From AI to O2O: 7 Key Media Trends in China

June 27, 2025

As the digital media ecosystem in China continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, understanding emerging trends is crucial for brands looking to thrive in this competitive market. Starcom, the media arm of Publicis Groupe, recently released its latest report, “Increased Integration and Depth in China Media Market”, identifying seven pivotal trends that are redefining consumer behavior, content distribution, and brand strategy across platforms. Here’s a breakdown of the most important insights and how brands can prepare.

 

1. Cross-Platform Integration: Breaking the Walls Down

China’s once siloed internet ecosystem is transforming into a landscape of collaboration. In 2025, we’re witnessing platforms like Tencent and Alibaba opening up to one another: Tencent Games content appears on Douyin, Taobao accepts WeChat Pay, and JD.com integrates Alipay.

For brands, this “horizontal integration” means smoother customer journeys and opportunities to execute truly omnichannel strategies. Cross-platform compatibility also improves user experience, leading to better engagement and conversion rates.

 

2. AI-Powered Search and Intelligent Interactions

Search is no longer just about users looking for information. With generative AI entering the scene, proactive content delivery and conversational search are reshaping digital marketing. The search engine market in China is expected to surpass RMB 300 billion by 2029, with mobile-based search playing a major role.

Brands must rethink their search marketing by aligning keywords, content, and SEO strategy with evolving AI-driven behaviors across Baidu, Douyin, Xiaohongshu, and other platforms.

 

3. Online and Offline Synergy: The New O2O Loop

Marketers are rediscovering the power of offline media, especially when amplified by digital interactivity. In 2025, 28.3% of advertisers are increasing their offline ad spend. Campaigns like Xiaohongshu’s user-generated content (UGC) billboards and McDonald’s programmatic subway ads show how to turn physical placements into interactive, trackable experiences.

Successful brands are integrating data capture tools, experience design, and social buzz triggers into their O2O campaigns to drive conversion.

4. Social-Powered Closed-Loop Commerce

Social media platforms are becoming e-commerce ecosystems. Xiaohongshu leads the way with interest-based group chats, offering exclusive promotions, live previews, and direct links to virtual stores. The results are impressive: 2.5x higher repurchase rates and 300x better conversion rates in private domains.

Brands must build community-focused strategies and activate users through content that fuels interaction and loyalty.

 

5. Value-Driven E-Commerce Over Price Wars

As consumer preferences shift from discounts to experience, platforms like Taobao and JD.com are focusing on enhancing logistics, customer service, and product quality. Features like Taobao’s hourly purchase service and JD.com’s “24-hour delivery in counties and towns” reflect this evolution.

To remain competitive, brands should deliver value through exclusive products, flexible services, and premium experiences instead of relying solely on low prices.

 

6. Diverse Content Channels: From Podcasts to Micro-Dramas

China’s content landscape is rapidly diversifying. Podcasts now reach over 220 million users, with 71.6% influenced to make purchases. Meanwhile, micro-drama users account for more than half of the internet population, with the market expected to grow 35% year-on-year to reach RMB 50.44 billion.

Brands need to leverage these formats to tell compelling stories, connect with niche audiences, and reinforce product relevance in immersive, culturally attuned ways.

7. AI’s Expanding Role Across the Funnel

AI is no longer a backend tool; it’s front and center. From predictive CRM and personalized content generation to dynamic bidding and campaign automation, AI is transforming the entire marketing stack. China is also exploring frontier technologies like brain-computer interface advertising.

Brands must embrace AI to improve media planning, content production, customer segmentation, and real-time campaign optimization.

 

Conclusion: Be Adaptive, Be Integrated, Be Smart

In today’s media landscape, success is no longer about mastering one channel or trend. It’s about understanding how technology, platforms, and content work together to shape consumer expectations.

By staying ahead of these seven trends, brands can craft adaptive, AI-enhanced, and experience-driven strategies that resonate in the ever-shifting Chinese digital ecosystem.

Need help navigating China’s evolving media landscape? Contact our team to explore how we can localize your strategy, enhance your platform presence, and drive smarter, performance-driven campaigns tailored to the China market.

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9 Proven Strategies for Foreign Brands to Succeed on RedNote

May 16, 2025

RedNote (Xiaohongshu) has become a crucial platform for lifestyle-focused social commerce in China. With a strong base of Gen Z and millennial users, RedNote offers foreign brands a powerful entry point—if content is executed well.

Examples of Galeries Lafayette’s official RedNote (Xiaohongshu) account content, including branded posts, influencer videos, product promotions, and CNY marketing campaigns

Here are 9 proven strategies that help brands stand out, gain traction, and convert consumers on RedNote.

1. Choosing the Right Visual Elements

High-quality visuals are essential to gain attention on RedNote, especially on a platform rooted in shopping discovery. Authentic product photos—especially those that look like they’re taken by users—outperform overly commercial images.

Your cover image heavily influences click-through rates, and user-generated-style visuals tend to generate better engagement and higher conversions.

2. Localize Your Content

Translation alone won’t help your brand stand out. With over 56% of brands on RedNote being local, cultural alignment is key.

Foreign brands need to adapt messaging and visuals to Chinese tastes, participate in local events, and ensure language is in simplified Chinese with relevant slang and expressions. Professional translation is highly recommended over free tools.

3. Implement a Solid Influencer Marketing Strategy

Influencers remain central to social commerce in China. However, the shift is moving toward KOCs (Key Opinion Consumers) and Micro-KOLs, who offer more authentic and relatable content.

Use platforms like:

  • Pugongying – RedNote’s official KOL marketplace
  • Qiangua – A third-party tool offering in-depth analytics and price estimates

These tools help identify the right influencer partnerships based on engagement, niche, and audience fit.

