Unveiling the Power of Storytelling: A Comparative Analysis of Consumer vs. Brand Narratives in Shaping Favorable Attitude Toward Brands Through Emotions and Cognition

Abstract

Storytelling, as an interactive form of communication, is key to delivering product information compellingly and fostering consumer acceptance and engagement. Stories may originate from companies or consumers. Brand storytelling has emerged as a pivotal component of companies' communication strategies, facilitating the expression of values and fostering robust customer relationships. This study explores the effectiveness of consumer storytelling versus brand storytelling in shaping brand attitudes. It was an experimental research involving 384 respondents randomly assigned to two groups that were either exposed to consumer or brand stories. Through comparative analysis, consumer storytelling emerged as superior in eliciting positive brand attitudes, cognition, and emotions. However, its direct impact on brand attitude was not significant. Instead, the study uncovers the mediating role of cognition and emotion, highlighting their crucial influence on shaping favorable brand perceptions. Consumer storytelling, characterized by its emphasis on real values and emotional engagement, enhances cognitive personalization and imagery processing, fostering deeper consumer-brand connections. These insights underscore the imperative for emotionally resonant and cognitively stimulating storytelling in brand communication. This study contributes to the scant literature on examining the comparative effectiveness of consumer brand storytelling versus firm-generated brand storytelling. It elucidates the underlying mechanisms driving the superiority of consumer storytelling in shaping favorable brand attitudes. Contextually situated within the Pakistani market, particularly focusing on clothing buying behavior, this research offers actionable insights for brand managers seeking to harness the power of storytelling to garner favorable consumer responses and enhance brand resonance.