Many businesses that operate in different developed countries are looking to grow internationally, and the market with the highest growth potential at the moment is China. However, the Chinese market and Chinese consumer presents many challenges, including differences in culture, language, and business practices that can make it difficult to succeed.
Fortunately, there are ways to overcome these challenges and attract the Chinese consumer to your products and services. This guide will provide you with the information you need to help you begin targeting Chinese consumers in a way that will yield results.
The Chinese market is a goldmine.
The demand for foreign goods is significant, and it’s growing at an exponential rate. But the key to tapping into it isn’t merely by shipping your product to China. You need to make sure that it meets the needs of the country’s consumers. It takes more than just translating your marketing materials; nuances in each market can make or break a business.
The Chinese e-commerce value is expected to grow at a strong CAGR of 11.6% between 2021 and 2025 to reach $3.3 trillion in 2025. Over 90% of e-commerce sales in China are done through mobile devices versus 43% in the US. Moreover, China has 932 million mobile internet users representing 99.2% mobile internet penetration.
If you want to be successful, it is critical to creating viral video content and/or live streams on Chinese social media platforms. This will make it easier to showcase and sell your products.
Major Chinese platforms every western marketer should know about.
We all know that China is the world’s largest market, but a lot of companies find it difficult to penetrate. A big part of that challenge stems from the fact that we don’t understand or know enough about its 1.4 billion consumers. It’s a huge challenge and yet also an opportunity to build something extraordinary.
The major Chinese platforms every western marketer should know about are WeChat, RED, and Douyin. There is a lot to consider here, but those platforms should be at the core of your marketing strategy when targeting the Chinese audience.
RED (XiaoHongShu)
There are hundreds of e-commerce platforms in China, and they vary in terms of where they focus their efforts. Some emphasize the domestic market; others focus on overseas markets like Southeast Asia.
But RED is different. Unlike many competitors, RED focuses entirely on the Chinese consumer (hence the name). It is the equivalent of Instagram, but with a broader focus on e-commerce.
The introduction of live streaming in 2019 was one of the most important features of this app. It has become one of the biggest digital trends in China these past few years.
WeChat is a social media platform much like WhatsApp or Facebook. It allows users to send text messages, images, videos and voice messages for free. It is so popular that it was considered a super app.
In the first quarter of 2021, WeChat had 1.24 billion active users. This fantastic platform allows users to create their own mini-programs. It’s similar to having an app within an app.
Therefore WeChat can be used as a marketing tool to connect with users – through using official accounts. With some strategies, one can reach out directly with information and updates on company news, products and promotions.
Douyin
Douyin is the dominant social media platform in China, similar to TikTok. With a huge number of users (600 million), it has become the perfect opportunity for brands to engage with consumers and access a lot of data about them.
Since Douyin allows users to create their own content, brands can choose different ways to attract their attention; whether it be by promoting products or just making fun videos people will enjoy watching.
If you need help reaching the Chinese consumer, contact VI-MEDIA.
We’re a digital marketing company and can help you find ways to attract more Chinese consumers. We can also give you advice on integrating mobile-friendliness and optimizing your website for search engines. We know China, we know what works there, and we can help take your business overseas! Contact us today!
