THE IMPACT OF SUSTAINABLE DIGITAL MARKETING ON CUSTOMER LOYALTY IN DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY: MEDIATING ROLE OF BRAND ENGAGEMEN

Authors

  • Angelique Aeilie Tampi Universitas Klabat
  • Clarti Welhemina Andolo Universitas Klabat
  • Deske W. Mandagi Universitas Klabat

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31539/1a65q819

Keywords:

Sustainable Digital Marketing, Customer Loyalty, Brand Engagement, Digital Entertainment Industry.

Abstract

Digital entertainment companies are increasingly using sustainable digital marketing (SDM) to convey their values and create enduring relationships with customers as sustainability becomes a major issue for both consumers and regulators. Despite this tendency, little study has been done on how SDM affects consumer loyalty, especially in the digital entertainment sector. This study uses brand engagement as a mediating element to investigate how SDM affects consumer loyalty. SDM, which is based on a multifaceted framework, is evaluated in five areas: stakeholder involvement, consumer education, social and environmental impact, ethical offers, and transparency. A systematic survey was used to gather information from 220 respondents with a range of backgrounds. The results show that several aspects of SDM, like stakeholder participation, visibility and disclosure, and consumer empowerment and education, have a direct beneficial impact on customer loyalty and brand engagement. The association between any of the five SDM variables and customer loyalty, however, is not significantly mediated by brand engagement, according to mediation analysis. This implies that although these sustainability measures directly increase engagement and loyalty, they do not support engagement's function as a link between marketing campaigns and loyalty. If there are no discernible indirect effects, there could be other factors or mechanisms at work. These findings underscore the need to concentrate on direct loyalty initiatives rather than depending entirely on interaction as a middleman, and they have significant ramifications for digital entertainment marketers.

References

Ajayi, V. O. (2017). “Primary Sources of Data and Secondary Sources of Data.” Research Gate, 1(1), 1-6.

Al-Dmour, H. H., Ali, W. K., & Al-Dmour, R. H. (2019). The relationship between customer engagement, satisfaction, and loyalty. International Journal of Customer Relationship Marketing and Management (IJCRMM), 10(2), 35-60.

Al-Emran, M. (2023). Beyond technology acceptance: Development and evaluation of technology-environmental, economic, and social sustainability theory. Technology in Society, 75,102383. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2023.102383

Alalwan, A. A., Rana, N. P., Dwivedi, Y. K., & Algharabat, R. (2017). Social media in marketing: A review and analysis of the existing literature. Telematics and informatics, 34(7), 1177-1190.

Algharabat, R., Rana, N. P., Alalwan, A. A., Baabdullah, A., & Gupta, A. (2019). Investigating the antecedents of customer brand engagement and consumer-based brand equity in social media. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, (October 2018), 0–1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2019.01.016

Applied and Pure Mathematics. pp. 375-382.

Ashley, C., & Tuten, T. (2015). Creative strategies in social media marketing: An exploratory study of branded social content and consumer engagement. Psychology & Marketing, 32(1), 15-27. https://doi.org/10.1002/mar.20761

Astriana, D. A. (2019). Kepuasan pelanggan sebagai variabel intervening: pengaruh experiential marketing terhadap loyalitas (studi pada pelanggan molak malik cafe kota pasuruan). Jurnal Ilmu Manajemen, 7(4), 1145-1153.

Basaran, D., & Ventura, K. (2022). Exploring Digital Marketing In Entertainment Industry: A Case Of A Digital Music Platform. Journal of Management Marketing and Logistics, 9(3), 115- 126.

Beck, D., & Ferasso, M. (2023). Bridging ‘stakeholder value creation’ and ‘urban sustainability’: The need for better integrating the environmental dimension. Sustainable Cities and Society, 89,104316. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2022.104316

Boegman, S. J., Carodenuto, S., Rebitt, S., Grant, H., & Cisneros, B. (2023). Seeing through transparency in the craft chocolate industry: The what, how, and why of cacao sourcing. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 14, 100739. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2023.100739

Brodie, R. J., Ilic, A., Juric, B., & Hollebeek, L. (2013). Consumer engagement in a virtual brand community: An exploratory analysis. Journal of Business Research, 66(1), 105-114.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2011.07.029

Carundeng, S. S., Rantung, D. I., & Mandagi, D. W. (2024). Insights into Generation Z's Perception of Social Media Marketing's Effectiveness on Faith-Based Private School Branding. QALAMUNA: Jurnal Pendidikan, Sosial, dan Agama, 16(1), 467-482.

