Why should you consider marekting in China?
Due to many factors, marketing in China offers businesses many opportunities.
First, the Chinese market is huge. With over 1.4 billion people, your products or services can reach huge numbers. Thus, even a small market share can generate significant profits.
Second, China’s middle class is expanding rapidly. This demographic shift is creating a new generation of consumers with disposable income who want quality products and services. These consumers are becoming more sophisticated and discerning, seeking brands that are affordable and fit their lifestyle.
Thirdly, digital technology has changed Chinese business marketing. With widespread smartphone use and WeChat and Weibo use, China has some of the highest internet penetration rates in the world. This digital landscape lets businesses live-stream product launches and use influencer marketing to engage with customers.
In China, marketing requires cultural awareness. Localizing your brand message for Chinese consumers boosts appeal. This may involve changing your product line, brand messaging, or name to something auspicious in Mandarin.
Finally, Chinese government policies matter. Recent initiatives to boost domestic consumption and open markets to foreign businesses make it a good time to enter or expand in China.
China marketing is difficult. Consumer trends change quickly, competition is fierce, and regulations are complex. Thus, thorough market research, strategic planning, and local partnerships can help overcome these challenges and succeed in China.
In conclusion, marketing in China requires a deep understanding of the market and its unique characteristics, but the rewards can be significant. Businesses can grow and profit from this dynamic market with the right approach.
How to do marketing in China?
SEM Marketing
Search Engine Marketing (SEM) can quickly establish your brand in China. Instant visibility and targeted traffic can boost your website. In SEM, paid search advertising and organic SEO are used.
Chinese SEM isn’t limited to Baidu, the country’s largest search engine. Other popular platforms for SEM include Xiaohongshu (RED) and Douyin (TikTok internationally).
China’s most popular search engine is Baidu. Thus, Baidu paid search campaigns can instantly expose your brand to Chinese consumers. Advanced targeting features on Baidu help you reach the right audience at the right time and convert them into customers.
Users share shopping experiences and product reviews on Xiaohongshu, a unique social media-e-commerce platform. SEM on Xiaohongshu involves working with influencers or KOLs to promote your brand to their followers. You can also use paid ads to increase brand awareness and platform reach.
SEM is also growing on Douyin, the Chinese TikTok. Its short-video format and large user base allow brands to create engaging and shareable content. In-feed ads, Brand takeover ads, and Sponsored hashtag challenges can help brands reach and engage their target audience on Douyin.
Overall, SEM in China is not a one-size-fits-all approach. It requires knowing each platform’s quirks and adapting your strategy. By integrating SEM across Baidu, Xiaohongshu, and Douyin, you can increase brand visibility, reach a diverse audience, and boost Chinese conversions.
Attend the import and export fair in China
Participating in import and export exhibitions can help you grow by expanding to China. These events let you showcase your products to distributors, wholesalers, and buyers. Here are some success tips.
First, research the Chinese market to understand trends, consumer behavior, and popular products. This knowledge will help you market your product strategically.
After understanding the market, choose the best exhibition for your product category. The China Import and Export Fair, or Canton Fair, is one of China’s largest trade shows and a good starting point. However, many other industry-specific trade fairs may be more relevant.
Attend these exhibitions with a compelling presentation. This includes professional booth setup, high-quality product samples, and well-designed brochures. Remember, first impressions matter, so present your brand well.
These events require networking. Meet and build relationships with dealers. Local dealers know local market dynamics and consumer preferences, which can help you position your product.
After the exhibition, promptly contact your contacts. Inform them about your products and discuss partnerships.
Entering a new market like China takes time and patience. With the right strategies, you can sell your products in this massive and diverse market after building your brand and consumer trust.
SEO Marketing
Baidu, known as China’s Google, dominates the Chinese search engine market. Thus, Baidu optimization is essential if you want to reach Chinese internet users with your products or services.
Baidu SEO uses various methods to boost your website’s ranking in Baidu’s search results. Some important strategies:
Keyword Optimization: Like any SEO strategy, Baidu SEO relies on keywords. Find out what keywords your Chinese target audience uses to find your products and services, then incorporate them into your website content.
Website Localization: Baidu prefers Simplified Chinese domestic websites. Thus, a Chinese website and local hosting can boost Baidu SEO.
