Business Breakthrough in the Digital Era: Social Media Marketing

Social media marketing has become commonplace in today's rapidly evolving digital era. Almost everyone discovers, learns, follows, and shops through social media.

As of January 2024, there are 5.04 billion social media users globally. This figure represents about 62.3% of the world's total population of 8.08 billion. In Indonesia, 75% of the total internet user base uses at least one social media platform as of January 2024. Of these, 46.5% are female, while 53.5% are male (We Are Social).

These statistics clearly show that social media marketing is considered an effective way for businesses to reach a broad customer base.

So, let’s dive into social media marketing strategies and basics below!

What is Social Media Marketing?

Source: Forbes 

Social media marketing is the practice of promoting products or services using social media platforms as the main tool. This approach allows you to interact with and promote your products or services to the right audience in a more relaxed and enjoyable way.

According to wordstream.com, social media marketing is like a secret weapon in the digital world. By leveraging the power of popular platforms, you can achieve branding and marketing goals more effectively. But it’s not just about creating accounts and posting randomly!

Why is Social Media Marketing So Important? 

The answer comes down to three key elements: connection, interaction, and customer data.

1. Connection
Through social media, businesses can connect with customers across various platforms to reach target audiences, such as YouTube for video content, Facebook for communities, and X for quick chats.

2. Interaction
Social media is a place where interaction knows no bounds. Business owners can directly engage through comments, and audiences can "like" posts, offering free promotions. Word-of-mouth recommendations on social media greatly influence consumer decisions.

3. Customer Data
Equally important, good social media marketing provides valuable resources to enhance marketing: customer data. This data can be analyzed to improve your business strategy.

Read More: 5 Effective and Efficient Restaurant Management Strategies

Social Media Marketing Tips for Culinary Businesses 

Now that you understand what social media marketing is, here are tips to create a social media marketing plan for culinary businesses, but these can also apply to any business you’re running.

1. Create Diverse Content

Source: WordStream

As with other online marketing, content is king in social media. Use the variety of formats available, such as images, videos, and live streaming.
Make sure to post regularly and offer valuable and engaging information for your target customers, like:

- Tips & Tricks in Food

- Food Recommendations

- Polls, Questions, Giveaways

- Announcements

2. Stay Consistent 

Using social media for marketing allows your business to showcase its brand identity. While each platform has its own style and vibe, make sure your business's identity stays consistent across all channels.

3. Always Engage 

Don’t just log in once a month to schedule posts. Pay attention to who engages with your content and interact back—respond to comments, like, share, run live streams, and ask real-time questions to spark discussions.

4. Create Eye-Catching Visuals

Source: CNN Indonesia

If you want to stand out in someone's feed, your food visuals need to be attractive. Apps like Freepik and Canva offer templates and features to help you create professional-looking content quickly.

5. Organize Your Feed 

Make sure your feed looks consistent and always follows current trends. Follow influencers or food vloggers to see how they organize their feeds and enrich your knowledge.

6. Measure Success with Analytics 

You can’t measure the success of social media strategies without data. Use Google Analytics to track how far your social media marketing has succeeded, and determine which strategies are less effective.

7. Try Paid Ads
Lastly, consider using paid social ads to broaden your reach. Done correctly, you can put your content in front of a large audience at a low cost. Most social media platforms offer highly detailed targeting capabilities, allowing you to focus your budget on those most likely interested in your business.

That’s how you can leverage social media marketing! With the right strategy—from engaging content to active interaction with followers—you can attract more customers and boost sales. So, don’t hesitate to start harnessing the power of social media!