Best Journals for Social Media Marketing Research (2026)

What to Look for When Choosing a Journal

Before submitting your research, evaluate journals on these key criteria:

Social media scope — platform-specific research and cross-platform comparisons
Influencer marketing — creator economy, authenticity, and influencer effectiveness
Social commerce — shoppable posts, live shopping, and social purchase behaviour
Fast review for rapidly evolving social media research
Open access to reach social media managers, brand strategists, and platform researchers
Acceptance of social network analysis, text mining, and sentiment analysis research

Recommended Journals — Cluster 8: Marketing, Media & Communication

All journals below are published by Keith Publications — open access, peer-reviewed, and indexed for global discoverability.

Journal of Marketing Management and Research (JMMR)
Marketing management, consumer behaviour, brand management, strategic marketing, digital marketing, market research, and the theory and practice of marketing across sectors.

Review: 2–4 weeks Open Access DOI (CrossRef) Google Scholar

Marketing Management Consumer Behaviour Brand Management Strategic Marketing

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Journal of Marketing and Digital Media (JMDM)
Digital marketing, social media marketing, content strategy, influencer marketing, digital advertising, e-commerce marketing, and the intersection of technology and marketing practice.

Review: 2–3 weeks Open Access DOI (CrossRef) Google Scholar

Digital Marketing Social Media Content Marketing E-commerce

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Fast Publication: All Keith Publications journals complete initial review within 2–5 business days and full peer review within 2–4 weeks. Articles are published online within 5–10 days of acceptance — among the fastest open access publishers in marketing, media, and communication research.

Core Research Areas in Social Media Marketing

Keith Publications social media marketing journals accept research on: brand community management and online brand communities; user-generated content (UGC) — its production, sharing, and marketing effects; social media engagement — likes, shares, comments, and their marketing implications; viral content — the mechanics of organic content spread; social commerce — the purchase journey from social discovery to conversion; TikTok marketing — short video effectiveness and the creator economy; LinkedIn B2B marketing and professional social networking; social media crisis communication and reputation management; social listening and real-time marketing; algorithmic feed effects on organic brand reach; and the ethics of social media marketing — manipulation, dark patterns, and advertising disclosure.

The Creator Economy and Influencer Marketing Research

The creator economy — the ecosystem of content creators, influencers, and brand partnership platforms — has grown into a multi-billion-dollar marketing channel that brands can no longer ignore. Research on influencer selection, authenticity perceptions, disclosure compliance, nano-influencer effectiveness, long-term brand partnership dynamics, and the measurement of influencer marketing ROI is urgently needed by brands, agencies, and regulators. Keith Publications provides an open access publication platform for this timely influencer marketing research, connecting academic findings with the marketing professionals and regulators navigating the creator economy.

Tips to Maximise Your Acceptance Chances

Align your research with the journal's scope — confirm your topic fits the journal's marketing, media, or communication focus.
Write a practitioner-relevant abstract — marketing and communication journals value clear implications for practice alongside theoretical contributions.
Ensure methodological rigour — clearly describe your research design, measurement instruments, and analysis approach.
Use current and relevant literature — include recent marketing and communication research publications (within the last 5 years).
Follow formatting guidelines exactly — non-compliant manuscripts are often desk-rejected without review.
State theoretical and managerial implications — explain how your findings advance marketing theory and inform marketing practice.
Address limitations honestly — acknowledge the boundaries of your study and future research directions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which journals are best for social media marketing research?

The Journal of Marketing and Digital Media (JMDM) from Keith Publications is among the best for social media marketing research, covering influencer marketing, brand community management, social commerce, TikTok and Instagram marketing, and social media analytics.

Can I publish research on TikTok marketing and short video content?

Yes. Research on TikTok algorithm effects, short-form video engagement, creator marketing strategies, TikTok advertising effectiveness, and the cultural dynamics of viral TikTok content is within scope for Keith Publications social media journals.

Is research on social commerce and live shopping accepted?

Yes. Research on social commerce purchase behaviour, live streaming shopping dynamics, shoppable post conversion rates, trust in social commerce platforms, and the integration of social media and e-commerce is within scope for JMDM.

How quickly can social media marketing research be published at Keith Publications?

Keith Publications journals complete initial screening within 2–5 business days and full peer review within 2–4 weeks — crucial for social media research, which can quickly become outdated as platforms and algorithms change.

Related Research Guides

Explore other research journal guides in the Marketing, Media & Communication cluster: