moderation: Viral Marketing And Purchase Decision In E-Commerce.” Asia Pacific Journal of Business Economics and Technology 3 (02): 88–101.

Aprillio, Rio Garia, and Arry Widodo. 2020. “The Effect of Viral Marketing on Purchase Decision with Customer Trust as Intervening Variable.” Almana : Jurnal Manajemen Dan Bisnis 4 (2): 157–63. https://doi.org/10.36555/almana.v4i2.1326.

Auliya, Nur Hikmatul, Helmina Andriani, Roushandy Asri Fardani, Jumari Ustiawaty, Evi Fatmi Utami, Dhika Juliana Sukmana, and Ria Rahmatul Istiqomah. 2020. Metode Penelitian Kualitatif & Kuantitatif. CV. Pustaka Ilmu.

Avogo, Florence Abugtane, Williams Miller Appau, and Elvis Attakora-Amaniampong. 2022. “The Effects of Word-of-Mouth and Online Review Marketing Strategies on Students’ Satisfaction with Their Housing Selection during COVID-19 Season.” Facilities 40 (5/6): 394–411.

Bartschat, Maria, Gerrit Cziehso, and Thorsten Hennig-Thurau. 2022. “Searching for Word of Mouth in the Digital Age: Determinants of Consumers’ Uses of Face-to-Face Information, Internet Opinion Sites, and Social Media.” Journal of Business Research 141 (February 2021): 393–409. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.11.035.

Chaffey, Dave, and Fiona Ellis-Chadwick. 2019. Digital Marketing. Pearson uk. d’Alessandro, Steve, Hume Winzar, Ben Lowe, and William Zikmund. 2020. Marketing Research. Cengage AU.

Dallas, George, and Mike Lubrano. 2022. Governance, Stewardship and Sustainability: Theory, Practice and Evidence. Routledge.

Dwinanda, Bayu, Fandi Andi Syaripuddin, Hudaifi, and Evelyn Hendriana. 2022. “Examining the Extended Advertising Value Model: A Case of TikTok Short Video Ads.” Mediterranean Journal of Social & Behavioral Research 6 (2): 35–44. https://doi.org/10.30935/mjosbr/11820.

Fahrozi, Ridwan, Diana Rahmawati, Veri Muldani, and Muhamad Saddam. 2022. “The Influence of Online Customer Review on Trust and Its Implications for Purchasing Decisions on the Tokopedia Marketplace.” Jurnal Ad’ministrare 9 (1): 217. https://doi.org/10.26858/ja.v9i1.36509.

Fang, Shujie, Yaoqi Li, Chun Zhang, and Lulu Ye. 2023. “Speech VS. Writing: The Influences of WOM Communication on Tourism Experience Storytellers.” Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management 54: 521–30. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2023.02.015.

Fitriani, and Elmira Febri Darmayanti. 2022. “Pengaruh Risiko Pembelian Dan Kepercayaan Konsumen Terhadap Keputusan Pembelian Pada Marketplace Shopee.” Derivatif : Jurnal Manajemen 16 (2): 341–50.

Gemilang, Wahyu Candra. 2023. “Pengaruh Rating Dan Online Customer Review Terhadap Minat Beli Pada Lazada Melalui Trust Sebagai Variabel Intervening.” Jurnal Ilmu Dan Riset Manajemen 12 (2): 1–17.

Geofakta Razali, Masfiatun Nikmah, I Nyoman Tri Sutaguna, PA. Andiena Nindya Putri, and Muhammad Yusuf. 2023. “The Influence Of Viral Marketing And Social Media Marketing On Instagram Adds Purchase Decisions.” CEMERLANG : Jurnal Manajemen Dan Ekonomi Bisnis 3 (2): 75–86. https://doi.org/10.55606/cemerlang.v3i2.1096.

Ghozali, Imam. 2021. Partial Least Squares Konsep, Teknik, Dan Aplikasi Menggunakan Program SmartPLS 3.2.9 Untuk Penelitian Empiris. 3rd Ed. Semarang: Univ. Diponegoro Press.

Goodie-Okio Jennifer, A. 2022. “Viral Marketing and Brand Performance of Pharmaceutical Companies in South-South, Nigeria: The Moderating Role of Technology.” Management Sciences.

Goodie-Okio, Jennifer, and Goodie-Okio Jennifer. 2023. “Viral Marketing and Brand Performance of Pharmaceutical Companies in South-South, Nigeria: The Moderating Role of Technology Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board Buzz Marketing and Brand Performance of Pharmaceutical Companies in South-South,.” International Academic Journal of Management & Marketing Annals 9 (3): 109–29. www.accexgate.com%7Cpapers@accexgate.com71%7Cpage.

