The Role of Social Media as a Digital Business Tool in Improving Marketing and Sales of MSME Products

Abstract

The rapid development of digital technology has encouraged Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to continuously adapt within an increasingly digitalized business ecosystem. Social media has evolved beyond a platform for entertainment into a strategic tool for product marketing and sales. This study aims to analyze the role of social media as a digital business tool in improving MSME product marketing and sales, identify the most impactful platforms, and examine relevant strategies, challenges, and solutions. The research employed a quantitative descriptive survey method using questionnaires distributed to 80 MSME actors in urban areas who actively utilized social media as a marketing channel. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and frequency distribution analysis. The results indicate that 91.25% of respondents reported significant sales growth attributed to social media utilization, with Instagram and TikTok emerging as the most widely used platforms. Creative content strategies, two-way communication, and micro-influencer collaborations were identified as the most effective approaches. The main barriers included limited digital literacy (reported by 67.5% of respondents) and insufficient time for content management (reported by 58.75% of respondents). This study concludes that strategic and data-driven optimization of social media utilization is essential for strengthening MSME competitiveness in the digital economy era.