Chaffey, D., & Smith, P. R. (2022). Digital marketing excellence: Planning, optimizing and integrating online marketing. Routledge.

Cheng, F. F., Wu, C. S., & Chen, Y. C. (2020). Creating customer loyalty in online brand communities. Computers in Human Behavior, 107, 105752.

Corporate Reputation Review, 14(2), 79–96. https://doi.org/10.1057/crr.2011.10 Minh, N. V., & Huu, N. H. (2016). The Relationship between Service Quality, Customer

Dai, H. M., Teo, T., & Rappa, N. A. (2020). Understanding continuance intention among

Dangelico, R. M., & Vocalelli, D. (2017). "Green Marketing": An analysis of definitions, strategy steps, and tools through a systematic review of the literature. Journal of Cleaner Production, 165, 1263-1279.

Dhiman, D. B. (2023). A Paradigm Shift in the Entertainment Industry in the Digital Age: A Critical Review. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202306.1115.v1

Ecology, 22(4), 292-301. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/13504509.2015.1054328

Etikan, I., Musa, S. A., & Alkassim, R. S. (2016). “Comparison of Convenience Sampling and Purposive Sampling.” American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics, 5(1), 1-4.

Farhat, K., Mokhtar, S. S. M., & Salleh, S. B. M. (2020). Role of brand experience and brand affect in creating brand engagement: A case of higher education institutions (HEIs). Journal of Marketing for Higher Education, 1–29. https://doi.org/10.1080/08841241.2020.1759753

Feng, N., Feng, H., Li, D., & Li, M. (2020). Online media coverage, consumer engagement and movie sales: A PVAR approach. Decision Support Systems, 131, Article 113267. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dss.2020.113267

Fernandes, T., & Moreira, M. (2019). Consumer brand engagement, satisfaction and brand loyalty: a comparative study between functional and emotional brand relationships. Journal of Product and Brand Management, 28(2), 274–286. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPBM-08-2017-1545

Fornell, C., & Bookstein, F. L. (1982). Two structural equation models: LISREL and PLS applied to consumer exit-voice theory. Journal of Marketing Research, 19, 440-452. https://doi.org/10.1177/00222437820190040

Fornell, C., & Larcker, D. F. (1981). Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error. Journal of marketing research, 18(1), 39-

Foutz, N. Z., (2017). Entertainment marketing. Foundations and Trends in Marketing, 10(4), 215-333.

France, C., Merrilees, B., & Miller, D. (2016). An integrated model of customer-brand engagement: Drivers and consequences. Journal of Brand Management, 23(2), 119–136. https://doi.org/10.1057/bm.2016.4

Fretes, G., Veliz, P., Narvaez, A.M., Williams, D., Sibille, R., Arts, M., & Leroy, J.L. (2025). Digital Marketing of Unhealthy Foods and Non-Alcoholic Beverages to Children and Adolescents: A Narrative Review. Current Developments in Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cdnut.2025.104545

Ghozali, I. (2018). Aplikasi analisis multivariete SPSS 25.

Greenland, S. J., Nguyen, N., & Strong, C. (2023). Irresponsible marketing and the need to support pro-sustainable production and consumption. Journal of Strategic Marketing, 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1080/0965254X.2023.2230487

Grewal, D., Hulland, J., Kopalle, P. K., & Karahanna, E. (2020). The future of technology and marketing: A multidisciplinary perspective. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 48, 1-8.

Hair Jr, J. F., Matthews, L. M., Matthews, R. L., & Sarstedt, M. (2017). PLS-SEM or CB-SEM: updated guidelines on which method to use. International Journal of Multivariate Data Analysis, 1(2), 107-123.

Hair Jr, J. F., Sarstedt, M., Hopkins, L., & Kuppelwieser, V. G. (2014). Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). An emerging tool in business research. European Business Review, 26(2), 106-121.

Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2019). A Primer on Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) (2nd ed.). Sage Publications.

Hameed, Z., Naeem, R. M., Mishra, P., Chotia, V., & Malibari, A. (2023). Ethical leadership and environmental performance: The role of green it capital, green technology innovation, and technological orientation. Technological Forecasting & Social Change, 194, 122739. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2023.122739

Handayani, W. P. P., Kurniawati, D., & Pitoyo, D. J. (2024). The Influence of Brand Image, Brand Engagement, Brand Love on Customer Loyalty. JIMEK: Scientific Journal of Economics Students, 7(1), 50–64. https://doi.org/10.30737/jimek.v7i1.5587

Helmefalk, M., Palmquist, A., & Rosenlund, J. (2023). Memahami mekanisme keterlibatan rumah tangga dan pemangku kepentingan dalam ekosistem daur ulang: Perspektif SDL. Waste Management, 160, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2023.01.030

Hollebeek, L. D., & Macky, K. (2019). Digital content marketing's role in fostering consumer engagement, trust, and value: Framework, fundamental propositions, and implications. Journal of interactive marketing, 45(1), 27-41.

Hollebeek, L. D., Glynn, M. S., & Brodie, R. J. (2014). Consumer brand engagement in social media: Conceptualization, scale development, and validation. Journal of Interactive Marketing, 28(2), 149-165.

Jiang, H. & Zhang, Y. (2016). An investigation of service quality, customer satisfaction and loyalty in China’s airline market. Journal of Air Transport Management 57, 80-88.

Joshi, R., & Garg, P. (2021). Role of brand experience in shaping brand love. International

Journal of Consumer Studies, 45(2), 259-272.

Kang, J., & Namkung, Y. (2018). The Effect of Corporate Social Responsibility on Brand Equity and the Moderating Role of Ethical Consumerism: The Case of Starbucks. Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research, 42, 1130 - 1151.

Kang, J., Tang, L. (Rebecca), & Fiore, A. M. (2015). Restaurant brand pages on Facebook: Do active member participation and monetary sales promotions matter? International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 27(7), 1662–1684. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-02-2014-0075

Kaur, H., Paruthi, M., Islam, J., & Hollebeek, L. D. (2020). The role of brand community identification and reward on consumer brand engagement and brand loyalty in virtual brand communities. Telematics and Informatics, 46, 101321.

Kemper, J. A., & Ballantine, P. W. (2019). What do we mean by sustainability marketing? Journal of Marketing Management, 35(3–4), 277–309. https://doi.org/10.1080/0267257X.2019.1573845

Kotler, K., & Keller, K. L. (2015). Marketing Management. Person.

Kuchinka, D., Balazs, S., Gavriletea, M., & Djokic, B. (2018). Consumer Attitudes toward

Kumar, V., Rahman, Z., & Kazmi, A.A. (2013). Sustainability Marketing Strategy: An Analysis of Recent Literature. Global Business Review, 14, 601 - 625.

Leavy, P. (2017). Quantitative, qualitative, mixed method, art-based, and community-based participatory research approach. London: The Guilford Press.

Lemon, K. N., & Verhoef, P. C. (2016). Understanding customer experience throughout the customer journey. Journal of Marketing, 80(6), 69–96. https://doi.org/10.1509/jm.15.0420

Leonidou, E., Christofi, M., Vrontis, D., & Thrassou, A. (2020). An integrative framework of stakeholder engagement for innovation management and entrepreneurship development. Journal of Business Research, 119, 245-258.

Leung, X. Y., & Jiang, L. (2018). How do destination Facebook pages work? An extended TPB model of fans' visit intention. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology, 9(3), 397– 416. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHTT-09-2017-0088

Li, D., Huang, M., Ren, S., Chen, X., & Ning, L. (2018). Environmental legitimacy, green innovation, and corporate carbon disclosure: Evidence from CDP China 100. Journal of Business Ethics, 150(4), 1089–1104. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-016-3187-6

Lin, J., Lobo, A., & Leckie, C. (2017). Green brand benefits and their influence on brand loyalty. Marketing Intelligence & Planning, 35 (3), 425-440.