Hair, Joseph F., David J. Ortinau, and Dana E. Harrison. 2021. Essentials of Marketing Research. 5th Ed. Edited by McGraw-Hill Education. New York.

Harli, Izzatul Islami, Ali Mutasowifin, and M. Syaefudin Andrianto. 2021. “Pengaruh Online Consumer Review Dan Rating Terhadap Minat Beli Produk Kesehatan Pada E-Marketplace Shopee Selama Masa Pandemi COVID-19.” INOBIS: Jurnal Inovasi Bisnis Dan Manajemen Indonesia 4 (4): 558–72. https://doi.org/10.31842/jurnalinobis.v4i4.205.

Helversen, Bettina von, Katarzyna Abramczuk, Wiesław Kopeć, and Radoslaw Nielek. 2018. “Influence of Consumer Reviews on Online Purchasing Decisions in Older and Younger Adults.” Decision Support Systems 113 (November 2017): 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dss.2018.05.006.

Hussain, Safdar, Xi Song, and Ben Niu. 2020. “Consumers’ Motivational Involvement in EWOM for Information Adoption: The Mediating Role of Organizational Motives.” Frontiers in Psychology 10: 3055.

Kapoor, Sheetal. 2022. “Prospects and Challenges of Digital Marketing.” In Digital Marketing Outreach; The Future of Marketing Practices, Edited by Kavita Sharma and Swati Aggarwal. Routledge Taylor & Francis Group. 1st Editio. India: Routledge India. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003315377-7.

Kato, Takumi. 2022. “Rating Valence versus Rating Distribution: Perceived Helpfulness of Word of Mouth in e-Commerce.” SN Business & Economics 2 (11): 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43546-022-00338-8.

Khokhar, Aliz Ahmed, Pir Abu baker Qureshi, Farman Murtaza, and Abdul Ghafoor Kazi. 2019. “The Impact of Social Media on Impulse Buying Behaviour in Hyderabad Sindh Pakistan.” International Journal of Entrepreneurial Research 2 (2): 8–12. https://doi.org/10.31580/ijer.v2i2.907.

Komara, Edi, and Debby Noviyanti Erwand. 2023. “The Effect of Online Consumer Review, Social Media Advertisement, and Influencer Endorsement on Purchase Intention.” Research of Economics and Business 1 (2): 76–85. https://doi.org/10.58777/reb.v1i2.79.

Kotler, Philip., dan Gary Armstrong., (2019). 2019. Marketing Management. 4th Edition. Jakarta: Erlangga.

Kristia Silvi, Diana, and Sri Palupi Prabandari. 2024. “Pengaruh Social Media Marketing Terhadap Kepercayaan Konsumen Dan Minat Beli.” Jurnal Manajemen Pemasaran Dan Perilaku Konsumen 3 (1): 188–95. http://dx.doi.org/10.21776/jmppk.

Kumar, Sumit, Gyan Prakash, Bhumika Gupta, and Giuseppe Cappiello. 2023. “How E-WOM Influences Consumers’ Purchase Intention towards Private Label Brands on e-Commerce Platforms: Investigation through IAM (Information Adoption Model) and ELM (Elaboration Likelihood Model) Models.” Technological Forecasting and Social Change 187: 122199.

Lăzăroiu, George, Octav Neguriţă, Iulia Grecu, Gheorghe Grecu, and Paula Cornelia Mitran. 2020. “Consumers’ Decision-Making Process on Social Commerce Platforms: Online Trust, Perceived Risk, and Purchase Intentions.” Frontiers in Psychology 11 (May): 1–7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00890.

Liu, Kanghe, Tongyu Wang, and Yukun Wang. 2023. “Chinas Film and Television Short Video Products International Trade Probe-Characteristics and Trends about TikTok and ByteDance.” Communications in Humanities Research 6 (1): 277–85. https://doi.org/10.54254/2753-7064/6/20230271.

Maia, Cláudia Rodrigues, Guilherme Lerch Lunardi, Décio Bittencourt Dolci, and Edar Da Silva Añaña. 2022. “The Effects of Brand and Online Reviews on Consumer Trust and Purchase Intentions in Developing Countries: The Case of the Online Travel Agencies in Brazil.” Brazilian Business Review 19 (3): 288–308. https://doi.org/10.15728/bbr.2022.19.3.4.

