Palakka : Media and Islamic Coummunication
Vol. 7 No. 1 (2026): Media and Islamic Communication (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, United Kingd

Word of Mouth and Testimonial Practices in Digital Marketing: Integrating Islamic Ethics into MSME Promotion

Nur Aisyah T. (Nobel Indonesia Institute, Indonesia)
Fitriany (Nobel Indonesia Institute, Indonesia)
Asri (Nobel Indonesia Institute, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
29 Jun 2026

Abstract

Digital marketing is becoming more dangerous because of phony reviews and information manipulation. To keep community-based enterprises going, it is important to follow ethical procedures. This study examines customer testimonials and Word of Mouth (WOM) practices in the digital marketing of Jipangta” Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs, also referred to as UMKM), investigates their influence on consumer trust and explores the integration of Islamic ethical values in digital promotional activities. Utilizing a qualitative case study methodology, the research incorporated comprehensive interviews with the business owner, social media administrator and consumers, alongside the observation of digital marketing practices on Instagram and WhatsApp Business and the documentation of social media content. Data were examined through the interactive model of Miles, Huberman and Saldaña, utilizing Islamic ethical principles (ṣidq, amanah, al-'adl, tadlīs, gharar) as analytical frameworks. Jipangta” MSME uses customer reviews and word-of-mouth as their main digital marketing tools. Testimonials are a form of social proof that builds trust in customers by being real. Both digital (e-WOM) and conventional methods help WOM happen and the strong social ties in Bone Regency make it even stronger. Islamic ethical standards are applied in specific situations, such as honesty (ṣidq) in advertising and accountability (amanah) in customer service. However, it is still hard to keep up with the same level of openness all the time. This study enhances the digital marketing literature by including Islamic ethics as an empirical analytical framework into local MSME contexts, offering a contextual comprehension of value-based marketing strategies in religious groups.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

palakka

Publisher

Subject

Religion Arts Humanities Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media Social Sciences

Description

Palakka: Media and Islamic Communication is published twice a year, June and December by the Communication and Islamic Broadcast Study Program at the Bone State Islamic Institute. This journal is a publication of scientific papers for academics and practitioners. This journal publishes articles from ...