Why do all foreign companies want a slice of the Chinese marketplace? Is it solely because of their population and exciting business opportunities? Whatever be the reason, the Chinese marketplace houses over 668 million digital users and exudes a vibrant social media scene, as well. Needless to say, well-planned and executed digital marketing in China could do wonders to you and your company. If you’re here looking for a way to find out how top digital marketing in China can increase your profits, you’ve come to the right place!

To enter the Chinese market is no joke. With every other company trying to fight their way in, the competition has skyrocketed, especially in the past decade or so. Brands are coming up with interesting and inspiring campaigns while keeping the level of creativity high. If you want to integrate into the Chinese market effortlessly, here are some tips that you would benefit from:

1. Get On The Baidu Search Engine

In order to be visible in the Chinese market, you need to up your digital marketing game. When the Chinese look for information, they do not Google, they Baidu! With an 80% market share, this search engine can turn your company into a revelation in no time. 

2. Appeal To The Chinese In Them

It is pertinent to connect with the users you wish to turn into website visitors and, eventually, customers. The digital marketing strategy that never fails is using a cultural icon to help create buzz for your brand. This is the best way to gain the trust of Chinese customers using digital marketing in China. The best approach is to use a nonconformist celebrity in China as Giverny did with Li Yuchun!

3. Make Use Of Strong Influencers

If you’ve ever heard of “mouth marketing”, then remember to apply it with digital marketing in China. Evidently, the Chinese tend to share everything they see online and trust each other’s instincts religiously. It is, therefore, not difficult to have content go viral overnight in China. With the use of strong influencers, the customers will easily trust and seek the judgement of these experts, which in effect, promotes your brand. Getting a key opinion leader would be a good way to start. 

4. Use Western Cliches (Where Applicable)

Even though the Chinese are very protective and vocal about their culture, they are becoming more and more interested in Western culture (as is the rest of the world). This is evidenced in their consumption habits and is therefore alright to incorporate some western cliches into your marketing strategies if you feel it would appeal to the crowd greatly. However, this also has a downside if it fails; remember that the Chinese customer’s image of your country may be completely different from what it is like back home! Global brands trying to capitalize on their countries can lead to major differences between what is true and what is imagined to be true. Try to make it work to your advantage.

5. Do Not Force Your Culture Onto Them

Remember that a strategy that worked wonders in your country may not replicate the same results in China. In fact, copying the same strategy and using it in various countries is considered risky. Chinese consumers are rather sensitive to signs of adaptation. Refer to Chinese customs as culture and tradition are crucial to the Chinese. Hence, consider localizing content and revamping it to become appealing to the Chinese consumer. This does not mean that you should shy away from good wordplay, take advantage of Chinese being such a tonal language, and include humor into your campaign (tastefully, of course). 

6. Online-To-Offline Capabilities

If you’re in the e-commerce business, a good marketing strategy in China is to take advantage of the online-to-offline capabilities! E-commerce is massive in China, and brands are increasingly capitalizing on the potential of online services to aid customers with real-time purchases. Needless to say, an online to offline purchase would make a customer’s life a lot more convenient, but it also helps the customer stay in touch with the brand! 

7. Generate Inspiration

The most important part of digital marketing in China is focusing on people’s desires. This has always been a crucial marketing move! Get creative with digital campaigns and bounce around new ecosystems with varying ideas. Highlight your brand using captivating visual content and share it across the right platforms (Baidu, Weibo, WeChat, and other common social media platforms), and voila: you’re good to go!