Starbucks: A social media master in the coffee market

Betty Wan
Digital Society
Published in
4 min readFeb 16, 2023

People drink a ton of coffee every day, like 2 billion cups worth. And with so many coffee places out there, it’s pretty impressive that Starbucks has managed to become the biggest coffee company in the world. But why is that? What’s their secret sauce?

Well, for one, they’ve got a vibe that’s totally their own. From the decor to the music, walking into a Starbucks just feels different than any other coffee shop. Plus, people just love hanging out there and enjoying their drink. It’s not just coffee, it’s a lifestyle. But that’s not all! Starbucks also has an awesome Rewards Program that hooks people in. Every time you buy a drink, you earn “Stars” that you can later use to get free stuff. It’s like a game, and customers are super loyal because they don’t want to miss out on those sweet rewards.

At the same time, Starbucks knows how to connect with people on social media. They’re all over Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, you name it. But let’s focus on their Instagram and Twitter game for now and see how Starbucks shows its online presence to integrate the brand in everyone’s daily life.

Instagram — Sharing engaging posts

Starbucks profile and postings on Instagram

Have you ever noticed how cool and coordinated Starbucks’ Instagram posts are? They really know how to make coffee the star of the show! They post all sorts of pics that just make you want to drink their coffee ASAP. And they’re always coming up with new flavors and fun ways to enjoy their drinks, which they love to share on their platforms.

But it’s not just about the coffee — Starbucks also shares all sorts of inspiring phrases and keeps up with the latest holiday trends. And they’re so good at keeping everything looking cohesive, too. All their posts have the same vibe and feel, with coordinated colors and fonts that just look great together. It’s like they’ve got a whole team dedicated to making sure everything looks perfect!

To see more clearly, almost half of their recent posts are videos, which are way more interactive and eye-catching than normal pictures. And it’s not just that — Starbucks’ Instagram is killin’ it. They’re so good at what they do that they’ve got a whopping 17.9 million followers on Instagram. That’s like, a whole lotta people! But it’s no surprise. They just know how to make everyone’s day a little bit better with their fun and inspiring content.

Twitter — Interacting with consumers

Starbucks are not just popular on Instagram. Their Twitter game, which is pretty different from their Instagram, is also super strong. It’s more of a bridge between the company and their customers. On Twitter, Starbucks interacts with their followers like friends, chatting with them and answering their questions.

It’s actually pretty cool how they use their Twitter to keep in touch with their customers. They’re always ready to help out if someone has a question or issue, and they’re not afraid to get a little personal and have some fun on the platform.

Starbucks’ reply on twitter

Did you know that Starbucks has different social media accounts for different countries? It’s pretty cool! Each region has its own team that manages their own account, which allows them to interact with customers in different time zones, weathers, and holidays.

For example, Starbucks did this super awesome campaign in Japan where they shared cool content on Twitter all about the sakura season, which is like this really pretty time of year when the cherry blossoms are blooming. It was such a hit with Japanese customers and just goes to show how Starbucks really knows how to connect with people in different parts of the world.

Overall, it’s just so cool to see how Starbucks uses social media to get closer to their customers. They’re always tailoring their content to fit different regions and cultures, and it really makes their brand feel more personal and authentic.

Starbucks’ regional accounts

From my point of view, Starbucks is so amazing at using social media to connect with people and make their brand a part of our daily lives. They know how to capture our attention and create an experience that’s more than just a cup of coffee — it’s a whole vibe, a whole lifestyle. By making their brand feel personal and authentic, Starbucks speaks to their customers and makes them feel like they’re part of something special. It’s no wonder they have such a huge following!

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Betty Wan
Digital Society

An exchange student in UoM. Sharing some personal opinions about how the digital affects the society.