High-quality backlinks from reputable Chinese websites are valued by Baidu. Avoid link farms because Baidu prohibits spam.
Mobile Optimization: Most Chinese internet users use smartphones, so your website must be mobile-friendly. Baidu launched “Ice Bucket.” a mobile-friendly algorithm.
Meta tags and descriptions: Baidu SEO still values meta tags and descriptions, so make sure they’re keyword-rich and accurately reflect your site’s content.
Quality Content: Baidu seeks to rank original, high-quality content. Post useful content for your target audience regularly.
Baidu SEO takes time. It takes time, patience, and persistence. The payoff can be huge given Baidu’s dominance in the Chinese search market, exposing your products or services to many potential customers.
Content marketing
Little Red Book (Xiaohongshu) and video sharing sites Douyin and Bilibili are popular Chinese platforms for content marketing, which attracts and engages customers.
Due to its unique blend of social media and e-commerce, Little Red Book (Xiaohongshu) has grown in popularity. Brands can thrive on the platform because users research products and services before buying. To use Xiaohongshu effectively, create informative, high-quality product or service content. Share user reviews, how-to guides, and behind-the-scenes photos to attract customers. Remember to write authentic, relatable content that resonates with your audience.
However, Douyin (TikTok) and Bilibili are ideal for sharing engaging videos. Douyin’s short videos are ideal for product demos, creative ads, and product challenges. If your product or service fits Bilibili’s ACG (Anime, Comics, and Games) culture, it’s a great platform.
Showcase your products’ USPs in entertaining and persuasive videos. The goal is to grab viewers’ attention in the first few seconds and convince them of your product’s value, enticing them to buy without hesitation.
By combining Xiaohongshu’s content creation power with Douyin and Bilibili’s video marketing reach, you can create a powerful content marketing strategy that raises product awareness and boosts conversion rates in China.
Marketing on Weibo
Weibo, a major Chinese social media platform, is great for product marketing. Weibo’s millions of active users can help you reach a large audience and boost brand awareness.
Successful Weibo marketing requires understanding and using trending topics or hashtags. These trends can help you tailor your content to Chinese consumers’ tastes. For instance, a fashion brand could showcase similar clothing to attract customers if a trend is popular.
Viral content is crucial to Weibo marketing. Weibo posts receive many comments and shares, which can boost brand exposure. Engaging and shareable content has a higher chance of going viral and reaching more people.
You can also use paid advertising on Weibo. Targeted ads let you reach the demographic most likely to buy your products. This improves conversion rates and advertising ROI.
Beauty and other brands have also succeeded on Weibo by demonstrating their products and engaging with customers. Tutorials, product demos, and user-generated content can demonstrate your products’ benefits and convince customers.
Finally, social media marketing requires consistency. Posting relevant and useful content regularly can boost your brand’s reputation on the platform and build a loyal following.
Weibo offers brands many opportunities to enter the Chinese market. Understanding the platform’s features and user behavior helps you create engaging and sales-boosting marketing strategies.
Selling Via Live Video
Live video selling, or live streaming commerce, has exploded in China’s e-commerce industry. This trend combines live video and online shopping to let consumers interact with sellers, ask questions, and buy products immediately.
You must understand live video’s unique features and how to use them to sell your products in China. Consider these key points:
Choose the Right Platform: Taobao Live, Douyin, Kuaishou, and others support live video selling in China. Popular content and user demographics vary by platform. Your platform should match your audience and product category.
Live video selling is about engaging with your audience as well as showcasing your products. Invite viewers to ask questions, respond to comments, and build community. Viewers may buy more after this interaction builds trust and loyalty.
Showcase Your Products: Use live video to demonstrate your products. For instance, wear your clothes when selling them. Show how a kitchen gadget works and what you can cook with it. Potential buyers can better appreciate products by seeing them in use.
Use Influencers: China loves influencer marketing, and many influencers host live video selling sessions. Collaborating with popular influencers can quickly promote your products.
Offering exclusive deals or limited-time offers during your live video can create urgency and encourage purchases.
Live video selling in China is exciting for businesses. Understand this trend and use these strategies to engage Chinese consumers in a new and meaningful way.
