Peran Instagram dalam Memperkuat Branding Personal Bupati Mojokerto
Abstract
This study examines the role of Instagram in strengthening the personal branding of Muhammad Al Barra (Gus Barra), the elected Regent of Mojokerto Regency. The research employs a qualitative case study approach, combining in-depth interviews, field observations, and documentation of Gus Barra’s official Instagram account (@gusbarra_). Data were collected from interviews with Gus Barra’s media team (Ahmad Solihin and Ahmad Tabrani), three community respondents (aged 24, 28, and 30), as well as the internal survey division of the Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI) that supported Gus Barra’s campaign. The findings reveal that Instagram functions as a highly effective political communication tool. The account consistently posted 1–2 pieces of content daily, with themes ranging from religious and social activities to community development programs. Based on LSI’s internal survey and field interviews, approximately 75% of Gus Barra’s voters—equivalent to around 279,400 out of 372,537 valid votes—reported that they became more familiar with Gus Barra through social media compared to conventional campaign methods. Gus Barra’s personal branding strategy follows Tom Peters’ model, consisting of self-assessment, brand identity development, strategic positioning, and promotion. Beyond visuals, captions in each post also played a key role. The messages conveyed were predominantly moral, religious, and socially oriented, such as calls for gratitude, the importance of mutual cooperation, and care for the underprivileged. Direct interaction through Instagram Direct Message (DM) further reinforced these messages by providing a personal and attentive impression. This study concludes that social media, particularly Instagram, functions not only as an information-sharing platform but also as a strategic instrument for building leadership legitimacy, enhancing electability, and fostering emotional connection with constituents.
Downloads
References
Ahmad Solihin. “Pengaruh Media Sosial Terhadap Elektabilitas.” Mojokerto, 2024.
Asosiasi Penyelenggara Jasa Internet Indonesia (APJII). “Jumlah Pengguna Internet 2024,” 2024.
Asvi Nurjannah, Dinar, Catur Suratnoaji, Zainal Abidin, and Saifuddin Zuhri. “Strategi Personal Branding Bupati Kabupaten Pacitan @inb_indratanurbayuaji Di Instagram.” Nusantara: Jurnal Ilmu Pengetahuan Sosial 9, no. 7 (2022): 3690–98.
Chabibi, Muhammad. “Candidate Process and Political Marketing of the Khofifah – Emil Dardak Candidate Pair in the East Java Gubernatorial Election 2018.” Al-Tsiqoh: Jurnal Ekonomi Dan Dakwah Islam 9, no. 1 (2024): 79–102.
Diana Novita, Aerwanto Aerwanto, Muhamad Hadi Arfian, Hanifah Hanifah, Susanto Susanto, Sri Purwati, and Hedar Rusmana. “Personal Branding Strategi Untuk Memenangkan Pasar.” Journal of Innovation Research and Knowledge 4, no. 2 (2024): 953–60. https://doi.org/10.53625/jirk.v4i2.8081.
Fauzan, Salman Al, and Slamet Parsono. “PERSONAL BRANDING RIDWAN KAMIL MELALUI INSTAGRAM @ridwankamil.” Indonesian Journal of Digital Public Relations (IJDPR) 2, no. 2 (2024): 93. https://doi.org/10.25124/ijdpr.v2i2.6921.
Imelda Putri Maharani, Rr, and Lisa Mardiana. “Pembentukan Personal Branding @Dilanjaniyar_2 Di Media Sosial Tiktok.” JIKE: Jurnal Ilmu Komunikasi Efek 7, no. 2 (2024): 157–66.
Isa, M U H, and A L Mansyur. “Literasi Media Digital Tentang Hoaks Bagi Karang Taruna Dukuh Banjarasri, Nglorog, Kabupaten Sragen.” Intelektiva: Jurnal Ekonomi, Sosial & Humaniora 2, no. 01 (2020): 90–94.
Julinda, Molares Cardoso, and Maria Eugenia Montero Campos. “ELEMENTOS CLAVE DEL PERSONAL BRANDING. DOS DÉCADAS DE HISTORIA (1997-2017).” REDMARKA IMARKA-Universidad de A Coruña – CIECID 1 (2018): 5–27.
Lestari, Adina indri, Nanda nia Rahayu, and Rani Setiawati. “Efektivitas Media Sosial Tiktok Terhadap Personal Branding Ganjar Pranowo Pada Masyarakat Jawa Tengah.” JKOMDIS : Jurnal Ilmu Komunikasi Dan Media Sosial 2, no. 2 (2022): 240–50. https://doi.org/10.47233/jkomdis.v2i2.347.
