Episode 60: Social Media in Japan with Dustin Ikeda
Dec 19, 2023
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Dustin Ikeda, co-founder of Hashi Media, discusses social media platforms popular in Japan and the unique ones. He explores the differences between Western and Japanese social media, recommends platforms for targeting foreigners in Japan, and covers pros and cons of agencies versus freelancers in marketing.
Instagram, Twitter, and Line are the top social media platforms in Japan, with Line being the biggest platform offering messaging, news, shopping, and more.
Japanese social media campaigns often focus on themed sales promotions and prioritize upfront information in design, while offering cheaper CPMs compared to the West.
Deep dives
Popular Social Media Platforms in Japan
Instagram, Twitter, and Line are the top social media platforms in Japan. Instagram is as popular in Japan as it is in the West. Twitter is the number one social media platform in Japan and is not in the top three for the USA. Line, a super app with various functions, is widely used in Japan for messaging, news, shopping, and more.
Social Media Platforms Unique to Japan
Line is the biggest social media platform in Japan, offering messaging, news, shopping, and more. Niko Niko Doga is a platform popular in the gaming and anime community. Meba blog is a major blogging platform in Japan, primarily used by women and celebrities. Me channel is similar to Reddit, with anonymous message boards covering various topics.
Differences Between Social Media in the West and Japan
Japanese users prioritize privacy and anonymity online, with lower engagement rates compared to the West. CPMs (cost per thousand impressions) are generally cheaper in Japan due to a less saturated market. Social media campaigns in Japan often revolve around themed sales promotions, which can receive a positive response. Design trends in Japan differ from the West, with Japanese users preferring upfront information rather than minimalist designs.
Benefits of Using an Agency over a Freelancer
An agency offers integrated services, filling in knowledge and execution gaps. They provide a wider breadth of expertise with specialists in various roles. Freelancers, on the other hand, often specialize in one area, requiring more management and integration tasks from the client. Agencies are more likely to accurately set expectations, while freelancers may overpromise and underdeliver.
In this episode of Scaling Japan Podcast, we welcome Dustin Ikeda, the co-founder of Hashi Media. One of the leading social media and marketing agencies in Japan for gaming, tech, and lifestyle. Dustin explores social media platforms that are popular in both the West and Japan, highlighting many unique platforms in Japan. He delves into the differences between Western and Japanese social media and recommends platforms for targeting foreigners in Japan. The conversation also covers the pros and cons of agencies versus freelancers, along with common marketing mistakes.
(03:34) Social media platforms that are both popular in the west and in Japan
(04:27) Social media platforms that are not popular among Japanese
(08:06) Social media platforms that are unique to Japan
(14:28) Key differences between social media platforms in the west and in Japan
(22:15) Social media platforms Dustin recommends to target foreigners in Japan
(27:51) Pros and Cons between an agency versus a freelancer
(34:06) Common mistakes marketing agency make when it comes to social media
(40:48) Dustin’s company and contact
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