Jurnal Ilmu Sosial dan Ilmu Politik (JISIP)
Vol 15, No 1 (2026): April

The Role of Electronic Word of Mouth in Constructing Consumer Loyalty through Digital Social Legitimacy for Culinary MSMEs

Fadhillah, Muhammad iffan (Unknown)
Hariyanto, Didik (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
01 Apr 2026

Abstract

 Digital transformation in the culinary sector has shifted marketing communication from conventional word-of-mouth (WOM) to platform-based electronic word-of-mouth (e-WOM). This shift establishes online reviews as socially constructed spaces that fundamentally influence consumer perceptions and loyalty. This study aims to analyze how e-WOM shapes consumer loyalty toward Hanaraya Chicken Noodle, a prominent local culinary MSME. A qualitative descriptive case study was employed, utilizing data from in-depth interviews, field observations, and the documentation of 2,580 online reviews posted throughout 2024 on Google Reviews, ShopeeFood, and GrabFood. The data were analyzed through thematic analysis and validated via source triangulation. The findings reveal that e-WOM constructs loyalty by integrating cognitive, affective, and conative dimensions. Specifically, narratives emphasizing taste consistency generate satisfaction and emotional attachment, while perceptions of price fairness reinforce trust and value evaluation. The interaction of these dimensions produces digital social legitimacy, which serves as a collective reputation-building mechanism that triggers repurchase intentions and active recommendations. This study highlights that for culinary MSMEs, sustaining long-term loyalty in digital marketplace ecosystems depends on the synergy between consistent sensory quality and perceived price equity as reflected in peer-generated digital discourse.Transformasi digital dalam sektor kuliner telah mengubah pola komunikasi pemasaran dari word of mouth (WOM) konvensional menjadi electronic word of mouth (e-WOM) berbasis platform. Pergeseran ini memperkuat peran ulasan daring sebagai ruang konstruksi sosial yang secara fundamental memengaruhi persepsi dan loyalitas konsumen. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis bagaimana e-WOM membentuk loyalitas konsumen pada Mie Ayam Hanaraya, sebuah UMKM kuliner lokal yang sedang berkembang. Pendekatan kualitatif dengan desain studi kasus deskriptif digunakan dalam penelitian ini, dengan data yang dikumpulkan melalui wawancara mendalam, observasi lapangan, serta dokumentasi terhadap 2.580 ulasan daring selama tahun 2024 pada platform Google Reviews, ShopeeFood, dan GrabFood. Data dianalisis menggunakan analisis tematik dan divalidasi melalui triangulasi sumber. Temuan penelitian menunjukkan bahwa e-WOM membangun loyalitas melalui integrasi dimensi kognitif, afektif, dan konatif. Secara spesifik, narasi yang menekankan konsistensi rasa menghasilkan kepuasan dan ikatan emosional, sementara persepsi keadilan harga memperkuat kepercayaan dan evaluasi nilai. Interaksi dimensi-dimensi tersebut menghasilkan legitimasi sosial digital yang mendorong niat pembelian ulang dan rekomendasi aktif. Penelitian ini menegaskan bahwa bagi UMKM kuliner, menjaga loyalitas jangka panjang dalam ekosistem pasar digital sangat bergantung pada sinergi antara kualitas sensorik yang konsisten dan keadilan harga yang tercermin dalam diskursus digital antarkonsumen. 

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Journal Info

Abbrev

fisip

Publisher

Subject

Humanities Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media Social Sciences

Description

JISIP Journal of Social and Political Science is published three times a year (April, August and December). Article published in JISIP is an article based on the results of research (priority), and articles on scientific reviews of contemporary phenomena in the field of Social and Political Science, ...