Mohammad, Jihad, Farzana Quoquab, and Nur Zulaikha Mohamed Sadom. 2021. “Mindful Consumption of Second-Hand Clothing: The Role of EWOM, Attitude and Consumer Engagement.” Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management: An International Journal 25 (3): 482–510. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFMM-05-2020-0080.

Nurniati, Neng, Citra Savitri, and Syifa Pramudita Faddila. 2023. “Word of Mouth and Influencer Marketing Strategy on Purchase Decision of Skincare Products in E-Commerce.” IJEDR : International Journal of Economics Development Research 4 (1): 207–21.

Prasetyo, Bambang D, Nufian S Febriani, Wayan Weda Asmara, Dewi Dian Tamitiadini, Nia Ashton Destrity, Diyah Ayu Amalia Avina, and Azizun Kurnia Illahi. 2018. Komunikasi Pemasaran Terpadu: Pendekatan Tradisional Hingga Era Media Baru. Universitas Brawijaya Press.

Puriwat, Wilert, and Suchart Tripopsakul. 2021. “The Role of Viral Marketing in Social Media on Brand Recognition and Preference.” Emerging Science Journal 5 (6): 855–67. https://doi.org/10.28991/esj-2021-01315.

Purnama, Benedictus Febrian. 2021. “Pengaruh Kualitas Produk, Harga, Dan Promosi Terhadap Keputusan Pembelian Si Ejji Coffee Corner Margorejo.” Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya.

Purwanto, Agus, Anwar Sulaiman, and Khaerul Fahmi. 2023. “The Role of Buzz and Viral Marketing on SMEs Online Shop Marketing Performance: CB-SEM AMOS Analysis.” International Journal Of Social And Management Studies (IJOSMAS) 4 (3): 1–7.

Putri, Amelia, Erry Sunarya, and Darmo H. Suwiryo. 2024. “The Influence of Business Ethics and Viral Marketing on Trust Consumers Through Brand Image as A Mediating Variable.” Dinasti International Journal of Economics, Finance & Accounting 5 (3): 1874–84. https://doi.org/10.38035/dijefa.v5i3.3032.

Ramadhani, Tiara, Budimansyah Budimansyah, and VIcky F Sanjaya. 2021. “PENGARUH RATING DAN ONLINE CONSUMER REVIEW TERHADAP MINAT BELI DENGAN KEPERCAYAAN SEBAGAI PEMEDIASI PADA MARKETPLACESHOPEE DALAM PERSFEKTIF EKONOMI ISLAM (Studi Pada Mahasiswa Universitas Islam Negeri Raden Intan Lampung).” REVENUE: Jurnal Manajemen Bisnis Islam 2 (2): 143–62. https://doi.org/10.24042/revenue.v2i2.9623.

Ren, Jifan, Jialiang Yang, Mengyang Zhu, and Salman Majeed. 2021. “Relationship between Consumer Participation Behaviors and Consumer Stickiness on Mobile Short Video Social Platform under the Development of ICT: Based on Value Co-Creation Theory Perspective.” Information Technology for Development 27 (4): 697–717. https://doi.org/10.1080/02681102.2021.1933882.

Riel, Alya Ananda, Syahmardi Yacob, and Ade Titi Nifita. 2022. “Effect of Viral Marketing and Social Media Instagram on Repurchase Interest Through Consumer Trust As an Intervening Variable.” Journal of Business Studies and Mangement Review 5 (2): 191–202. https://doi.org/10.22437/jbsmr.v5i2.18958.

Robbins, Stephen P, Timothy A Judge, and Neharika Vohra. 2019. Organizational Behaviour by Pearson 18e. Pearson Education India.

Roy, Gobinda, Biplab Datta, Srabanti Mukherjee, and Avinash K Shrivastava. 2023. “Systematic Review of EWOM Literature in Emerging Economy Using ACI Framework.” International Journal of Emerging Markets 18 (11): 5195–5216.

Ryan, Damian. 2020. Understanding Digital Marketing: A Complete Guide to Engaging Customers and Implementing Successful Digital Campaigns. Kogan Page Publishers.

Saidani, Michael, Junegak Joung, Harrison Kim, and Bernard Yannou. 2022. “Combining Life Cycle Assessment and Online Customer Reviews to Design More Sustainable Products-Case Study on a Printing Machine.” Procedia CIRP 109 (March): 604–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procir.2022.05.301.