4. Launch a Brand Promotion Through Ads

While organic content drives trust, paid content helps reach niche audiences. RedNote offers formats such as:

  • Paid KOL collaborations
  • In-feed/native ads
  • Search ads (placing your brand in top search results for relevant keywords)

Combining organic and paid tactics is essential for visibility and conversion.

5. Optimize for RedNote’s Social Search Function

RedNote users now skip traditional search engines and look directly within the app for product recommendations.

To appear in these results, your content must be keyword-optimized—using trending search terms in titles, captions, and hashtags. Conduct research on term popularity and search volume within your niche.

6. Long vs. Short Content

Brand accounts generally perform better with longer, keyword-rich content (about 500 characters), while individual influencers might gain engagement with just emojis.

Use a blend of rich descriptions and emojis for better readability and stronger reach through RedNote’s search algorithm.

7. Generate Traffic Through Lucky Draws

RedNote offers a built-in feature for lucky draws, where users follow, like, or bookmark to enter.

These campaigns attract initial attention—even from freebie seekers—but can go viral and lead to brand discovery by more qualified leads. Sephora is one success case, generating 1,000+ engagements with a lucky draw.

8. Utilize RedNote’s Live-streaming Features

Live commerce is rising fast on RedNote. Though platforms like Taobao and Douyin lead the category, RedNote is gaining momentum, particularly in beauty, food, and maternal product categories.

During the Spring Festival, the platform hit 198M RMB in sales via livestreams, with users valuing both interactivity and authenticity in real-time product showcases.

9. Participate in E-Commerce Shopping Festivals

Leverage China’s e-commerce calendar—especially events like:

  • Lunar New Year
  • National Day
  • Women’s Day (key on RedNote due to its largely female base)
  • RED Friday – RedNote’s version of Black Friday, from late November through early December

Participation in these events can significantly boost visibility and sales when paired with strategic promotions.

Final Takeaway

RedNote is more than a content-sharing platform—it’s a full social commerce ecosystem. For foreign brands, understanding and leveraging these 9 strategies is critical to building relevance and success in China’s competitive digital space.

Want to localize your RedNote strategy with confidence? Contact us today to build a plan that drives content, community, and commerce.

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6 Keyword Categories Every Brand Needs for Xiaohongshu Success

April 24, 2025

Understanding Xiaohongshu’s dual-track content distribution—discovery and search—is crucial for any brand looking to optimize its keyword strategy. On the “Discovery” page, the algorithm matches content quality with user interests, casting a wide net for potential reach. Meanwhile, the “Search” page is where users enter specific keywords—direct signals of intent—allowing for precise targeting.

These two ecosystems are closely linked. If your note achieves high click-through rates from search, Xiaohongshu’s system will then recommend it to more similar users, creating a “search exposure → interaction → discovery recommendation” flywheel effect. This explains why a post with little initial traction can suddenly explode months later: as your keyword strategy steadily surfaces content to new audiences, accumulating clicks will eventually trigger the algorithm’s next-level recommendations.

Many brands rely solely on brand, category, or pain-point keywords—but this isn’t enough. Effective keyword planning starts with understanding the user’s decision process.Below, we break down the six must-use keyword categories every brand should incorporate into their Xiaohongshu strategy with actionable content tips for each.

1. Category Keywords – Sparking Initial Interest

These are broad terms like “electric toothbrush” or “hydrating essence.” Users searching these are just beginning to explore a solution.

Content Tip: Create product comparison guides, “how to choose” lists, and expert overviews to position your brand as an authority from the start.

2. Pain-Point Keywords – Targeting Strong Motivation

Keywords such as “yellow teeth,” “blackheads,” or “cakey foundation” reveal urgent, specific problems.

Content Tip: Use before-and-after tutorials, real-user stories, or quick-fix hacks that put the problem and your product’s solution front and center.

3. Scenario Keywords – Contextualizing Your Value

Searches like “travel-friendly,” “workout-proof makeup,” or “summer skincare” show users are thinking about practical usage scenarios.

Content Tip: Highlight your product in situational lists (“Best gym bag essentials,” “Must-haves for business travel”), matching benefits to real-life moments.

4. Competitor Keywords – Winning the Final Decision

Terms like “Usmile vs. Philips” or “best foundation for oily skin” indicate a user is comparing options and ready to buy.

Content Tip: Publish side-by-side comparison tables, influencer “battle” reviews, or test results that clearly show your strengths over competitors.

5. Demographic Keywords – Precision Targeting by User Group

Tags like “student budget skincare,” “sensitive skin routine,” or “petite fashion finds” let you target niche audiences in a crowded market.

Content Tip: Develop campaigns for specific groups (e.g., “Dorm room beauty hacks for students”) using relatable settings and tailored product combos.

6. Long-Tail Keywords – Unlocking Niche Demand

These hyper-specific phrases (“orthodontic toothbrush for teens,” “pregnancy-safe face masks”) may have lower search volume, but much higher conversion rates.

Content Tip: Create deep-dive content for each long-tail keyword—listicles, guides, or solution stories—to capture these motivated, under-served segments.

Want help optimizing your Xiaohongshu keyword strategy? Contact us for tailored, expert support that drives results.

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5 Key B2B Marketing Predictions for 2025: How to Stay Ahead

February 14, 2025

As we move into 2025, the B2B marketing landscape is set for transformative changes. From the rise of influencers to AI-driven marketing innovations, staying ahead of these trends is crucial for maintaining a competitive edge. In this blog, we’ll explore five key B2B marketing predictions for 2025 and actionable strategies to help businesses adapt and thrive.

1. The Rise of Creators and Influencer Marketing

Influencer marketing is no longer just a B2C strategy—B2B brands are rapidly embracing creators to build trust and credibility. According to LinkedIn, 61% of B2B leaders plan to increase their influencer marketing budgets. With the Creator Economy projected to reach $500 billion by 2027, now is the time for B2B brands to tap into this growing market.

