Research Article

From Influencers to Inboxes: How Digital Marketing Channels Shape Customer Experience by Gender?

Volume: 9 Number: 2 October 29, 2026
TR EN

From Influencers to Inboxes: How Digital Marketing Channels Shape Customer Experience by Gender?

Abstract

In the context of a rapidly evolving digital environment, brands are increasingly utilizing multiple online touchpoints, including social media, influencer marketing, and email marketing, to shape their customer experiences (CX). Drawing on the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) framework as a conceptual lens and Gender Socialization Theory, this study examines the relationships between perceived digital marketing activities and multidimensional customer experience, as well as the potential moderating role of gender. Data were collected via an online survey and analyzed using SmartPLS structural equation modeling and multi-group analysis (MGA). The findings indicate that all three digital marketing channels have a positive effect on customer experience, with influencer marketing exerting the most substantial impact. Gender-based comparisons revealed a consistent and statistically significant difference in the influencer marketing-customer experience relationship, with a stronger association among male consumers. Although the social media marketing-customer experience relationship was stronger among female consumers, the significance of this difference varied across MGA methods. No significant gender difference was found for email marketing. These findings contribute to understanding the relationships between digital marketing touchpoints and multidimensional customer experience, while highlighting the potential relevance of gender differences in these relationships. From a managerial standpoint, the findings emphasize the importance of evaluating audience-specific digital strategies and leveraging cross-channel synergies to enhance the customer experience.

Keywords

Customer Experience, Digital Marketing, Email Marketing, Influencer Marketing, Social Media Marketing

Supporting Institution

This study was supported by the TÜBİTAK 2209-A University Student Research Projects Support Program (Project No: 1919B012470102).

Ethical Statement

This study was approved by the Aydın Adnan Menderes University Social and Human Sciences Research Ethics Committee (Approval No: 23/46, Date: 21/05/2025). All procedures were carried out in accordance with institutional and national research board ethical standards and the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its subsequent amendments.

Thanks

The author thanks Sedef Kaplan and Buse Nur Dükme for their assistance in the data collection process.

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APA
Aydın, M. S. (2026). From Influencers to Inboxes: How Digital Marketing Channels Shape Customer Experience by Gender? Bucak İşletme Fakültesi Dergisi, 9(2), 258-271. https://doi.org/10.38057/bifd.1931392
AMA
1.Aydın MS. From Influencers to Inboxes: How Digital Marketing Channels Shape Customer Experience by Gender? Bucak İşletme Fakültesi Dergisi. 2026;9(2):258-271. doi:10.38057/bifd.1931392
Chicago
Aydın, Mustafa Seçkin. 2026. “From Influencers to Inboxes: How Digital Marketing Channels Shape Customer Experience by Gender?”. Bucak İşletme Fakültesi Dergisi 9 (2): 258-71. https://doi.org/10.38057/bifd.1931392.
EndNote
Aydın MS (October 1, 2026) From Influencers to Inboxes: How Digital Marketing Channels Shape Customer Experience by Gender? Bucak İşletme Fakültesi Dergisi 9 2 258–271.
IEEE
[1]M. S. Aydın, “From Influencers to Inboxes: How Digital Marketing Channels Shape Customer Experience by Gender?”, Bucak İşletme Fakültesi Dergisi, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 258–271, Oct. 2026, doi: 10.38057/bifd.1931392.
ISNAD
Aydın, Mustafa Seçkin. “From Influencers to Inboxes: How Digital Marketing Channels Shape Customer Experience by Gender?”. Bucak İşletme Fakültesi Dergisi 9/2 (October 1, 2026): 258-271. https://doi.org/10.38057/bifd.1931392.
JAMA
1.Aydın MS. From Influencers to Inboxes: How Digital Marketing Channels Shape Customer Experience by Gender? Bucak İşletme Fakültesi Dergisi. 2026;9:258–271.
MLA
Aydın, Mustafa Seçkin. “From Influencers to Inboxes: How Digital Marketing Channels Shape Customer Experience by Gender?”. Bucak İşletme Fakültesi Dergisi, vol. 9, no. 2, Oct. 2026, pp. 258-71, doi:10.38057/bifd.1931392.
Vancouver
1.Mustafa Seçkin Aydın. From Influencers to Inboxes: How Digital Marketing Channels Shape Customer Experience by Gender? Bucak İşletme Fakültesi Dergisi. 2026 Oct. 1;9(2):258-71. doi:10.38057/bifd.1931392