KOL Marketing
Key opinion leaders (KOLs) or influencers are social media users with a large following due to their expertise, charisma, or unique content. KOL marketing works well in China, especially on Weibo, Douyin, and Little Red Book.
Working with top KOLs can boost your brand’s popularity in China. Their massive fan bases can drive massive traffic to your brand, increasing visibility and sales. Effective KOL marketing strategies:
- 1. Choose Relevant KOLs: Not all KOLs fit your brand. You need influencers who share your brand values and target audience. This guarantees KOL followers’ interest in your products.
- 2. Create Collaborative Content: Create authentic, engaging content with your KOLs. This could be product reviews, tutorials, unboxings, or lifestyle posts featuring your products. The content should feel natural and not promotional.
- 3. Utilize KOL Expertise: Many KOLs are respected niche experts. Ask them to develop products or share exclusive insights with their followers to leverage their knowledge and influence. This boosts brand credibility and gives followers more reasons to trust and buy.
- 4. Cost and ROI: Top KOLs charge a lot. Thus, ROI should be considered before forming a partnership. Consider the KOL’s engagement, follower count, and campaign success.
- 5. Monitor and Evaluate: Like any marketing strategy, KOL campaigns should be monitored and evaluated. Track engagement, reach, and conversions with analytics. Learn from this data and improve your strategy.
KOL marketing can boost brand awareness, customer trust, and sales in China when done right.
Wechat group marketing
WeChat, with billions of users, is essential to Chinese life. From a messaging app, it now handles shopping, payments, social media, and more. For businesses, WeChat groups can be used for marketing.
WeChat group marketing relies on trust and social validation. Since group members often know each other or share interests, trust is established. Group product recommendations can heavily influence purchasing decisions due to trust.
To maximize WeChat group marketing, try these:
- Build a Community: Start a WeChat group for a brand-related interest. You could create a fitness enthusiast group if you sell fitness equipment. Thus, you create a community where your products belong.
- Share Useful Content: Share engaging content with the group regularly. These could be tips, news, how-to guides, or personal stories. Value is the goal, not just sales.
- Encourage Group Conversation: Promote group discussion. Ask questions, start discussions, and encourage members to share their experiences. Active engagement can strengthen your community and brand trust.
- Promote responsibly: Promote your products in the group, but don’t overdo it. Instead, balance promotional and non-promotional content. When promoting, present your products as solutions to problems or ways to improve the group’s lifestyle.
- Use Group Buying: WeChat allows users to buy products together and get discounts. It encourages group members to share the deal and buy your products, which can boost sales.
WeChat group marketing is powerful for businesses targeting China. Use WeChat groups’ trust and social validation to promote your products and increase conversions.
Elevator advertising
An effective form of out-of-home advertising, elevator advertising can boost brand awareness and sales. Your elevator ad has a captive audience and is more likely to be noticed.
Focus Media, a leading Chinese company, has a vast network of terminal LED displays in elevators across many buildings. This broad reach allows brands to engage with many audiences.
How to use elevator advertising effectively:
- Understand Your Audience: Not everyone is a good product target. Thus, knowing your ideal customers and what content they’ll like is crucial. More targeted ads are more effective.
- Make It Catchy: Elevator rides are short, so your ad must grab attention quickly. To engage your audience and encourage product research, use compelling visuals, clear messaging, and strong calls to action.
- Keep It Short and Sweet: Your ad should be brief and to the point. Avoid complicated messages and designs that may confuse viewers. Instead, highlight one main point or benefit for the audience.
- Use video in elevator ads if possible. Videos are more engaging and convey more information faster than still images. Plus, movement naturally draws attention, making your ad more noticeable.
- Measure and Optimize: Like any marketing campaign, elevator ads should be tracked and adjusted. Ad effectiveness can be measured by brand awareness, recall, and sales.
In conclusion, elevator advertising can boost brand awareness and sales with the right strategy and execution. Focus Media gives brands unique and effective platforms to reach their target audiences.
Advertising On TV or app
Advertising on TV and popular apps is a common way to build brand awareness and attract customers. Ads must be creative and relevant to your audience.
Before creating an ad, you must know your product’s target market. Your advertising strategy will depend on your customers’ preferences, the apps they use most, and how your product differs from competitors.