Actionable Tip: Partner with industry-specific influencers and content creators who align with your brand values. Leverage their reach to engage prospects and generate high-quality leads through authentic storytelling.

2. AI Will Revolutionize B2B Marketing

AI is becoming a game-changer in B2B marketing, with 64% of B2B leaders planning to expand their investment in AI-driven solutions. From automating customer interactions to enhancing content personalization, AI is reshaping the way marketers create and optimize campaigns.

Actionable Tip: Implement AI-powered tools to enhance creative processes, streamline workflows, and generate data-driven insights that improve campaign performance.

3. Short-Form Video Will Dominate Content Strategies

Short-form video continues to gain traction, delivering high engagement and trust. Studies show that 55% of B2B marketers report the highest ROI from short-form social videos, while 63% of B2B buyers rely on video content to inform their purchasing decisions.

Actionable Tip: Invest in short-form video content that features industry experts, customer testimonials, and educational insights. Platforms like LinkedIn, YouTube Shorts, and TikTok for Business offer powerful distribution channels for reaching your target audience.

4. Performance Marketing Will Shift Toward Long-Term Impact

While performance marketing remains a priority, brands are shifting focus to measuring long-term effectiveness. Ebiquity’s 2025 Media Budgets Survey highlights that 42% of marketers are increasing their performance marketing budgets, but with a growing emphasis on long-term brand-building.

Actionable Tip: Leverage AI-driven analytics tools to track and optimize campaign performance. Balancing short-term ROI with long-term brand growth ensures sustainable success.

5. Collaborative Problem-Solving Will Be Essential

As B2B marketing becomes more complex, collaboration and human-centric skills are gaining importance. LinkedIn’s Marketing Jobs Outlook Report notes a 138% increase in demand for collaborative problem-solving skills between 2021 and 2023.

Actionable Tip: Build a culture of collaboration within your marketing teams. Invest in training programs that combine creative execution with AI-driven solutions to navigate evolving challenges effectively.

Final Thoughts

Adapting to these key B2B marketing trends in 2025 will be critical for staying ahead of the competition. By leveraging influencer marketing, AI innovations, video content, long-term performance strategies, and collaborative problem-solving, businesses can drive meaningful engagement and growth.

Looking to optimize your B2B marketing strategy for 2025? Contact us today to explore customized solutions tailored to your business needs!

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Discovering Opportunities: Exploring China’s Recent Updates

May 20, 2024

1. Shanghai takes the lead as Chinese coffee consumption averages 16 cups per year

  • China’s coffee industry amassed a staggering 265.4 billion RMB (approx. 36.66 billion USD) in scale last year, with an average per capita annual consumption of 16.74 cups
  • Coffee Carnival is running in Shanghai between 30 April to 4 May, alongside over 50 esteemed local coffee shops.
  • Additionally, takeaway, payment, and social media platforms initiated the “Drinking in the City” campaign in Shanghai, poised to invest nearly 100 million RMB (approx. 13.8 million USD) into the consumer market.
  • With a net increase of 118 shops, marking a 14% year-on-year rise, the total count of Starbucks outlets soared to 7,093.

LINK:https://daoinsights.com/news/shanghai-takes-the-lead-as-chinese-coffee-consumption-averages-16-cups-per-year/

2.What’s driving China’s unstoppable second hand luxury market?

  • China’s secondhand luxury market is tipped to grow to $30 billion (217 billion RMB) in 2025 from $8 billion (58 billion RMB) in 2020, with Gen Z and millennials (under 40) together accounting for more than 80 percent of the total number of secondhand luxury consumers
  • From a luxury brand point of view, perceived value on the secondhand market can have direct repercussions on reputation and desirability in the eyes of consumers.
  • Brands should not see the secondhand market as an adverse phenomenon, but encourage customers to trade in or resell their pre-owned items through authorized channels, ensuring that the brand retains control over the quality and authenticity of the products in the secondary market.
  • Luxury brands must monitor and manage their perceived value in the secondhand market, as it can impact their reputation and desirability among consumers. Digital marketing efforts should focus on maintaining brand authenticity and highlighting the enduring quality and heritage of their products.

LINK:https://jingdaily.com/posts/what-s-driving-china-s-unstoppable-secondhand-luxury-market#8548723daa5e

3. Decoding China’s $170 billion ‘romance economy’

  • China commemorates love on three separate holidays: the Western Valentine’s Day on February 14, the uniquely Chinese 520 Day on May 20, a celebration derived from internet slang where the numbers “520” phonetically resemble the words for “I love you” in Mandarin, and the traditional Qixi Festival, which usually falls in August.
  • China’s Gen Z consumers are a key element of the “romance economy,” responsible for 54% of related orders according to the “Romantic Economic Big Data Report” released in 2022.
  • Survey data from iiMedia Research in 2023 revealed that regardless of their relationship status – single, in a relationship, or married – over 90% of participants were eager to celebrate romantic festivals by presenting gifts to family and friends.
  • Notably, jewellery ranks as the number top gift category for coupled-up individuals on China’s romantic days.
  • Traditional gifts like flowers, personal care items, and beauty products remain favorites and “gift boxes” persist as a preference for consumers on seasonal occasions.
  • “Love-brain” (恋爱脑) has recently emerged as a trending term online. It centers on the idea that individuals often lose their emotional or financial rationality when in love. This phenomenon prompted the creation of the phrase “scolding to cure love brain” (骂醒恋爱脑) as a response. And in turn, this has sparked a new type of service.

LINK: https://jingdaily.com/posts/decoding-s-china-s-usd170-billion-romance-economy

4. Xiaohongshu: Unlock new opportunities in Chinese beauty market

Customers are getting more connected to Chinese culture and caring about value, which makes domestic beauty brands more popular. Younger consumers are stepping up as key players in the domestic beauty market.

