How Trust, Brand Awareness and Digital Marketing Enhance Higher Education Marketing

  • Dianta Hasri Natalius Barus

Abstract

The purpose of this academic paper is to examine the roles of trust, brand awareness, and digitalization in marketing higher education institutions. In today's digital age, universities and colleges are increasingly relying on digital marketing strategies to attract potential students. The paper highlights the importance of building trust and creating brand awareness among students in the higher education sector, and how digitalization plays a critical role in achieving these objectives. The literature review indicates that trust and brand awareness are crucial factors in the decision-making process of students when choosing a higher education institution. Establishing trust is important to attract new students and retain current ones. Institutions with a strong reputation and brand awareness are more likely to attract students who are looking for a high-quality education. Additionally, the paper discusses how digitalization has changed the way higher education institutions market themselves. With the rise of social media and online platforms, universities and colleges are now able to reach a wider audience and engage with students on a more personal level. The paper also provides empirical evidence from various studies conducted on the role of trust, brand awareness, and digitalization in higher education marketing. Findings show that students who perceive high levels of trust in an institution are more likely to enroll and recommend it to others. In addition, students who have high levels of brand awareness of an institution are more likely to have a positive perception of it and consider enrolling. Furthermore, digital marketing activities have been found to be effective in attracting potential students, as they provide an accessible and convenient way for students to learn about institutions and their offerings. Overall, this paper emphasizes the importance of trust and brand awareness in higher education marketing and the role that digitalization plays in achieving these objectives. The findings of this paper can be used to guide institutions in developing effective marketing strategies that focus on building trust, creating brand awareness, and leveraging digitalization to reach a wider audience of potential students.

