Netnography is an observational research technique that requires deep engagement with one or more social media communities. What differentiates netnography from the other social media research techniques is the extensive contact and analysis of online communities and the use of participant observation. These online communities are often organized around interests in industries, products, brands, sports teams, or music groups, and contain fanatic consumers who are lead users or innovators. Rob Kozinets, who developed netnography, used the technique to study an online community of ‘‘coffeephiles.’’ Kozinets concluded that devotion to coffee among the members of the community was almost religious: ‘‘Coffee is emotional, human, deeply and personally relevant—and not to be commodified . . . or treated as just another product.’