  • Emergence of quality Chinese cosmetics: Domestic beauty annual sales surged around 10%, outperforming foreign cosmetics with a commanding market share of 50%.
  • Co-create content with the brands: Hundreds of celebrities and top KOLs embarked on the offline and online collaboration with a lot of brands.
  • Create a personalized IP Matrix: Xiaohongshu collaborated with more influential media like CCTV network and created more personalized IP/topics for brands.

LINK: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/4oAwT-Q0mtbWHGQtRYSPLg

5.ByteDance surprises AI rivals with ultra-low cost Doubao model:

  • ByteDance has surprised the artificial intelligence industry with the ultra-low cost of its Doubao model
  • The company said it is capable of processing 2 million Chinese characters, equivalent to 1.25 million tokens, for RMB 1 ($0.14).
  • OpenAI’s most advanced multimodal model, GPT-4o, also unveiled this week, comes in at $5 per million input tokens handled.

LINK:https://technode.com/2024/05/16/bytedance-surprises-ai-rivals-with-ultra-low-cost-doubao-model/

6. Which fashion campaigns for China’s 520 Day hit the mark?

  • Luxury fashion campaigns for China’s 520 Day focus on limited edition collections, celebrity endorsements, and creative storytelling, often in the form of mini videos.
  • Brands like Gucci and Saint Laurent tapped into Gen Z’s preferences by incorporating traditional Chinese elements and leveraging digital platforms for greater engagement.
  • 520 Day’s fusion of traditional Chinese culture with commercialism highlights the evolving landscape of celebrations and consumer behavior, emphasizing the importance of cultural resonance and meaningful experiences in luxury marketing strategies for brands looking to better connect with consumers.
  • These strategies aimed to blend cultural significance with contemporary marketing, enhance brand appeal and foster emotional connections with consumers.

LINK: https://jingdaily.com/posts/which-fashion-campaigns-for-china-s-520-day-hit-the-mark

7. 2024 May Day Holiday: The rise of small cities tourism and AI companions

  • Amid an economy yet to fully recover to pre-pandemic levels, this year’s May Day break underscores a notable trend towards tourism in lesser-known destinations.
  • On social media platforms like Xiaohongshu (RED), many young people are keen to explore counties and even aim to ‘visit Top 100 Counties of China’ as a novel approach to May Day travel.
  • Hong Kong has shifted its focus to cultural and artistic events, as well as large-scale concerts.
  • It is also worth mentioning Japan. With the Yen reaching a 34-year low against the US dollar during the holiday period, this made it more attractive for overseas tourists.
  • ‘AI companion’ emerged as a new trend in travel. This involves using AI technology to offer personalised travel assistance services, crafting tailored itineraries and services.

LINK:https://daoinsights.com/opinions/2024-may-day-holiday-the-rise-of-small-cities-tourism-and-ai-companions/

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Moutai: An Example of Spectacular Collabs Eyeing Gen Z

October 18, 2023

Today, we delve into the world of Moutai, a traditional luxury Chinese liquor brand that has gained spectacular virality in the recent weeks. Let us examine its essence, the factors underpinning its lofty status, and recent strategic moves. Moreover, we will look into the latest marketing campaigns and collaborations. 

 

Unveiling Moutai: A Testament to Tradition and Mastery

Moutai, also known as Maotai, is a distinguished name in the domain of Chinese liquor. Originating from the town of Maotai in Guizhou province, it stands as a symbol of China’s rich heritage of distilled spirits. Its meticulous craftsmanship, utilizing sorghum and wheat, bears testament to centuries of perfected techniques. The result is a globally acclaimed elixir embodying the essence of Chinese culture. Its steadfast dedication to time-honored techniques, while remaining open to contemporary trends, has been pivotal in captivating connoisseurs worldwide. One bottle of Moutai typically costs from 1,499 yuan ($223), to over 16,000 yuan ($2,390) for rare vintages. As it continues to evolve and redefine luxury, Moutai remains a pioneering force in the world of distilled beverages. Not only in China but eyeing global expansion as well. 

 

Moutai: Trendy Collaborations

First Moutai-inspired products started to appear last year with the first ever Moutai Ice Cream shop opened in the lobby of the brand’s headquarter in Guizhou province. After country-wide release, the product has quickly become an internet sensation. The flagship store had sold more than 5,000 Moutai ice-creams in 7 hours, achieving the sales of over RMB 200,000; while via the “iMoutai” APP 40,000 pieces were sold out in 51 minutes, generating a sales record of about 2.5 million yuan.

Moutai Ice Cream

It didn’t take long for another exciting collaboration to hit the market. This time Moutai joined forces with Luckin, another beverage giant famous for its coffees and other beverages. Together, they co-created a new flavor of latte, Moutai Latte which was an instant hit. Hashtags related to Luckin Coffee Real Moutai topped Weibo’s Hot List with hundred millions of views and users’ feed with full of pictures of the product itself or queues to Luckin stores across China. On the launch day, Luckin sold 5.4 million Moutai alcohol-infused lattes in one day topping 100 million yuan ($13.72 million).

A few days later, Moutai consolidated its modern and more approachable image with yet another one collaboration. This time, the brand collaborated with Dove on Moutai-infused chocolate. Again, the hashtag about the collaboration had immediately topped all social platforms’ trending topic lists.

Moutai Luckin Coffee

Successful Pivot Towards Gen Z

The creation of Moutai-inspired products is a strategic move to tap into the young consumer market, who normally have a oldish image towards the strong liquor. At the same time, many foodies including the youngest one might not be able to afford a bottle of spirit. Now, they can literally get a taste of it thanks to these different collaborations. For many of them, it will be their first encounter of the famous alcohol.

Within the last 3 months, Moutai gained more than 25 billions impressions on Chinese social media platforms.