References

Aaker, D. A. (1991). Managing brand equity: Capitalizing on the value of a brand name. New York: Free Press.
Al-Gahtani, S. S. (2016). Factors affecting the adoption of e-learning in Saudi Arabia: A systematic review. Journal of King Saud University-Computer and Information Sciences, 28(4), 426-437.
Allen, J., Robbins, S. B., Casillas, A., & Oh, I.-S. (2008). Third-year college retention and transfer: Effects of academic performance, motivation, and social connectedness. Research in Higher Education, 49(7), 647-664.
Asosiasi Perguruan Tinggi Swasta Indonesia. (2017). Data Pendidikan Tinggi Swasta Tahun 2016/2017. Retrieved from https://www.aptisi.or.id/uploads/data-pendidikan-tinggi-swasta-tahun-2016-2017.pdf
Aveyard, H. (2014). Doing a literature review in health and social care: A practical guide. Open University Press.
Babin, B. J., Darden, W. R., & Griffin, M. (1994). Work and/or fun: Measuring hedonic and utilitarian shopping value. Journal of consumer research, 20(4), 644-656.
Bailey, R., & Garner, M. (2010). Marketing communications. Pearson Education.
Becker, G. S. (1962). Investment in human capital: A theoretical analysis. The journal of political economy, 70(5), 9-49.
Chapman, D. W., & Pascarella, E. T. (1983). Predictors of academic and social integration of college students. Research in Higher Education, 19(4), 295-322.
Chen, H.-J., & Chen, H.-Y. (2020). Linking corporate social responsibility to customer loyalty: The role of trust as a mediator. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 27(3), 1408-1419.
Chen, Y. C., Hsieh, Y. C., & Lee, C. H. (2020). Digital marketing in higher education: A review and future research agenda. Journal of Business Research
Chen, Y. C., Hung, W. L., Huang, Y. L., & Yen, C. H. (2014). Digital marketing's impact on customer satisfaction and loyalty: A study of coffee chain stores in Taiwan. International Journal of Organizational Innovation (Online), 7(2), 107-122.
Chen, Y. J., & Hung, S. W. (2010). An exploratory study of international students' decision-making process. Journal of College Admission, 209, 18-25.
Chu, R., & Kim, Y. (2011). Determinants of consumer engagement in electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) in social networking sites. International Journal of Advertising, 30(1), 47-75.
Durkin, M., & Howcroft, B. (2003). E-recruitment and the benefits of organizational web appeal. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 14(5), 753-774.
Ferrell, O. C., & Hartline, M. D. (2010). Marketing strategy. South-Western Cengage Learning.
Grewal, D., Levy, M., & Kumar, V. (2009). Customer experience management in retailing: an organizing framework. Journal of Retailing, 85(1), 1-14.
Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., Anderson, R. E., & Tatham, R. L. (2006). Multivariate data analysis. Prentice-Hall.
He, H., & Harris, L. (2020). The impact of Covid-19 pandemic on corporate social responsibility and marketing philosophy. Journal of Business Research, 116, 176-182.
Hsieh, P. J., & Cho, Y. C. (2016). Factors affecting students' choice of higher education institutions: A survey of college students in Taiwan. International Journal of Higher Education, 5(3), 132-143.
Hu, Y., & Liu, M. (2014). Effects of trust, perceived value, and brand image on hotel industry customer satisfaction: A case study from China. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 26(5), 587-603.
Huang, M., Tsai, H.-T., & Liu, C.-L. (2021). Does trust always lead to satisfaction and loyalty? A study of mobile shopping. Journal of Business Research, 134, 609-619.
Hurtado, S., Milem, J., Clayton-Pedersen, A., & Allen, W. (1998). Enhancing campus climates for racial/ethnic diversity: Educational policy and practice. The Review of Higher Education, 21(3), 279-302.
Javed, M., Hassan, S. A., & Khan, M. B. (2020). Investigating the influence of trust on customer loyalty and brand loyalty. Management Science Letters, 10(9), 2139-2148.
Jin, B., & Lee, J. H. (2014). College choice factors and students' preferences for marketing faculty: An exploratory study. Journal of Marketing Education, 36(2), 104-117.
Kardes, F. R., Cline, T. W., & Cronley, M. L. (2011). Consumer behavior. Cengage Learning.
Kim, S., & Ko, E. (2012). Do social media marketing activities enhance customer equity? An empirical study of luxury fashion brand. Journal of Business Research, 65(10), 1480-1486.
Kim, W. G., Lee, H. J., & Andersen, M. A. (2020). Trust, satisfaction, and loyalty: A case of Korean restaurant consumers. Journal of Foodservice Business Research, 23(1), 1-21.
Ko, E., Kim, K., & Lee, B. (2020). The effect of trust and perceived risk on purchase intention in online shopping: The moderating role of social presence. Sustainability, 12(22), 9596.
Kotler, P., & Keller, K. L. (2016). Marketing management. Pearson Education Limited.
Kotler, P., Keller, K. L., Manceau, D., & Hémonnet-Goujot, A. (2015). Marketing management (Vol. 14). Pearson.
Laroche, M., Habibi, M. R., & Richard, M. O. (2013). To be or not to be in social media: How brand loyalty is affected by social media? International Journal of Information Management, 33(1), 76-82.
Lee, J.-W., Kim, H.-H., & Han, H. (2020). The effect of hotel reviews and trust in hotel brands on purchase intention: The case of South Korea. Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, 37(7), 937-948.
Lee, K., Lee, Y., Lee, K. H., & Babin, B. J. (2020). A model of how digital marketing channels affect customer purchase intention. Journal of Business Research, 108, 300-309.
Li, X., Li, Y., Li, L., & Liu, Y. (2020). Impact of social media marketing on brand loyalty of Chinese tourists. Sustainability, 12(3), 942.
Liu, Y., & Yang, R. (2009). Competing through innovation: The strategy of Huawei Technologies. Journal of Business Research, 62(7), 698-706.
Luo, X., & Bhattacharya, C. B. (2006). Corporate social responsibility, customer satisfaction, and market value. Journal of Marketing, 70(4), 1-18.
Moorman, C., Zaltman, G., & Deshpande, R. (1992). Relationships between providers and users of market research: The dynamics of trust within and between organizations. Journal of Marketing Research, 29(3), 314-328.
Morgan, R. M., & Hunt, S. D. (1994). The commitment-trust theory of relationship marketing. Journal of Marketing, 58(3), 20-38.
Phan, M. H., & Thomas, R. J. (2019). Understanding brand awareness: An exploratory study of the South Korean market. Journal of Global Marketing, 32(4), 221-236.
Reza Jalilvand, M., Samiei, N., & Dini, B. (2011). The effect of electronic word of mouth on brand image and purchase intention. Marketing Intelligence & Planning, 29(2), 145-151.
Rousseau, D. M., Sitkin, S. B., Burt, R. S., & Camerer, C. (1998). Not so different after all: A cross-discipline view of trust. Academy of Management Review, 23(3), 393-404.
Singh, S. K., & Dangwal, R. (2020). The Impact of Digital Marketing on Consumer Behaviour. In Innovative Marketing Strategies in the Changing Business Environment (pp. 209-227). IGI Global.
Sweeney, J. C., Soutar, G. N., & Mazzarol, T. (2008). Factors influencing word of mouth effectiveness: Receiver perspectives. European Journal of Marketing, 42(3/4), 344-364.
Zahay, D., & Griffin, A. (2010). Social media and the advancement of executive women: An exploratory study. Journal of Interactive Advertising, 10(1), 16-29.
Published
2023-04-30
How to Cite
NATALIUS BARUS, Dianta Hasri. How Trust, Brand Awareness and Digital Marketing Enhance Higher Education Marketing. Asian Journal of Research in Business and Management, [S.l.], v. 5, n. 1, p. 243-253, apr. 2023. Available at: <https://myjms.mohe.gov.my/index.php/ajrbm/article/view/22275>. Date accessed: 29 sep. 2023.
Section
Articles