Loehlin, J. C. (2004). Latent variable models: An introduction to factor, path, and structural equation analysis. Psychology Press.

Maduku, D. K. (2024). How environmental concerns influence consumers’ anticipated emotions towards sustainable consumption: The moderating role of regulatory focus. Journal of Retailing & Consumer Services, 76,103593. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2023.103593

Mandagi, D. W., Soewignyo, T., Kelejan, D. F., & Walone, D. C. (2024). From a hidden gem to a tourist spot: Examining brand gestalt, tourist attitude, satisfaction and loyalty in Bitung city. International Journal of Tourism Cities. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJTC-10-2023-0217

Marhareita, C., Kila, I. W., & Mandagi, D. W. (2022). Social media marketing and educational institution brand awareness, image, and attitude. QALAMUNA: Jurnal Pendidikan, Sosial, Dan Agama, 14(1), 257-256.

Martin, S. L., Javalgi, R. R. G., & Ciravegna, L. (2020). Marketing capabilities and international new venture performance: The mediation role of marketing communication and the moderation effect of technological turbulence. Journal of Business Research, 107, 25–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.09.044

Michelon, G. (2011). Sustainability disclosure and reputation: A comparative study.

Mirrlees, T. (2024). Work in the Digital Media and Entertainment Industries: A Critical Introduction (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003131076

MOOC participants: The role of habit and MOOC performance. Computers in Human Behavior, 112, 106455. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2020.106455

Moore, J. (2005). Seven recommendations for creating sustainability education at the university level: A guide for change agents. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 6(4),326–339. https://doi.org/10.1108/14676370510623829

Muljani, N. (2021). Pengaruh Experiential Marketing Terhadap Loyalitas Pelanggan Dimediasi Oleh Kepuasan Pelanggan (Studi Pada Restoran Boncafe di Surabaya). Procuratio: Jurnal Ilmiah Manajemen, 9(2), 210-221.

Nyagadza, B. (2022). Search engine marketing and social media marketing predictive trends. Journal of Digital Media & Policy, 13(3), 407-425.

Pongoh, H. M., & Mandagi, D. W. (2025). Linking destination brand gestalt and brand equity: insights from Bali. Anatolia, 1-15.

Prentice, C., Wang, X., & Lin, X. (2018). An Organic Approach to Customer Engagement and Loyalty. Journal of Computer Information Systems, 60(4), 326–335. https://doi.org/10.1080/08874417.2018.1485528

Prieto-Sandoval, V., Torres-Guevara, L. E., & García-Díaz, C. (2022). Green marketing innovation: Opportunities from an environmental education analysis in young consumers. Journal of Cleaner Production, 363,132509.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.132509

Queirós, A., Faria, D., Almeida, F., 2017. Strengths and limitations of qualitative and quantitative research methods. European Journal of Education Studies. [19]

Rahimian, S., ShamiZanjani, M., Manian, A., & Esfidani, M. R. (2021). A framework of customer experience management for the hotel industry. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 33(5), 1413–1436.

Rantung, D. I., Marhareita, C., Kila, I. W., & Mandagi, D. (2025). Rekindling cultural legacy: The interplay of 4s brand gestalt dimensions, repurchase intention, and customer citizenship behavior for a sustainable traditional product. Asia-Pacific Social Science Review, 25(2), 50-65.. https://doi.org/10.59588/2350-8329.1570

Rather, R. A. (2020). Customer experience and engagement in tourism destinations: The experiential marketing perspective. Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, 37(1), 15-32.

Rather, R.A., Tehseen, S. and Parrey, S.H. (2018), "Promoting customer brand engagement and brand loyalty through customer brand identification and value congruity", Spanish Journal of Marketing - ESIC, Vol. 22 No. 3, pp. 319-337. https://doi.org/10.1108/SJME-06-2018-0030

ResearchGate. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.24292.68481

Sarstedt, M., Ringle, C. M., & Hair, J. F. (2021). Partial least squares structural equation modeling. In Handbook of market research (pp. 587-632). Ihing.

Sarstedt, M., Ringle, C. M., & Hair, J. F. (2021). Partial least squares structural equation modeling. In Handbook of market research (pp. 587-632). Ihing.

