In 2026’s digital landscape, the “upload and forget” strategy is no longer effective for startups’ digital marketing growth. Success in digital marketing now depends not just on aesthetics but also on the utilization of accurate data.
“Social media without data is like driving a car with your eyes closed,” stated Dayang Melati, CEO of Dynamic Buzz. She made this comment during the weekly seminar of The Greater Hub (TGH) incubation program, which took place online at the School of Business and Management, Bandung Institute of Technology (SBM ITB), on Thursday, April 9.
In the seminar, titled “Social Media to Conversion,” Dayang emphasized that data is vital for understanding when and how audiences interact with a brand. Relying solely on intuition without clear metrics will only result in wasted resources for startups.
Dayang said that the world of digital marketing is currently transitioning from simply chasing impressions to achieving real conversions. A common mistake many startups make is treating social media as a one-way communication channel. For her, digital platforms must be used as social spaces to build customer trust, rather than just rigid product showcases.
During a session, Dayang addressed various concerns raised by the startup founders in attendance. One significant point came from Egi Pranajaya, the founder of the Digital Marketing Agency Kreafits, who emphasized the challenge of enhancing brand account performance compared to organic influencer accounts.
In response, Dayang emphasized the importance of an organic storytelling strategy to prevent business accounts from appearing rigid. She argued that audience trust must be built through flexible, sincere narratives before moving to the sales stage.
Through this seminar, Dayang encouraged startups within The Great Hub to begin “befriending” data without losing the human side of communication. The future success of a brand is determined by its leaders’ ability to build honest, authentic relationships. Dayang hopes that the startups fostered by TGH will continue to innovate and make real contributions to the advancement of the national economy.