Moutai Impressions 2023

Insights into Moutai: Captivating in its Simplicity

What are the intriguing facets of Moutai that contribute to its allure:

 

  1. Craftsmanship in Every Bottle: Each bottle  is a product of meticulous production processes, reflecting the dedication and artistry of its craftsmen.
  2. Collectible Value: Beyond its function as a beverage, Moutai holds significant collectible value. Rare and limited editions attract attention from collectors and investors, adding a unique dimension to their appeal.
  3. Strategic Collaborations and Limited Editions: The collaboration between Moutai and Luckin Coffee, resulting in alcohol-flavored coffee beverages, ice-creams and chocolates showcases the brand’s adaptability and willingness to explore new avenues.

 

Diversification and Expansion: A Strategic Trajectory

Moutai’s growth extends beyond the realm of distilled liquor. Recent ventures into diversified consumer products like chocolates and ice cream demonstrate strategic diversification, aligning with evolving consumer preferences and expanding its influence. Here’s to Moutai – a brand that epitomizes excellence and continues to enthrall the world with its sophistication and innovation. A toast to the legacy of perfection and the journey of innovation!

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Latest News on China’s Market

August 7, 2023

1. Estée Lauder taps Asia’s male beauty market with Manchester United partnership

  • Beauty and skincare giant Estée Lauder has inked an exclusive partnership deal with Manchester United in hopes of tapping the club’s fans in China and the Asia Pacific region.

  • In China alone, the men’s beauty market was projected to surpass $10 billion in 2022 and could reach $33.4 billion (240 billion RMB) by 2027.

  • Most male consumers may be relatively new to the skincare game, especially when it comes to premium products.

  • In the first half of 2023, the GMV of men’s makeup on Douyin surged by 364.6 percent year-on-year. With this market being especially open to beauty and grooming, we’d bet that a clever campaign could work wonders.

LINK: https://jingdaily.com/estee-lauder-manchester-united-collab-male-beauty/

 

2. Male beauty’s next growth engine: Douyin

  • In the first half of 2023, the gross merchandise value (GMV) of men’s makeup sold via Douyin surged 365 percent year on year – Tmall and Taobao combined achieved 6.7 percent growth in the same period.

  • Chinese male beauty brands are quickly expanding on the short video app. Domestic labels claimed seven spots on Douyin’s top 10 best-selling mens’ skin care list, whereas international brands took three places.

  • Male skincare buyers’ profiles: Last year, 70 percent of men’s beauty purchases were made by women, according to a 2022 report from Xiaohongshu. But male buyers have caught up, now accounting for half of male cosmetics purchasers on Douyin.

  • The average age of the male makeup user is between 18 and 30 with an average price of $9.7 (69.2 RMB), significantly lower than on other platforms like Tmall and JD.com.

  • Cooperating with KOLs has proven to be a quick and effective strategy for businesses that want to scale up brand awareness. These influencers are crucial for spreading knowledge about beauty routines.

LINK: https://jingdaily.com/male-beautys-next-growth-engine-douyin/

 

3. McKinsey: Chinese consumers, brands ‘cautiously optimistic’ on tourism and spending

  • Chinese consumers are looking for better deals and sales across platforms like Douyin and Pinduoduo, where products are often sold for “half or less” than on more established competitor shopping apps.

  • McKinsey found that while many remained loyal to their favorite brands, 47 percent of respondents reported switching retailers to obtain a “lower price/discount.”

  • Travel, restaurants and apparel were the top categories consumers were spending on, the survey revealed.

  • However, international travel in June was still 58 percent lower than pre-pandemic levels, though the number of outbound flights from China is “rising rapidly.”

LINK: https://jingdaily.com/mckinsey-report-cautiously-optimistic-tourism-spending/

 

4. China ecological transition: a green revolution led by consumers

  • Keeping balance between satisfying the demand of country’s market, while preserving sustainable standards is challenging

  • Chinese consumers are demonstrating a higher attention to environmental issues compared to the previous years, this trend being reflected in several factors, from carbon emissions to locally produced goods.

  • In this sense, the pandemic has represented a turning point for the development of this trend inside consumer’s mindset, many of which are now willing to pay more for environmentally friendly products.

  • Case study of KFC:  Thanks to “Exploring Carbon Reduction” and “The Journey to Carbon Neutrality” initiatives, introduced in their super App, KFC carried out a green rewards program that encourages consumers to not use disposable cutlery, favor in-store pickup, engage in waste sorting, etc.

LINK: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/HBf_m9WBZ2izfmQNFgOlvg

 

5. Pink burgers, platform Crocs and Malibu dream houses: Barbie’s global collab craze

  • Resale site StockX reported to Jing Daily it had seen more sales of Barbie products in July 2023 than any other month in the company’s history, double sales in July 2022.

  • Among so many names jumping onboard, from Vans, Kipling and Gap, to Pacsun and Nyx, one breaking through the Barbie collaboration noise online is Zara. The Spanish retailer launched a collection on July 21 (the movie release date) inspired by the fashion seen on screen, including a gingham dress, silk pajamas, and other clothing and accessories items

  • Though Zara, Vans, Nike’s Dunk Low sneaker, and Chanel’s themed efforts with the movie all made their way onto social media in China, the clothing and accessories collection from local fashion brand D’izzit is trending in the mainland.

  • Barbie mania is reaching all corners of commerce, from fashion all the way through to luxury hospitality. The W Hotel in Osaka, Japan, is one that’s proven a hit among netizens.

  • Thanks to Barbie nostalgia being at an all-time high, the IP’s pulling power feels unbeatable. Some consumers might be all pinked out, but this is definitely not the end of Barbiecore.

LINK: https://jingdaily.com/barbies-global-collab-craze/

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Unleashing the Pulse of China’s Market: Updates and Breaking News.