Satisfaction and Customer Loyalty: An Investigation in Vietnamese Retail Banking Sector. Journal of Competitiveness, 8(2), 103-116.

Sijabat, L., Rantung, D. I., & Mandagi, D. W. (2022). The role of social media influencers in shaping customer brand engagement and brand perception. Jurnal Manajemen Bisnis, 9(2), 280-288.

Sinh, T.T., Nemeth, N., & Sarker, M.S. (2024). Digital marketing in community-based enterprises: A systematic literature review and research agenda. Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joitmc.2024.100414

Statista. (2023). Global digital media revenue. Retrieved from www.statista.com. Taherdoost, H., 2014. Exploratory Factor Analysis; Concepts and Theory. Advances in

Sustainable Development and Risk to Brand Loyalty. Sustainability, 10 (4), 997.

Tan, T. M., Makkonen, H., Kaur, P., & Salo, J. (2022). How do ethical consumers utilize sharing economy platforms as part of their sustainable resale behavior? The role of consumers’ green consumption values. Technological Forecasting & Social Change, 176, 121432. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2021.121432

Trabucchi, D., Patrucco, A. S., Buganza, T., & Marzi, G. (2023). Is transparency the new green? How business model transparency influences digital service adoption. Technovation, 126, 102803. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2023.102803

Tumober, N. C., Langelo, C. G., Rantung, D. I., & Mandagi, D. W. (2024). Brand harmony: Exploring how destination brand gestalt influences tourist attitudes, satisfaction, and loyalty. Jurnal Ekonomi, 13(02), 404-421.

Unal, U., & Tascioglu, M. (2022). Sustainable, therefore reputable: Linking sustainability, reputation, and consumer behaviour. Marketing Intelligence & Planning, 40(4), 497–512. https://doi.org/10.1108/MIP-03-2022-0102

Wahyuningrum, I. F. S., Humaira, N. G., Budihardjo, M. A., Arumdani, I. S., Puspita, A. S., Annisa, A. N., Sari, A. M., & Djajadikerta, H. G. (2023). Environmental sustainability disclosure in Asian countries: Bibliometric and content analysis. Journal of Cleaner Production, 137195, 137195.

Walean, R. H., Pongoh, H., & Mandagi, D. (2024). Integrating brand gestalt and customer loyalty in telecommunication sector: The mediating role of customer satisfaction. International Review of Management and Marketing, 14(6), 409.

Wan, X., Yang, D., & Teng, Z. (2022). Blockchain digital technology empowers E-commerce supply chain sustainable value co-creation decision and coordination considering online consumer reviews. Applied Soft Computing, 130, 109662.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asoc.2022.109662

Wang, Y., Meng, M., Li, Y., Zhou, Q., Cai, B., Chen, S., & Yang, D. (2023). How air pollution affects consumers' local brand choices: explanation from attribution and compensation tendency. Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics, 35(10), 2447-2465.

Wantah, A. M., & Mandagi, D. W. (2024). Social media marketing and fast-food restaurant brand loyalty: The mediating role of brand gestalt. Jurnal Informatika Ekonomi Bisnis, 337-343.

Williams, C., 2007. Research methods. Journal of Business & Economics Research. 5(3).

Zainol, Z., Omar, N. A., Osman, J., & Habidin, N. F. (2016). The effect of customer–brand relationship investments' dimensions on customer engagement in emerging markets. Journal of Relationship Marketing, 15(3), 172-199.

Zeithaml, V. A., Berry, L. L., & Parasuraman, A. (1996). “The Behavioral Consequences of Service Quality.” Journal of Marketing, 60(2), 31-46.

Zhang, B., Ying, L., Khan, M. A., Ali, M., Barykin, S., & Jahanzeb, A. (2023). Sustainable Digital Marketing: Factors of Adoption of M-Technologies by Older Adults in the Chinese Market. Sustainability, 15(3), 1972.

Zhou, Y., Yan, S., Li, G., Xiong, Y., & Lin, Z. (2023). The impact of consumer skepticism on blockchain-enabled sustainability disclosure in a supply chain. Transportation Research Part E: Logistics & Transportation Review, 179,103323.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tre.2023.103323

Downloads

Published

2025-09-23