News & Articles

Selling to Indonesian consumers can be a rewarding endeavor due to the country’s large population and growing middle class. However, it also comes with its fair share of marketing challenges. Here are some key challenges that brands may face when trying to sell to Indonesian consumers:

One crucial aspect of cultural sensitivity in Indonesia that marketers should be aware of is the concept of “gotong royong.” Gotong royong is a Javanese term that embodies the spirit of mutual cooperation and community solidarity. It is a fundamental value in Indonesian culture, emphasizing the importance of helping one another and working together for the common good. How can your brand incorporate diversity and inclusivity in your marketing strategies and materials to reflect the cultural value of gotong royong. Will it help to demonstrate how your brand brings people from different backgrounds together. Is that appealing to your target customers? Leverage on market research to uncover nuggets that appeal to the heartstrings…what can your brand “own” in this space of gotong royong?

Indonesia is an incredibly diverse country with various ethnicities, languages, and cultural practices. Brands must be sensitive to these differences and tailor their marketing strategies to resonate with different regional and cultural preferences. For example, Indonesia has one of the largest Muslim populations in the world, and Islamic values significantly influence consumer choices, especially in the food and beverage industry as well as cosmetics, financial services, pharmaceuticals. However, understanding the need of Indonesians of Chinese ethnicities are also important due to their high spending power.

Building trust and credibility is crucial for brands in Indonesia. Consumers may be hesitant to try new or unfamiliar brands, particularly in the online space. Positive reviews, testimonials, and endorsements can help establish trust. Indonesians count on word of mouth and referrals, thus, it is extremely important for foreign brands to build trust and credibility to cut above the clutter of local brands. Our foreign clients have looked into specific aspects that can earn the trust of Indonesian customers for example, which aspects of after-sales service helps build trust and credibility among your customers? Which aspects of your product and service is falling short of expectations?

While Bahasa Indonesia is the official language, there are numerous regional languages spoken throughout the country. Crafting marketing messages that can effectively communicate with a broader audience can be challenging. Testing of key messages helps avoid pitfalls and disastrous outcome.

Many Indonesian consumers are price-sensitive and seek value for money in their purchases. Brands must offer competitive pricing and promotions to appeal to this segment of the market. Conjoint analysis and price trade-off research helps identify the optimal price points for products.

While digital payment adoption is growing, a significant portion of the Indonesian population still prefers cash transactions, especially in the more traditional and rural areas. Brands must accommodate various payment options to cater to all consumers. E-wallets have experienced significant growth in Indonesia, driven by their convenience and ease of use. Some popular e-wallets in Indonesia include GoPay, OVO, Dana, and LinkAja. E-wallets can be used for various purposes, such as bill payments, mobile top-ups, online shopping, and ride-hailing services. Customer journey experience research are designed to look comprehensively at customers’ experience from “moment of truth” to payment and delivery experience.

Indonesia’s market is highly competitive, with both local and international brands vying for consumer attention. Brands need to differentiate themselves and offer unique value propositions to stand out. Are there new spaces that are not occupied by other brands? Which attributes of your brand stands you apart from your competitors? Including Gap Analysis in your market research portfolio offers clarity on which areas your brand may be lagging behind in performance vis-à-vis competitors.

Social media plays a significant role in Indonesian consumers’ lives, but each platform has its unique user base and content preferences. Brands need to have a nuanced approach to social media marketing. Tokopedia, one of Indonesia’s leading e-commerce platforms, actively uses social media to engage customers. They regularly post product updates, promotions, and special offers on their social media channels. Tokopedia also runs interactive contests, giveaways, and user-generated content campaigns to encourage customer participation and increase brand awareness.

Gojek, a prominent ride-hailing and on-demand services platform, has a strong social media presence. They use social media to provide customer support, share real-time updates on service availability, and showcase heartwarming stories related to their services and drivers. Indomie, a popular instant noodle brand in Indonesia, has a vibrant social media presence. They engage their customers with creative and humorous content, share user-generated content, and run social media contests to involve their audience actively.

The use of market research helps companies identify which brand image and persona is unique and suitable to the brand. Social media tactics can then be rolled out to reinforce the brand image. Overcoming these challenges requires a deep understanding of the Indonesian market, its consumers, and the ability to adapt marketing strategies to suit local needs. Understanding consumer behavior and preferences through market research has helped many of our US and European clients navigate the challenges of this market more effectively.

By understanding the Asian markets’ unique characteristics using insights from market research, our American and European clients have successfully tailored its offerings and marketing strategies. Decoding Asian preferences and cultural differences is key to winning.

Let Asia Insights consultants help you navigate the intricacies of Asia. We have the skills, the experiences and the expertise to help you uncover insights that can guide your marketing strategies.

Interested in learning more about marketing research in Asia? Please get in touch and let us help you build your brand successfully in this lucrative, fascinating and exciting growth market!