August 2, 2023

 

  1. JD launches vertical AI model, targets retail, finance and education sectors:

  • Context: Beijing currently is home to approximately half of the more than 80 large models available in China
  • JD on Thursday introduced its own large AI model ChatRhino. Positioned as a vertical AI model that offers industry-specific use cases, JD’s AI offering arrives a few months later than rivals Alibaba and Baidu. 
  • Why it matters: JD is the latest Chinese tech major attempting to upgrade its offerings with AI and large models. The company said ChatRhino combines 70% generalized data and 30% native intelligent supply chain data, targeting a number of sectors including retail, finance, education, and government.  
  • Details: The company has already utilized the AI model to enhance customer service, facilitate code writing, and improve product recommendations, she added.

JD’s healthcare unit also unveiled a specialized model designed for the medical industry that is capable of quickly adapting and learning from various healthcare scenarios, which will serve as a technological foundation for remote medical services. The e-commerce giant also showcased its ambition to develop humanoid robots, which will be a key exploration direction for the JD Explore Academy.

LINK:
https://technode.com/2023/07/14/jd-launches-vertical-ai-model-targets-retail-finance-and-education-sectors/

 

 

 

2. Baidu AI products overseas

 

The AI social products “SynClub” by Baidu have recently been introduced in Hong Kong, China, Japan, and other countries. This product uses the latest AI technology of Baidu, so that users can know their own AI friends, and through the company of AI friends, users can chat more interestingly and in-depth.

 

3. The “channel retrieval” feature was introduced by the channel.

 

On July 12, the channel launched the “channel retrieval” function for the certification body to support the recovery of the lost agency authentication channel.

It is understood that “channel retrieval” refers to the channel that has completed enterprise and institutional certification or main body verification and can initiate the channel retrieval process and re-operate the channel after the platform verifies the authenticity of the main body.

In the process of initiating the retrieval, it is necessary to pay attention to the following two points: First, the initiator has not created a channel, and it is necessary to use a wechat signal that has not created a channel to initiate the retrieval process. Second, the account must be in normal use, and the account that has been cancelled, blocked, or banned cannot be recovered.

 

 

 

4. Users of the Meituan app can now record and upload brief videos.

 

Meituan has unveiled a new feature on its app that now allows users to shoot and upload short videos. The addition of this feature provides users with more creative ways to engage with the platform and record their experiences.

Meituan’s latest move comes amidst the intensifying rivalry with Douyin within the online local services industry.

The food delivery giant has also made moves to shake up the live-streaming business by hosting more live-streaming events, including monthly live streams on the 18th of each month since April, where participants are offered coupons.

In addition, the company launched its very own platform, Meituan Live, which is currently only visible to a select group.

Meituan continues to evolve as a multifaceted platform in order to stay competitive in the market

LINK: https://daoinsights.com/news/meituan-app-now-supports-users-to-shoot-and-upload-short-videos/

 

 

 

5. China’s newest beauty retail battleground, Douyin, was won by L’Oreal by 1 billion RMB.

 

L’Oréal topped a ranking of brand sales in the first half of the year, hitting a GMV of 1 billion RMB 

Douyin is the nation’s newest retail battleground, and international brands are actively fighting to grow their market share for Gen Z

Social platforms like Douyin are becoming pivotal channels for brands to close the loop in digital commerce

L’Oréal collaborates with roughly 800 to 1,500 Douyin KOLs every month, ranging from mega influencers with over 5 million followers to small-to-medium key opinion consumers

LINK:
https://jingdaily.com/loreal-douyin-china-newest-beauty-retail-battleground-billion-rmb-gmv/

 

 

 

6. Three New WeChat Advertisement Products Online Now

 

Moments Ads brand gallery: advertisement is WeChat’s first vertical multi-screen display advertisement. It supports 3-5 vertical screen video cards displayed at the same time, and the new method of display brings an eye-catching visual experience by creating a high-level window texture for the brand and enhancing the user’s memory of the brand.

WeChat Channels Carousel Ads: advertising supports 3-5 components, which are displayed on large tiles throughout the process. Different cards can be diverted to different official mini programs or different pages of mini programs, or they can be turned to native pages and H5. 

WeChat Search: discovering brand surprises through WeChat Search and finding beautiful gifts for their loved ones for Qixi Festival

LINK:

https://www.luxurysociety.com/en/articles/2023/07/what-should-luxury-expect-post-pandemic-chinese-travellers 

 

 

 

7. Translation vs Transcreation: which one is the right choice?

 

When expanding a business to a new country with linguistic and cultural differences, it’s crucial to ensure that the brand’s message and identity are accurately conveyed to the new audience.

Translation is the process of converting text from one language to another while preserving the original meaning, making it suitable for more literal texts. Transcreation, on the other hand, is a creative approach that adapts the message, cultural nuances, and persuasiveness to resonate with the target audience.

Factors such as the purpose of the text, marketing strategy, target market, and time/budget constraints should be considered when deciding between translation and transcreation for a successful linguistic adaptation.

LINK:

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/meZQ7MC_HIHktV-0KSPdhg 

 

 

8. How AI technology is reshaping beauty retail in China

 

Store of the Future on Shanghai’s East Nanjing Road The first of its kind in China, the new concept retail space boasts seven digital touchpoints: an advanced skin analysis device powered by big data; a product recommendation feature based on AI-generated makeup trends; product labels equipped with radio frequency identification (RFID) that unlock a detailed breakdown of ingredients; mobile POS, which allows customers to check out anywhere with a beauty advisor and avoid long queues; and personalized gift packages with the option to add scents and voice messages.

Meanwhile, the Shanghai Municipal Medical Products Administration has granted SkinCeuticals, Estée Lauder, L’Oréal, and Shanghai Chuangyuan Cosmetics stores in Shanghai a license for personalized on-site services. With this license, retail stores can act as mini cosmetic factories, creating products tailored to individual skin types.

