China Learnings This Week

Short Video Platforms to Deal with Stricter Rating Measures

Problems with fan circles, such as irrational fan support among young fans, have become a cause of concern for Chinese politicians. Setting up a classification system for short video platforms is one of the options that has recently been offered.

‘First, we should tighten content management and allow the media to fulfil its social role,’ Chinese officials stated. Second, market restraints should be increased to aid the return to the rationality of the star-making frenzy.’

Netizens praised the move, pointing out that short videos have a significant influence on young people today, and that many videos on platforms like Kuaishou focus on attracting attention but neglect quality.

Last year, China saw certain limits come into effect when a notice was published in September 2021 forbidding TV and streaming platforms from running idol training shows – competitive reality shows that pit future stars against one other, with the victors going on to become China’s newest idols.

Link: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/8t7aaiOj0j1OhHSIwffFqA 

 

How to Make Your Brand Go Viral: Branded Mini-Movies in China

Mini movies are short cinematic pieces created for a particular product or brand. The duration is generally shorter than 30 minutes. With the advancement of new media technologies, the branded mini-movie was formed, and it has become a popular marketing tool in recent years.

The purpose of a branded mini-movie is to disseminate information in order to demonstrate the brand’s values and messaging for commercial purposes. Touch and Go, a 90-second Cadillac commercial mini-movie starring Daniel Wu and released in 2010, is credited with being China’s first branded mini-movie.

Many brands have turned to mini-movie marketing as a regular activity in recent years, and some have even developed their own mini-movies. Alibaba Pictures, for example, was launched by Alibaba in 2014.

One of the most popular mini-movies was  What is Peppa? (啥是佩奇?) video with several hundred million views across streaming media platforms and the Chinese hashtag for #WhatIsPeppa was viewed nearly 1.5 billion times on Sina Weibo soon after its release.

Link: https://daxueconsulting.com/branded-mini-movies-in-china/ 

 

Video Account Has Added Useful New Features

  1. The service menu can be added to the WeChat Channels

Recently, brands that have received certification have been able to add a “service menu” capability to their home page, allowing for a straight jump to a mini-program.

At present, several WeChat Channels have added new service menus, and different types of accounts can customize the service setup. For example, the Channel 丁香医生 has two service sections and Huawei Customer Service features six service sections for contacting customer service, store inquiries. etc.  It can more effectively reach users and improve their convenience.

  1. Paid live-streaming rooms on WeChat Channels

Previously, Tencent NBA WeChat Channel hosted first paid live broadcast room, which carried NBA regular season content. The brand can create a paid live streaming room where users can choose what they want to view.

  1. The relationship between WeCom and WeChat Channels getting closer

WeCom added an option to send, receive, and watch the WeChat Channels live broadcasts, as well as send and receive live broadcasts from customers and publish them to customers’ friends’ Moments. The current version of WeCom now supports the direct push of the channel’s business card, which helps to gain exposure of the brand and increase the number of WeChat Channels followers.

Link: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/VcPwp9lo_67PL1DG5Ck9kg

China’s Latest Updates 

China’s first virtual magazine: a read in the Metaverse

Huasheng Media and Alimama have joined the newest Metaverse campaign in China. On February 9th, the two partners released MO Magazine, a virtual magazine that replaces traditional reading experiences with an immersive virtual reality environment.

This new medium is led by Ayayi, one of China’s most popular virtual KOLs, and Jing Boran, a Chinese actress, giving both hit figures even more clout in China while tapping into the need for Metaverse.

The digital area offers a futuristic sci-fi atmosphere in which spectators can learn about human civilisation in a digital museum that also includes an audio narrative about the earth’s evolution. This makes reading more engaging because viewers are not only players but also builders of the digital world, with the ability to contribute to the virtual “human evolution.”

Meanwhile, 88% of readers who completed the virtual reading were given a Metaverse Spaceship ticket, according to reports. In just two days, the virtual magazine has received over 400,000 views, with interest building when hashtags related to the launch of the magazine began trending on Weibo, attracting millions of views on the microblogging site.

Link: https://daoinsights.com/news/chinas-first-virtual-magazine-a-read-in-the-metaverse/ 

Shanghai Bans Effeminate Men, Money Worship in Commercial Ads

Shanghai’s market regulator released a new advertising rule on Wednesday, barring the representation of male characters in romantic relationships, effeminate men, and philosophies like money worship in commercials, among other things.

Advertisements are also barred from promoting ideologies such as “money worship, hedonism, extravagance, and soft pornography.” Also, to ensure that their communication is up to date, brands must be informed of new national and city-level legislation.

Link: https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1009633/shanghai-bans-effeminate-men%2C-money-worship-in-commercial-ads 

Alibaba: Consumption Trends for the Lunar Year of the Tiger

According to the short report, the event boosted ice and snow consumption when it coincided with the Olympic Games: over 1 million people visited the Olympic Games’ Tmall shop, and the mascot Bingdundun was sold out in one night.

