Following the awareness stage, we argue that, depending on the
context, demographic similarities can either reinforce or discredit the
influence of the message. This context-based hypothesis would help
reconcile some of the contradictory findings found in the literature,
and is consistent with the work of Ferrand, Mounier, and Degenne
(1999), who studied the structure of social relations in France and
found that friendship ties shared the most demographic similarity,
while mutual aid relations were the most demographically dissimilar.
Messages from sources with similar demographic characteristics
will generate more interest and be more influential in situations
where a high degree of trust, confidence, and intimacy is required
(e.g., to choose an obstetrician/gynecologist), regardless of perceived
expertise (Gilly et al., 1998). Demographic similarities between the
sender and the recipient will serve as a cue for the latter that the
product or service may be of interest to them and tailored to their
demographic profiles and needs, thereby increasing the perceived
potential benefits of the offer.