Typically, consumers seek the advice of sales assistants or search for product reviews by influencers.  plus the fact that KOLs and personal shoppers may have other motives for recommending certain items (e.g., brand sponsorships).

When stepping into the futuristic concept store, customers are asked to use their WeChat account to sign into the AI experience. Users are then connected personally to a salesperson who helps them through their purchase journey in person and can stay in touch with them once they leave the store.

 

 

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Marketing to Women Empowerment: A Chinese Perspective on International Women’s Day

March 7, 2023

Every year on March 8, people celebrate International Women’s Day to honor women’s achievements and raise awareness of gender inequality. The first International Women’s Day was observed on March 19, 1911, in a number of European nations. Now, Women’s Day is celebrated all over the world now, and China is no exception. 

Let’s see how people in China celebrate Women’s Day and how it impacts the Chinese market.

 

Women’s Day in China

International Women’s Day (IWD) has gained popularity in China due to the extreme transformation of the position of women in Chinese society compared to their traditional societal roles of limited independence and work options. 

In 1949, IWD was declared an official holiday in China, and new laws were passed to give women greater control over their lives, combating old ideas of male superiority. As a result, women gained greater independence, education, and political representation, leading to their recognition as vital contributors to Chinese society. IWD is now celebrated widely across China to recognize and further promote women’s progress in society.

 

📆 Explore the full 2022 Marketing Calendar

How is IWD celebrated in China?

 

Chinese companies offer benefits to female employees on International Women’s Day (IWD), including time off, flowers and small gifts. Women, companies, and social organizations use the day to raise awareness about issues affecting women, such as sexual harassment, mental health, and discrimination. 

China also celebrates Women’s Day by giving women numerous product discounts on and around this day.

The self-care theme is heavily marketed on Women’s Day. It is one of the major factors contributing to the enormous sales that are generated on this day every year. With slogans such as ‘Treat yourself’ or ‘Happy Goddess Day’, brands want to inspire purchases. However, there are more and more voices contending that IWD shouldn’t turn into just another shopping holiday. Instead, it should concentrate on addressing issues of health, safety, and domestic violence, which are still major issues in China.

 

How International Women’s Day affects the Chinese market

 

In China, women are in charge of more than 70% of household purchases, including those for luxury goods, everyday items, and online shopping, according to a report by Alibaba.

China now boasts the third-largest female consumer market in the world, behind the US and Japan. Women’s rising purchasing power is one of the major factors contributing to China’s economy. Sheconomy will play an even more important role in the coming years.  Therefore companies increasingly emphasize the value of appealing to female customers.

For e-commerce platforms, International Women’s Day is a significant marketing occasion because it coincides with the introduction of fresh spring products with the “3.8 Festival.” E-commerce platforms can use the 3.8 Festival as an opportunity to market to women by providing exclusive discounts and promotions on goods that are catered to their interests and needs.

Aa growing number of Chinese women choose a single lifestyle over marriage, particularly millennials and Gen Z. These trends are affecting the Chinese market and economy as well. For example, online female shoppers reached 581 million by 2022. Nearly half of their purchases were in the beauty, skincare, and makeup sectors, according to Questmobile’s 2022 report on the “she economy”.

 

Top eye-catching campaigns for Women’s Day in China

 

Some brands have really developed a meaningful connection with their female consumer base. Those are the ones that offer a deeper message and seek to empathize with the gender inequality and social expectations that women face. Some of the campaigns from such brands are:

 

Tmall Super Brand Day:

Tmall Super Brand inspired women with a novel poem that included 26 brands in alphabetical order. The “Wǒmen are women” campaign’s main focus was on women’s feelings toward specific brands.

The campaign involved about half of the brands that took part in Tmall’s Super Brand Days. The purpose of the poem and video was to inspire women to develop their own “super brand” that reflected their unique spirit and personality. 

 

Perfect Diary 

For the Perfect Diary campaign, the brand interviewed female celebrities who had all experienced gender stereotypes in their lives. However, they didn’t let these inhibit them from following their dreams. Yamy Guo, a member of the girl group Rocket Girls 101, joined the campaign. In the past, she received flak for not meeting expectations of stereotypical female beauty.

Her experience brought to light China’s absurd beauty standards. Instead online users praised her and noted that she is unique because of her appearance.

The video gained over 6.4 million views on Weibo. It also included Yang Li, a comedian known for her anti-patriarchal comedy. Hui Ruoqi, a former captain of China’s women’s volleyball team, was one of the campaign heroines as well.

 

Perfect Diary IWD

 

Florasis

One of the hottest C-beauty brands, Florasis, took on a very unique approach. The brand launched a video campaign that examines how women deal with various mental health issues in modern society.

At the same time, the series featuring five women looked at different skin issues. By the end, it unveiled a new product called Florasis Balance Liquid Foundation.

The campaign, which celebrated the upcoming International Women’s Day also assisted to boost sales of its new product. Thanks to the brand’s well-liked livestream sessions, did both by amplifying this message through personal stories.

 

Net-A-Porter 

Luxury e-commerce Net-A-Porter launched a campaign film The Remarkable Day. The video highlighted various memorable moments throughout a female’s life, such as a wedding or pregnancy.

In China’s luxury market, Net-A-Porter was an early adopter of female marketing. The e-tailer has collaborated with several female celebrities over the last two years to engage its independent and expanding female customer base.

For its International Women’s Day campaign this year, Net-A-Porter highlighted well-known Chinese fashion houses that are likely to draw younger consumers away from social media sites and into its flagship Tmall store and WeChat marketplace.

 

L’Oréal

For its “I Say I’m Worth It” campaign, L’Oréal worked with a variety of Chinese celebrities. The list included Ouyang Nana, Gong Li, Ju Xiao Wen, Xin Zhilei, and Daniel Wu.

