Wechat is going to rule the world!… No, just kidding!.. But really, Wechat has become quite popular in China and even other countries. Should you start your own Wechat Channels? How does it work? What are the possibilities of using it for promoting your business?
WeChat Channels is just one of the ways you can use WeChat to promote your business to the hundreds of millions of Chinese consumers now using WeChat as their primary social network.
Since e-commerce sales in China reached the value of US$2.1 trillion in 2021, it is only wise to be able to penetrate this market.
If you’re an entrepreneur looking to grow your business in China, this article will help you. You will learn about simple, actionable steps and concrete examples from actual businesses that have seen great success using this powerful social network tool.
What is “WeChat Channels”?
WeChat is a Chinese mobile app, similar to WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, with over 1.24 billion active users. However, the app has completely changed the Chinese social media landscape by introducing WeChat channels.
WeChat Channels is a function of the app, which is China’s most popular mobile app. With this function, users can easily create accounts and post text updates, images and videos that can then be viewed by non-followers as well. Users may also follow and search by using hashtags.
How do WeChat Channels work, exactly?
The concept is simple. It has a similar type of feed as the popular Douyin (what most people know as TikTok).
WeChat channels are like scrolling through your friends’ streams of photos and video clips. Except, this stream goes infinitely, and you can see short content from other users, influencers or public accounts.
Since you can be connected to anyone you know on WeChat, the crowd-curated content is always relevant and timely.
How to get started with WeChat Channels?
- First, you have to log into your personal WeChat account via the WeChat app. You have to open them by a personal account first before linking to your brands.
- Go to the WeChat Channels feed. Once you log in to your personal account, click on the ‘Discover’ tab and select ‘WeChat Channels.’
- Click on the camera icon in the top right corner of the WeChat Channels feed and click the ‘create channel’ button that appears.
- Provide details like your name, bio, gender etc., so you can complete your profile.
How to promote on WeChat Channels?
Every WeChat Channel post can be uploaded with a link to an article by your Official Account. Businesses and brands can use this to their advantage and promote their content with their verified WeChat Channel.
According to Aladdin, WeChat Channels had more than 280 million daily active users by the end of 2020, who spent an average of 19 minutes on the feature per day.
This means that the content you share increases your Official Account followers and gives you a way to redirect your Channel uploads’ attention. While WeChat is primarily used for messaging and voice/video calls, its ability to share various content makes it an extremely powerful marketing tool.
By leveraging the service’s capabilities, you can build up a following on the platform and drive users back to your brand website or app with just one click. Once set up, start posting pictures and short videos about interesting aspects of your company and product range that could catch consumer attention.
If you create and upload high-quality content, you get the algorithm to work for you. Each time someone likes your post, it gets more exposure from people who know/follow each other. If you want to increase your reach, you have to follow the new trends or hashtags. Thanks to WeChat Channels, now everyone can access everyone’s content. So, if you need help to set up your profile or reach the Chinese market, don’t hesitate to contact us.