Consider these steps when creating an effective ad:
- Know Your Target Audience: Know your customers’ age, interests, lifestyle, and needs. This will help you target them with your ads.
- Understand Your Customers’ Habits: Discover where they spend most of their time online. Do they watch TV or use apps more? This knowledge will help you choose ad platforms.
- Highlight Your USP: Your USP distinguishes your product from competitors. Thus, customers should choose your product over others. Make sure ads convey your USP.
- To attract viewers, make your ads creative and engaging. Make your ad memorable with captivating visuals, catchy taglines, and a strong call to action.
- Test and Adjust: Evaluate and adjust your ads. This could mean changing the content, platform, or ad timing. Advertising requires constant improvement.
If done right, TV and app advertising can be very effective. You can increase product awareness and appeal by understanding your audience and creating targeted content.
UnionPay Cloud Quick Pay Marketing
UnionPay Cloud Quick Pay can help businesses reach more Chinese customers and boost brand awareness. Among the largest payment service providers in the country, UnionPay has many users. Your brand can reach this massive audience by advertising on their platform.
How to maximize UnionPay Cloud Quick Pay advertising:
- Offering exclusive deals or discounts for UnionPay users is an effective way to attract users. This encourages users to try your product and boosts brand image.
- Use Local Promotions: UnionPay often runs local promotions that can boost brand awareness. These promotions can attract app users to your brand.
- UnionPay requires targeted ads like any other advertising platform. Understand your audience’s tastes and design ads accordingly. More relevant ads increase conversion rates.
- Leverage User Data: UnionPay’s large user base provides rich data for targeted advertising. This data can help you understand your customers and tailor ads to their preferences.
- Track and Optimize Campaigns: Always track ad performance. This helps you identify what’s working and what’s not, optimizing campaigns for better results.
UnionPay Cloud Quick Pay advertising can help businesses enter the Chinese market. Your brand can engage UnionPay’s massive user base with exclusive deals, local promotions, and targeted ads.
Sell on JD and Tmall
Tmall, JD, and PDD are great eCommerce platforms for fast Chinese sales. Chinese consumers love these platforms because they offer logistics and payment solutions to make selling easier.
How to maximize sales on these platforms:
- Know Your Platform: Each platform has unique features and users. These details can help you tailor your approach. Tmall sells luxury brands, JD electronics and home appliances, and PDD group-buying.
- Make your product listings detailed and appealing. High-quality images, concise descriptions, and competitive pricing boost sales.
- Use Platform Promotions: Platforms often run promotions. These promotions increase product visibility and sales.
- Platform Analytics: These platforms give sellers valuable customer data. This data can improve your products, prices, and marketing.
- Excellent customer service can set you apart. Quick responses and problem-solving can earn positive reviews and repeat business.
- Advertise: Paid advertising on these platforms can help your products stand out. This is helpful if you’re new to the platform and don’t have a strong reputation or customer base.
In conclusion, Tmall, JD, and PDD are powerful Chinese sales platforms. Understanding the platform, optimizing product listings, leveraging promotions, using analytics, providing excellent customer service, and investing in advertising can boost sales.
Foreign real estate and tourism companies must market in China carefully. Online marketing is important, but partnering with local companies in the same industry can expand your market reach.
These methods may help:
- Understanding China: China’s market is unique and diverse. Understanding local culture, consumer behavior, and market trends is crucial. This knowledge will help you craft marketing strategies and connect with prospects.
- Partner with Local Companies: Working with local companies can help you enter the Chinese market. Established companies understand local market dynamics and have a customer base. They can help you understand regulations, languages, and cultures.
- Use popular local platforms for online marketing. Weibo, WeChat, and Baidu are popular in China and can help you reach more people.
- Localize Content: Make sure your marketing content is Chinese-friendly. Local references and values are included in language translation.
- Offline Marketing: Online marketing is important, but offline marketing is too. Attend local events, exhibitions, and trade shows to promote your brand.
- Monitor and adapt: China’s market is rapidly changing. Monitor your marketing performance and adapt quickly to market trends and consumer behavior.
In conclusion, marketing in China requires understanding the local market, partnering with local companies, using local platforms, providing localized content, offline marketing, and constant strategy monitoring and adaptation.