The actors discussed their personal experiences and ideas about female empowerment. The collection of short films inspired women to take on life’s challenges and figure out their own personal values.

The campaign demonstrated the company’s in-depth knowledge of Chinese femininity by using role models from a variety of life stages and professions that connected with the brand’s larger female customer base.

 

Neiwai

March last year, the Chinese lifestyle brand Neiwai debuted the final phase of its No Body Is Nobody campaign. 

The initiative began in February 2020 with a series of documentaries looking at the diversity of female bodies. Podcast series last year that covered a variety of feminism-related topics followed.

In order to commemorate the brand’s tenth anniversary, the campaign’s final installment featured five of the company’s female customers. The ladies shared their own individual journeys over the previous ten years. 

Neiwai Campaign

 

How can brands improve their Women’s Day campaigns?

Firstly, brands should focus more on showcasing the strength and accomplishments of women in 2023. The discussion around IWD is bigger rather than just offering discounts and promotions to better target female consumers. 

Brands can attract and engage female consumers who are passionate about these issues by developing campaigns and topics that advance gender equality and women’s empowerment.  

This may entail collaborating with organizations that champion women’s issues or producing content that highlights the achievements of women in various professions.

Secondly, for female customers, brands should aim to create individualized and tailored experiences. This can involve providing specialized product recommendations, individualized customer service, and special access to activities and discounts.

IWD is a great day for brands to forge a deeper emotional bond with their female consumers. If done correctly, it can increase loyalty and long-term customer relationships. Brands can achieve that by demonstrating that they comprehend and value the particular needs and preferences of female consumers.

 

 

 

Conclusion

IWD is celebrated widely in China to recognize women’s progress in society. Meanwhile, it serves as a significant marketing occasion for businesses to appeal to the country’s growing female consumer base. In recent years, it became an occasion for brands to discuss important societal topics related to women’s daily life. In conclusion, it’s a great time to connect with female consumers in a meaningful way.

🏮Explore our page dedicated to the most important festivals in China

If you want to know more about the Chinese market, contact our team. We use our knowledge and expertise to help businesses build meaningful partnerships and develop their networks among Chinese customers. For additional information, please contact us at contact@thewechatagency.com.

 

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The WeChat Agency Blog: The Best of 2022

December 29, 2022

The year of the Tiger or simply 2022, was a very eventful year in China, to say the least. Contrary to the rest of the world, COVID-19 was still a predominant topic in the daily lives of millions of Chinese and had a serious impact on brands and their activities in China too, influencing literally every step they took from communication to sales. 

We’ve witnessed new trends and platforms being born and some slowly fading into memory. With the loosening of the restrictions, 2023 will be a fascinating year. Now, let’s bring the best pieces from our The WeChat Agency blog in 2022!

 

10. China Trend: Silver Generation

When everyone is eyeing China’s Gen Z, there is another fast-growing consumer group with a lot of leisure time, increasing purchasing power, and usually living within close-knit communities. COVID-19 and frequent lockdowns forced the Chinese elderly, already quite digital-savvy, to use online platforms more than ever before and subsequently sped up internet adoption among the eldest. 

Read here: China Trend: Silver Generation

China Silver generation senior

 

9. Top 5 alternatives for LinkedIn in China you need to know now

By the end of 2021, LinkedIn officially switched to CareerIn for users based in mainland China. Discover 5  social networking platforms that are not LinkedIn. 

Read more here: Top 5 alternatives for LinkedIn in China you need to know now

LinkedIn China

 

8. What is Dewu?

Do you know hat is Dewu (得物) aka POIZON? Deemed a male version of Xiaohongshu, it’s a fascinating social marketplace revolving around sneakers, fashion, and street culture. Brands like Adidas, Michael Kors, and Coach are already there.  

Read more: What Is Dewu?

Dewu Poizon China

 

7. How Douyin is Different From TikTok?

While essentially TikTok and Douyin are the same platforms, there are some major differences between these two. 

Read more: How Douyin is Different From TikTok?

Douyin Tiktok difference

 

6. WeChat Stickers – A Quick Guide

You can love or hate them but WeChat stickers are a huge part of communication on the app and can convey a myriad of emotions in one small GIF. Brands can join this fun trend too.

Read more: WeChat Stickers – A Quick Guide

WeChat Stickers

 

5. E-commerce Platforms in China

Learn more about Chinese e-commerce, there’s more than Taobao.  

Read more: E-commerce Platforms in China

Ecommerce China

 

4. Live Streaming on WeChat Channels

WeChat Channels live streaming definitely sped up in 2022. With more than 450 million daily active users and new built-in features (think e-commerce and customer service), brands are more excited to dip their toes into WeChat Channels live streaming. 

Find out how to apply and what are the most successful formats in one of our top blog posts of the year.

Read more: Live Streaming on WeChat Channels

WeChat Channels Live Streaming

 

3. ​​Douyin (China’s TikTok) Statistics 2022 [UPDATED!]

Douyin, China’s TikTok, in numbers. We are not surprised that this post made into top 3 of the year. 

Douyin (China’s TikTok) Statistics 2022 [UPDATED!]

DOUYIN Statistics China TikTok

 

2. What Is WeChat Marketing?

Your 101 to WeChat marketing. Everything you need to know and more. 

Read more: What Is WeChat Marketing?

WeChat Guide

 

1. A Beginner’s Guide to WeChat Channels

In 2022, no other WeChat function introduced more upgrades and new features than Channels. No wonder that our post introducing this platform within the WeChat platform raised so much curiosity and attracted thousands of your clicks. If you are a more seasoned Channels user feel free to discover more content about Channels on our blog. 

Read more: A Beginner’s Guide to WeChat Channels

WeChat Channels

If you wish to receive all updates from our blog please click here to subscribe. We are waiting to hear from you which topics would you like us to cover in 2023. 

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