Martikasari, Arum “Photographing Ganjar Pranowo's Efforts to Build Personal Branding Through a Multi-Platform Strategy Perspective on Social Media”, Sospol: Jurnal Sosial Politik Vol 9 No 1 (2023), 34-48.
Novianti, Evi, Aat Ruchiyat Nugraha, Lukiati Komalasari, Kokom Komariah, and Diah Sri Rejeki. “Pemanfaatan Media Sosial Dalam Penyebaran Informasi Program Pemerintah (Studi Kasus Sekretariat Daerah Kabupaten Pangandaran).” Jurnal Komunikasi Dan Penyiaran Islam 11, no. 1 (2020): 48–59.
Numala, Qori Halimatul Hidayah, and Muda Wali. “Peran Media Sosial Dalam Membangun Personal Branding Bagi Pelaku UMKM.” SENAKOM: Prosiding Seminar Nasional Komunikasi 2, no. 1 (2025): 1–15.
Purwa, I B G. “Pemanfaatan Media Sosial Menuju Masyarakat Cerdas Berpengetahuan.” Media Sains Informasi Dan Perpustakaan 2, no. 1 (2022): 49–58.
Putra, Affan Alif, and Ainur Rochmaniah. “Branding Politik : Bagaimana Pemimpin Muda Menguasai Instagram Untuk Pengaruh Politik Di Indonesia.” INTERACTION: Communication Studies Journal 1, no. 2 (2024): 109–18.
Putri, Alantika, Hani Yuniani, and Robbikal Muntaha Meliala. “Personal Branding Pimpinan SD Islam Al Ikhlas Dalam Mempertahankan Citra Sekolah.” AL MIKRAJ: Jurnal Studi Islam Dan Humaniora 5, no. 1 (2024): 1127–41.
Putri, Dyah Mentari, Guntur Freddy Prisanto, Niken Febrina Ernungtyas, and Sekartaji Anisa Putri. “Personal Branding Politikus Melalui Media Sosial.” Ganaya: Jurnal Ilmu Sosial Dan Humaniora 5, no. 2 (2022): 195–207.
Qurotul Putri Riyadi, Raysa Nahtania, Hafsya Nur Abida, and Tria Patrianti. “Personal Branding Ridwan Kamil Melalui Media Sosial Instagram Pasca Menjabat Sebagai Gubernur Jawa Barat.” Jurnal Ilmiah Teknik Informatika Dan Komunikasi 4, no. 1 (2024): 233–49. https://doi.org/10.55606/juitik.v4i1.772.
Rukoyah. “Elektabilitas Calon Kepala Desa Wayame Dalam Pemelihan Kepala Desa Wayame Kota Ambon.” Journal of Social Politics and Governance (JSPG) 5, no. 2 (2024): 146–60.
Setyawan, Agung, et.al,” Bambang Pacul and the Personal Branding Approach on Instagram to Win the 2024 House of Representatives of Indonesia Republic (DPR RI)” Conference on Comunication, Culture and Media Studies” Yogyakarta, 27-29 Agustus 2024
Sugiyono. Metode Penelitian Pendidikan (Kuantitatif,Kualitatif,R&d Dan Penelitian Pendidikan). Yogyakarta: Alfabeta,Cv, 2019.
Supit, Mesy, Marlien Lapian, and Trilke Tulung. “PERAN MEDIA SOSIAL DALAM MENINGKATKAN ELEKTABILITAS CALON ANGGOTA LEGISLATIF DALAM PEMILIHAN UMUM TAHUN 2019 (Studi Di Desa Mobuya Kecamatan Passi Timur Kecamatan Bolaang).” Eksekutif 2, no. 1 (2022): 1–10.
Ummy Athahirah, Ummy “Personal Political Branding For Electability Boost: The Evidence From Millennial Local Leaders In West Sumatera”, JWP (Jurnal Wacana Politik), Vol. 9, No. 3, September 2024: 291 – 301.
Yusuf, Faidah, Hardianto Rahman, Sitti Rahmi, and Angri Lismayani. “Https://Journal.Unm.Ac.Id/Index.Php/JHP2M.” Jurnal Hasil-Hasil Pengabdian Dan Pemberdayaan Masyarakat 2, no. 1 (2023): 1–8.
Zuniananta, Luthfi Endi. “Penggunaan Media Sosial Sebagai Media Komunikasi Informasi Di Perpustakaan.” Jurnal Ilmu Perpustakaan 10, no. 4 (2021): 37–42.
Copyright (c) 2025 Harun Askhari Harun

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.











