Final answer:
Opinion leaders are individuals who have the ability to influence the opinions and behaviors of others. They can be anyone in your social circle or someone you see through the media or social media. They are not limited to elite public figures and can shape ordinary voters' opinions either purposefully or inadvertently.
Step-by-step explanation:
Opinion leaders are individuals who have the ability to influence the opinions and behaviors of others. They can be anyone in your social circle or someone you see through the media or social media. Opinion leaders can shape ordinary voters' opinions either purposefully or inadvertently. They are not limited to elite public figures and can be found in all social strata.
Opinion leaders may be targeted by marketing managers and given free samples to prompt positive reviews and word-of-mouth. However, it is not true that they only share positive recommendations, as their opinions can be positive, negative, or neutral. They are influential because people value their words and perspectives. Marketers should not dismiss opinion leaders as ineffective because they play a significant role in shaping public opinion.