In addition, there was a large increase in the sale of ski and ice sports equipment.

The festival became digital, ushering in a slew of new trends: Tiger-themed goods, such as backpacks, t-shirts, and caps, are quite popular. The search rate has climbed to 874%, while the number of people purchasing pre-cooked meals has increased by 345% via the Hema app.

Link: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/ZDzU2v1WeV7I42LkDeFSUg

WeChat: Keywords About the Lunar New Year of the Tiger

  • Over 5 billion WeChat hongbao with designed covers have been sent during the CNY, the total number of WeChat hongbao covers was 380 million.
  • The take out food order increased 13.8% compared to last year on New Year’s Eve and over 120 million people watched the Spring Festival Gala on WeChat Channels
  • The top 5 video themes on Moments were: fireworks, family reunion dinner, new year wishes, festival mood and count down
  • The Tiger welcome a new year was the top 1 WeChat status sticker 
  • Over 16 million coupons (over 800 million RMB) have been sent via WeChat pay and low carbon travel with Paperless boarding increased to about 82.3%

Link: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/FmxWAT-R8no-Gy-PxoL-9w

100 Keywords Forecast 2022

On January 27, 2022, Wunderman Thompson, a brand of WPP, released the future 100:2022 – trends and changes to watch in 2022.

This analysis projects 100 developing trends in ten categories in 2022, using 100 keywords: “culture,” “technology and innovation,” “tourism and vacation,” “brand and marketing,” “food and beverage,” “beauty,” “retail and business,” “new luxury life,” “health,” and “work.”

Brand and marketing 10 keywords:

Brandalism: In recent years, the advertising business has made significant attempts to achieve carbon net zero in its own operations. Activists argue that this isn’t enough and that the efforts pale in comparison to the carbon footprints of some of the advertising industry’s biggest clients.

“No matter how good the idea is, as long as it is to promote high-carbon products, provide misleading green packaging for oil companies, or use high-energy advertising screens, it is a kind of pollution and bad advertising.”

Co-creative platforms: The next generation of digital platforms puts the user in charge of their own creativity.

The new digital platform gives users more creative control, allowing them to take more initiative. They are a new set of creative people who meticulously develop virtual imagery, human designs, and self-expression.

Superfollowers: New in-app subscriptions on social platforms are allowing digital creators to monetize their work.

In terms of media content, social platforms are expanding to provide more than just amusement. Enhanced features and incentives to attract, gain, and keep a large following are fueling innovation and enriching social media dialogues for both producers and consumers.

Twitter, for example, allows authors to earn $2 to $10 per month by tweeting to their super fans; Twitter is also exploring business accounts to provide companies with special settings to display relevant information.

Branded virtual worlds: Gaming is increasingly displacing traditional advertising mediums, particularly among younger people.

As firms and marketers enter into this burgeoning field, expect to see more branded virtual worlds.

Allow users to compete in the virtual arena while wearing Nike apparel and equipment. P&G invites visitors to a virtual world where they may learn about the company’s product line, play games, and learn; BMW has established a virtual world that includes the IAA mobile 2021 International Auto Show and an exclusive Coldplay concert.

Users may learn about products, shop, and even watch movies in the virtual world thanks to SK-virtual II’s metropolis.

Euphoric ads: In brand advertising and engagement, happy moments are keeping spirits up.

Consumers value themes of optimism and unity, and businesses that emphasise these communal characteristics generate favourable responses from customers and increase involvement inside their branded communities.

Headless brands: A new wave of consumption creation is changing from the company’s control of the brand to the collective decision of brand, products and services

Regenerative brands: Across industries, more brands are stepping up to commit to regenerative practices, supercharging their sustainability goals.

Brands are acknowledging that doing less harm to the planet is no longer enough. Regenerating the world’s resources and repairing the damage is now the ultimate sustainability stretch goal.

New company manifestos: To stay culturally relevant and engage with today’s employees, companies are altering their internal brand messaging.

Companies are undergoing a rebranding process that aims to modernise internal rules to match today’s needs and prioritise employees. The move implies a new degree of regard for employee happiness and well-being, which necessitates a new level of understanding and empathy on the part of employers.

Dreamvertising: Brands and advertisers are looking to guide our dreams. 

77% of US marketers say they plan to use dream tech for advertising purposes in the next three years.

Augmented ads: With augmented reality, brands are taking their digital advertising to the next level.

AR ads are ushering in a new era of digital marketing and advertising—ads that people want to interact with.

To entice digital consumers, major brands are embracing augmented reality technologies to boost their digital advertising.

Link: https://www.oceanskycruises.com/sites/default/files/2022-01/The-Future-100-2022.pdf

China’s Weekly Learnings

Xiaohongshu’s registers new trademark ‘Laohongshu’, eyeing Chinese elders

Xiaohongshu is now focusing on the elderly in China, a profitable customer segment that is mostly untapped.

More lately, elder generations have witnessed a surge in internet usage, becoming more tech-savvy as a result of the pandemic, to the point that a new wave of influencers over 55 has emerged. In the next few decades, China’s elderly population is expected to exceed 500 million. They are the generation that is catching up on social media and becoming more visible, particularly on short-form video platforms. 

Xiaohongshu justified the registration as a defensive measure after discovering that many other parties were attempting to register the Laohongshu trademark ahead of time. As a result, a defensive registration has been implemented to keep malevolent squatters at bay.

It all began when Youyou Video, a new app, was released in June, around the same time as the trademark application was filed. With features such as bigger fonts, voice remarks and feeds that include tips on age-reducing clothes and makeup, the app displays a focus to the middle-to-elite-class senior female users.

With the Chinese population rising and more people entering the digital world, Chinese elders are becoming a new market that Internet companies like Xiaohongshu are vying for.

Link: https://daoinsights.com/news/xiaohongshus-new-trademark-registration-approved-eyeing-chinese-elders/

Crackdowns in live streaming in China: how brands should approach it

Key takeaways:

  1. As the Chinese government promotes the ‘Common Prosperity’ concept, the government is cracking down on live streaming.
  2. Foreign brands should pay greater attention to the government’s live streaming laws and alter their tactics accordingly.
  3. Brands should ensure that their collaborating influencers follow the regulations of the government, or at the very least that the influencers’ personal behaviours do not have a substantial impact on them. Viya had to pay a record-high sum for tax evasion despite being the “live streaming queen.”
  4. Based on the restrictions issued by the government, e-commerce platforms are likely to tighten their regulations. Although the guidelines are still in the works, they are expected to limit live steamers the ability to use the platform in the way users are used to. They should, for example, speak Mandarin and dress more appropriately.

In China, crackdowns on live streaming do not always imply that the government is opposed to it. Rather, it means that businesses should ensure that their live streaming strategies are in line with, or at the very least do not contradict, government rules.

Link: https://daxueconsulting.com/chinese-livestreaming-crackdown/

How Do Brands Encourage User-generated Content On Bilibili?

Bilibili began as a video platform for anime, comics, and games. It is now one of the most widely used video platforms among Chinese Generation Z. It’s also known for having a very active community.

UGC is one of the most engaging mediums that companies can use (user-generated content). Because Bilibili users respect authenticity, high-quality user-generated content (UGC) can quickly go viral, allowing the business to reach thousands of new prospective customers, stimulate product development, and more.

Link: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/phbEIoaoBg7Ipik8F5YF_g

Tapping into the explosive growth of personalized beauty in China

In traditional offline beauty stores, sales associates greet customers, try to understand their needs and make product recommendations.

That has changed now. People may now access massive amounts of information with a few easy clicks at home thanks to modern technologies. Algorithms aid in the limiting of the knowledge pool, while other users’ ratings and reviews on social media assist in determining whether a product is truly effective. COVID merely accelerated the process.

They are guided by a variety of diagnostic tools, artificial intelligence (AI), widgets, applications, online quizzes, and online experts. However, in many cases, none of the items is actually individualised. The technologies under discussion are more concerned with speeding up the decision-making process of consumers than with meeting their actual demands.

WeChat’s powerful ecosystem provides a full data collection, branding, marketing, selling, and brand refresh cycle.

Link: https://beautymatter.com/articles/tapping-into-the-explosive-growth-of-personalized-beauty-in-china

WeChat Red packet cover

New shape: from rectangle to different other shapes

New ways to get: the users can get them from their Moments. 

Users who receive Moments ads with the label “shake out surprises” can shake and receive the red packet cover. If the sponsors give you “one more” chance, you can share the cover with one of your friends and they will receive one as well.

Link: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/3JzCpTEFbG7rQWPyvnVfow

Bilibili 2021 Top 100 uploaders

Bilibili selected 2021 Top 100 uploaders by their professionality, influence and creativity and will hold a ceremony this Friday at 19:00. It’s a good opportunity to know why they are outstanding from the uploaders.

Link: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/5PooWe308n67FhdD9fmW9Q

Wecom 2022 new product launch conference summary

At the new product launch in 2022, Wecom mainly talked about three major points. 

  • The first point is to connect the consumer market and bring businesses closer to their customers, as evidenced by the channel and WeChat customer care. When watching the video, watching the live broadcast, or on the main page, users can add Wecom personnel to the video number. WeChat customer service means that it can be customised whether it is in the official account channel mini programme or outside of WeChat.
  • The second point is to establish a connection between upstream and downstream partners. Companies from upstream and downstream can join the corporate address book and contact each other at any time. People from various companies can collaborate to produce papers that can then be shared with a single click.
  • The third point is that enterprise Wechat has partnered with Tencent to establish a new office function called Tencent document Tencent conference. Working on, viewing, and commenting on online papers is convenient for a large group of individuals. WeChat allows users from outside the company to collaborate on documents. Internal and external colleagues, partners, and other meetings can be invited to online meetings. There are further features like meeting minutes that can be sorted into text records automatically.

Link: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/5OKKBjZ5TMvg437xOQU0oA