Salim, Muhartini, and Seprianti Eka Putri. 2024. “Effect Of Viral Marketing And Brand Awareness On Purchase Intention With Customer Trust As A Mediation Variable in Tik Tok Shop User Pengaruh Viral Marketing Dan Brand Awareness Terhadap Purchase Intention Dengan Customer Trust Sebagai Variabel Mediasi Pada Tik Tok Shop User.” The Manager Review 6 (1): 1–12.

Shin, Nina, Sangwook Park, and Hyunjung Kim. 2020. “Consumer Satisfaction–Based Social Commerce Service Quality Management.” BRQ Business Research Quarterly 24 (1): 34–52. https://doi.org/10.1177/2340944420916098.

Sholichin, Aulia Safira, and Wisnalmawati Wisnalmawati. 2021. “The Effect Of Price, Transaction Security, Online Consumer Review, and Viral Marketing on Purchase Decision in E-Commerce Shopee.” Jurnal Riset Ekonomi Manajemen (REKOMEN) 4 (2): 121–32. https://doi.org/10.31002/rn.v4i2.3873.

Sihombing, Syintia Bellina, and Alice Erni Husein. 2025. “Pengaruh Viral Marketing , Brand Image Dan Kepercayaan Pelanggan Terhadap Keputusan Pembelian Purbasari Melalui Aplikasi Tiktok Di Kota Batam” 5 (6): 1880–93.

Sitta Kusuma. 2024. Manajemen Pemasaran Di Era Digitalisasi. Edited by Tonny Yuwanda. Padang sumatera barat.

Situmorang, Syafrizal Helmi. 2023. Analisis Data Untuk Riset Manajemen Dan Bisnis. 5th Ed. Medan: USU Press.

Solihin, Dede. 2020. “The Effect of Customer Trust and Promotion on Consumer Purchasing Decisions at Mikaylaku Online Shop with Purchase Intention as an Intervening Variable.” Journal Mandiri : Ilmu Pengetahuan, Seni, Dan Teknologi 4 (1): 38–51.

Sugiyono. 2019. Metode Penelitian Bisnis (Pendekatan Kuantitatif, Kualitatif, Dan R&D). 2nd ed. Bandung: Alfabeta.

Sungkawati, Endang, Dwi Rizki Novitasari, and Salah Ben Hamad. 2023. “Viral Marketing: Mixue the King of Snow Ice Cream—How Does This Franchise Affect the Market?” Revenue Journal: Management and Entrepreneurship 1 (2): 142–50. https://doi.org/10.61650/rjme.v1i2.274.

Tafesse, Wondwesen, and Anders Wien. 2017. “A Framework for Categorizing Social Media Posts.” Cogent Business & Management 4 (1): 1284390.

Veirman, M., Cauberghe, V., & Hudders, L De. 2017. “Marketing through Instagram Influencers: The Impact of Number of Followers and Product Divergence on Brand Attitude.” International Journal of Advertising, 36(5), 798–828. https://doi.org/10.1080/02650487.2017.1348035.

Wayan, Ni, Ika Widyastuti, and Gede Sri Darma. 2024. “Viral Marketing , Brand Ambassador , Online Consumer Review , Consumer Trust , and Purchase Decision” 5 (2): 855–71.

Widya, Cucu Andita, and Sulis Riptiono. 2019. “Pengaruh Online Consumer Review Dan Viral Marketing Terhadap Keputusan Pembelian Dengan Consumer Trust Sebagai Intervening (Studi Pada Pengguna Instagram Di 1 Kecamatan Kebumen).” Jurnal Ilmiah Mahasiswa Manajemen, Bisnis Dan Akuntansi (JIMMBA) 1 (1): 76–84. https://doi.org/10.32639/jimmba.v1i1.392.

Wulandari, Try. 2021. “The Influence of Celebrity Endorsers and Product Reviews on Shopee Consumers’ Buying Interest in Palembang City.” International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology 6 (6): 1544–50. www.ijisrt.com1544.

Xavier, Low Jiun Wee, and Goh Yun Shuang Summer. 2009. “Viral Marketing Communication: The Internet Word-of-Mouth, a Study on Consumer Perception and Consumer Response.” Unpublished Master Thesis, Blekinge Institute of Technology.

Zahara, Ami Natuz, Endang Sulistya Rini, and Beby Karina Fawzeea Sembiring. 2021. “The Influence of Seller Reputation and Online Reviews towards Purchase Decisionsthrough Consumer Trust from C2C E-Commerce Users in Medan, North Sumatera,Indonesia.” International Journal of Research and Review 8 (2): 422.

Downloads

Published

2025-07-02

Issue

Section

Articles