Don't Just Sit There! Start Getting More Recipes For Chicken

That's the question assistant professor Kuo-Liang "Matt" Chang and a crew of South Dakota State University researchers sought to answer when making an attempt to determine one of the best ways to make use of social media to encourage beef consumption. The study was funded by means of a $9,100 grant from the South Dakota Beef Industry Council.

Along with Chang, the research staff included assistant professor of economics Lisa Elliott, assistant professor of journalism and mass communications Rocky Dailey and SDSU Extension subject specialist Shannon Sand in Rapid City.

Social media platforms provide a wealth of quantitative analytics, including the quantity of people that visited the site, what they viewed and their demographics, in keeping with Briana Burgers, nutrition assistant and director of online communications for the South Dakota Beef Industry Council.

"We want to know what information our shoppers want to see from us," said Burgers. "This research offers us that qualitative data we'd like."

The info collected will help the South Dakota beef industry management higher understand beef demand and tailor their advertising and marketing efforts to suit consumer needs.

Recipes, nutritional info

Based an online survey crammed out by 126 South Dakotans, websites are their No. 1 supply of nutrition info and recipes, followed by household and buddies, in keeping with Chang. Most respondents were within the 24 to 45 age vary.

The third-most popular place the respondents find recipes is magazines, followed by social media, the consumer economist explained. However, for nutrition information, social media takes a again seat to well being professionals, magazines and television-in that order.

In looking at shoppers' nutritional knowledge, Chang discovered that more than half the respondents recognized beef as containing more iron than other meats, however only 25 percent knew that a rooster thigh has more fats than a steak.

Shopping selections

Nearly forty five % of respondents had shopped groceries based on information posted on social media, in line with Chang. Though solely 27 p.c of the respondents had finished meat shopping on-line, about 77 % stated they're prepared to strive new merchandise based on their associates' strategies on social media.

Greater than 80 percent of the respondents used Facebook, whereas just over 50 p.c visited Pinterest, with Twitter coming in third, Chang explained, noting that the beef council maintains a presence on all three. "This means that the beef council can take growing benefit of the nice advertising and marketing alternatives on these platforms."

As well as, Burgers mentioned she additionally writes a blog on which she tries to attach with millennials and supply simple, convenient and nutritious recipes with how-to photographs.

Consumers considered nutrition and health as prime priorities when purchasing both beef and poultry, however when considering price, fifty five p.c felt it was vital when buying beef and 58 percent when shopping for chicken. This difference, though, will not be statistically significant, Chang pointed out.

Eating habits, choices

Approximately 37 p.c of the respondents buy their beef at a sequence retailer, comparable to Hy-Vee or Walmart, while 33 % purchase a half or quarter of beef from a friend or household member, in response to Chang.

When faced with larger beef costs, South Dakota shoppers buy less meat on the whole, moderately than selecting cheaper options, such as rooster, defined Chang. However, Midwesterners consume 10 p.c more beef than the rest of nation.

"One sort of meat doesn't essentially compete with the other," said Chang. Consumers buy quite a lot of meats which complement, relatively than substitute for one another.