Reconnect with readers : Does native advertising affect customer’s attitude towards online advertising?

Sammanfattning: Background - The thesis topic was selected because of the increased value of ads as a promotional tool and the growing avoidance arising from the exposure rate towards advertising. The principle of native advertising gives marketers a less intrusive pathway. Despite the increased trend and the benefits of using native advertising as a digital marketing tool, native advertising has been criticized for its approach. However, we hope to provide another insight into the positive side of native advertising.  Purpose - We seek to help advertisers improve native advertising content based on individuals' preferences by focusing our attention on what motivates consumers to affect their attitude towards online advertisement in the form of native advertising. Therefore, the purpose of this thesis is to investigate the factors influencing internet users’ attitude towards native advertising.  Method - The thesis is an exploratory study which is based on a qualitative method along with an abductive approach within the interpretivism stance. Data collection was done through primary. Within the primary data, it is collected through a semi-structured interview with the eleven internet users. Both genders are included in the data collection as well as it consists of several nationalities. Also, the data analysis is done through a thematic analysis method.  Conclusion - Entertainment, informativeness, irritation and credibility were applied to research the attitude of customers towards native advertising. Participants agreed that native advertising itself is not enough to encourage them for consumption, but they find it a smart and new idea that makes it easier to recognize the brand. While all four factors were crucial, we could discover different categories within each type that can influence customers’ attitude. Moreover, participants did not feel overwhelmed or deceived by native ads.