An Experimental Investigation of Factors Affecting Consumers Perceptions of Digital Sales Promotions
Along with the existence of modern content-based digital goods, a promotional premium product no longer need to be tangible – digital premiums are alternatives to traditional physical premium products. This article reports the results of an experimental study, where the purpose was to gain understanding of consumer perceptions of digital premium-based promotional offers. Three characteristics related to digital premium-based promotions were manipulated in the context of a bottled water purchase: the immediacy of receiving the premium, the method the premium is earned and the tangibility of the premium. Covariate included consumer perceptions of the promoted brand and product category both in terms of the advertised product as well as the premium product. The results show that the examined factors have interactive effects on consumer perceptions. Of the three factors, immediate premium reception had the most impact on the overall appreciation of the promotion and was less likely to be perceived as manipulative. Managerial implications as well as suggestions for future research are provided.
