Economics and Digital Business Review
Vol. 7 No. 1 (2026)

Social Media Marketing as a Strategy for New Business De-velopment in Indonesia: A Narrative Review

Shapely Ambalao (Universitas Klabat)
Kenneth Sahetapy (Fakultas Ekonomi dan Bisnis, Universitas Klabat)



Article Info

Publish Date
23 Jul 2026

Abstract

Purpose: This review synthesizes empirical evidence from Indonesia on how social media marketing supports new business development and identifies the capabilities and conditions that convert platform use into performance. Research Method: A narrative review covered 13 peer-reviewed empirical studies published from January 2019 to 16 June 2026. Eligible studies used primary data from Indonesian MSMEs or small businesses and linked social media adoption, use, or marketing with organizational capabilities, marketing outcomes, or business performance. Study characteristics and findings were coded in a structured matrix and synthesized thematically and comparatively. Results and Discussion: Social media consistently expands market reach, customer interaction, and low-cost promotion, but adoption alone does not ensure performance. Relational, informational, marketing, and innovation capabilities explain stronger sales, engagement, and business outcomes. Entrepreneurial orientation, owner support, platform fit, organizational readiness, and institutional pressure shape adoption, while effects differ across sectors and platforms. Implications: New businesses should manage social media as a staged market-learning system linked to customer records and transactions. Support programs should emphasize strategic content, analytics, customer management, and platform-specific skills. Originality: The review offers an Indonesia-specific synthesis and a four-stage framework connecting social media activity with discovery, validation, conversion, retention, and learning.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

ecotal

Publisher

Subject

Decision Sciences, Operations Research & Management Economics, Econometrics & Finance

Description

Economics and Digital Business Review, is published by STIE Amkop Makassar in 2020, with registered number ISSN : 2774-2563 (Online), is a peer-reviewed journal published Economics and Digital Business Review published two times a year (January & July) by STIE Amkop Makassar, It provides an academic ...