As a result of new and improved technologies and techniques, advertising has witnessed some rapid changes over the years. One of such changes is online advertising. Marketers and businesses are shifting focus to online advertisement due to the emergence of information technology and cheap access to the internet. Other reasons why marketers prefer online ads to traditional forms of advertising include cost, wide coverage, the interactive nature of online ads and its appeals to the younger population. However, the extent to which these online advertisements affect the purchase behaviour of consumers has not been extensively explored. In view of this, the study sought to examine the perception of internet users towards online ads and how such perceptions influence their purchasing behaviour. To achieve this objective, a survey was conducted among the students of Bolgatanga Technical University (BTU) to represent the population of online users. A total of 42 of these respondents were conveniently sampled for the study. A quantitative method was used where a descriptive and regression analysis were conducted to analyse the data in order to meet the objectives of the study. The findings revealed that the respondents generally have a positive perception/attitude towards online advertising. For instance, the respondents perceive online ads as credible, less intrusive, informative and entertaining. The study further revealed that the perception of users towards online ads significantly influences their purchase intentions. The study recommends that the marketers and online advertisers must design online ads that are credible; informative, entertaining and less intrusive to attract users.
Purpose: The study is conducted purposely to investigate the stages of doing away with an election-led violence considering what a social marketing can do in Ghana.
Design and methodology: In order to understand and describe the stage of change behavior the electorates in Ghana, the study adopts a quantitative method approach to gather and analyze the data collected from the 300 electorates in the three Northern regions of Ghana.
Findings: The study found that Ghana is ever prepared to conduct a violence-free election and maintain the peace that she is enjoying currently and as such is at the preparation and maintenance stages.
Originality and value: The value of this study lies above the behavioral change of Ghanaians as far as the conduct of elections are concerned, considering the number of confusions and fighting which took place in certain regions during the December 7, 2020 general elections and urge the people of Ghana not to entertain fears of war before, during, and after elections.
Conclusion: Though, Ghanaians are ever ready and prepared to maintain the peace that they are enjoying by conducting a violence-free election, the government, security agencies, churches and all the important stakeholders having the responsibility of doing everything possible to ensure that this peace is maintained in the country.
Keywords: the stages of change, behavior, election-led violence, Ghana.