How a Smile Can Make a Difference: Enhancing the Persuasive Appeal Of Celebrity Endorsers

ABSTRACT

This study provides advertisers with a simple positive facial cue—the Duchenne (or genuine) smile—to enhance the authentic persuasive appeal of a celebrity endorser whose standing has slipped. The authors examined the effect of celebrity attitude on consumer perceptions of celebrity genuineness, and in turn, consumer attitude toward the advertisement and purchase intention. They also investigated whether a negative attitude toward a celebrity can be overcome, resulting in positive advertisement attitude and purchase intentions. Results showed that exposure to a celebrity displaying a Duchenne smile significantly boosts consumer perceptions of celebrity genuineness when consumers have a negative attitude toward the celebrity.