I’m Not a Doctor, But I Play One on TV: The Effects of Context and Character Perceptions on Endorser Effectiveness

Authors

  • K. Maja Krakowiak University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
  • Kelly Poniatowski Elizabethtown College

Keywords:

advertising, celebrity endorsers, priming, entertainment, character perception

Abstract

This study examines how placing endorser ads in the context of entertainment content that also features the endorser affects responses to the endorser and to the ads. An experiment (N = 161) found that viewing an endorser ad in the context of entertainment content featuring that endorser does not affect responses to the ad; however, frequent viewing of such content results in more favorable perceptions of the character portrayed by the endorser, which in turn leads to more favorable responses to endorser and ad alike. Character perceptions thus are an important influence on endorser perceptions and ad effectiveness. Implications of the findings for advertising research are discussed.

Author Biographies

K. Maja Krakowiak, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs

Assistant ProfessorDepartment of CommunicationUniversity of Colorado, Colorado Springs(719) 255-4116

Kelly Poniatowski, Elizabethtown College

Assistant ProfessorCommunications DepartmentElizabethtown College

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Published

2014-09-15

Issue

Section

Articles