<\/p>\n
Ann Arbor businesses are increasingly turning<\/a> to social media to help compete in a crowded market. Local businesses have cultivated followings on social media platforms such as Instagram<\/a>, Facebook<\/a> and even Snapchat<\/a> to reach the feeds of students and community members and build their consumer base. This direct channel for businesses to interact with consumers through instant messages, comments and reactions has fostered a direct connection and sense of community between them.\u00a0<\/p>\n Jeremy Colorundo, co-founder of \u201cDude, Where\u2019s The Party?\u201d<\/a>, works as a marketing specialist for BTB Burrito<\/a>, Cantina<\/a> and Good Time Charley\u2019s<\/a>. In an interview with The Michigan Daily, Colorundo explained that creating a digital community, rather than just a social media page, cultivates personal interactions that encourage customers to visit the business.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s something there, as far as treating (social media) like a community,\u201d Colorundo said. \u201cCultivating it like you would cultivate a community, and then treating all the people as individuals, instead of just numbers on the screen.\u201d<\/p>\n Among businesses in Ann Arbor, there is an overall consensus that Instagram is the most effective platform<\/a> for driving consumer engagement in young adults and creating a sense of community surrounding a business. Colorundo said this is primarily because the demographic he often targets is on Instagram rather than alternative platforms such as Facebook.<\/p>\n