Sharing co-creation experiences contributes to consumer satisfaction

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the effects of sharing co-creation experiences on consumers’ behavioral intentions. Increasingly often, companies interact with consumers and involve them in value co-creation, especially in the virtual environment, while more and more consumers tend to share their experiences and their related emotions socially. However, no research has addressed how the interplay of these two variables influences consumer behavior. Design/methodology/approach The authors conducted a preliminary study and a 2×2 between-subjects experiment where co-creation and sharing of emotions were orthogonally manipulated. A total of 120 participants were randomly assigned to one of the four scenarios. Findings The results show that not only do individuals participate in co-creation activities, but they also tend to share such experiences socially. But more important from a literature contribution perspective, the results confirm a joint effect of co-creation and sharing on satisfaction and repurchase intention. Thus, the effect of co-creation can be bolstered by encouraging participants to share the experience with other people. Originality/value While we can better understand the effects of co-creation in particular contexts effects such as that of sharing, the findings also contribute to the theoretical literature on social sharing of emotions as it has not been related to co-creation activities before. The results are of special relevance for those companies implementing co-creation activities, as they provide clues to increase the outcome of such initiatives in terms of consumers’ responses toward the firm.