THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON MSMES IN PANDEMIC TIMES

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the face of business sectors, including Indonesian Small Micro and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The pandemic period has made a lot of shifts in adapting new habits. This condition forces business actors to look for other alternatives, one of which is by switching to digital, but the process of MSMEs entering the digitization phase is not easy. The Ministry of Cooperatives and MSMEs collaborates with a number of digital platforms, including Gojek, Grab, Tokopedia, Bukalapak, Shopee, Blibli, and Lazada. The importance of MSMEs taking advantage of the existence of social media (Medsos) to improve the sales performance of their products. Changes in people’s online shopping lifestyle due to the implementation of the PSBB are also very influential. Currently, there are quite a number of platforms that support this digital marketing strategy, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. Because through a digital marketing system or online marketing system, products from MSMEs will be better known by the public, orders can be made online, so that it can make it easier for buyers and MSME actors to make buying and selling transactions amid the current Covid-19 pandemic. However, before starting online sales, there are important elements that must be considered for MSME actors, such as:

  1. Preparation of a product catalog containing descriptions, photos, and availability of goods.
  2. Making an attractive and neat catalog will increase people’s purchasing power;
  3. Team allocation for sales execution. The ideal team usually has a product photo team, a graphic design team, an admin as an order taker, a financial report management team, and a packing and shipping team;
  4. Consistent communication. Interaction with potential buyers is very important in order to create trust and comfort;
  5. Utilize platforms like Google and Facebook to advertise. When doing business digitally, digital advertising must be prioritized;
  6. Collaborate with other businesses. In the digital realm, collaboration between fellow online sellers will add to the promotion of our products.

The current Covid-19 pandemic actually keeps a veil of revival for MSME actors. So, if MSME actors are able to read opportunities, the current situation is a very appropriate momentum for Indonesia to accelerate the digitization of MSMEs. Furthermore, MSME actors need to understand the factors that cause Indonesian MSMEs to experience a slowdown in business growth. Starting from market access, capital and strengthening Human Resources (HR).

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