Revealing Potential: Assessing the Latest Advances in China’s Industry

1.WeChat added recommended attention traffic entry

Addition of traffic entry to the WeChat account homepage. After selecting “follow account,” the account of “other followers also like” will appear, asking how many friends have looked at the account. If you click the “more” button in the upper right corner of the screen, a list of 18 suggested accounts for attention will appear.

 

2.Tmall Double-11 155 brands opened to break 100 million, the first hour of 70,000 brands more than last year all day

On October 31, at 8 PM, Tmall Double 11 officially opened for business. 155 brands were available for purchase, and in the first hour, 71,900 brands were sold—more than on the first day of the previous year.

A total of 14 brand live broadcasts broke 100 million, 280 store direct broadcast rooms broke 10 million, the opening of 29 direct broadcast rooms broke 100 million, and the store broadcast became a new dividend for brand growth. 

The live broadcast of drinks continued to be hot, with a year-on-year growth of 782% in 4 hours. Azhuo Tavern, wine fairy Liangge became the second Taobao, the fourth broke the million broadcast room.

 

3.Xiaohongshu taps into outdoor fall trends with “Go Wild Festival

  • Xiaohongshu launched its second annual “Go Wild Festival” on October 19, collaborating with prominent outdoor media organizations such as “Outdoor Adventure” and “Hiking in China.”
  • Along with collaborating with numerous outdoor brands, the online platform planned a series of offline events that coincided with fall.
  • The campaign covers a wide range of outdoor sports, such as cycling, hiking, fishing, and rock climbing.
  • The launch of the “Go Wild Festival” not only aligns with the platform’s ethos but also magnifies the burgeoning interest in outdoor activities among today’s youth.

LINK: https://daoinsights.com/news/xiaohongshu-taps-into-outdoor-fall-trends-with-go-wild-festival/

 

4.Douyin anchor’s ‘vulgar’ YSL beauty livestream a cautionary tale for brands this Singles’ Day

  • As she advertised YSL beauty products on her show, top Douyin anchor Traffic Yellow (红绿灯的) faced accusations of being impolite and vulgar due to her messy hair and twisted expressions. 
  • YSL’s official Weibo account featured screenshots of her that many netizens shared, criticizing the livestreamer for pushing the foundation cushion of the upscale brands.
  • In order to determine whether the live broadcast room’s content and price point are consistent with their brand, brands must conduct due diligence. 
  • Luxury brands like YSL would be well advised to put image alignment ahead of quick sales in order to maintain their exclusive aura, even though some live streamers do not have large followings.

LINK: https://jingdaily.com/ysl-beleaguered-douyin-top-anchors-livestreaming-crazy-little-brother-yang/

 

5.How to build and maintain customer loyalty in Chinese market
In China, customer loyalty, especially among Generation Z, is a crucial consideration.

  • Key strategies for building and maintaining customer loyalty in China include:
  • Emphasizing good product quality as the foundation of loyalty.
  • Implementing effective marketing strategies that connect with customer values and emotions.
  • Personalization to cater to individual customer needs and stand out in the market.
  • Utilizing loyalty programs, such as membership cards and rewards, to encourage ongoing engagement.
  • Chinese brands are successfully leveraging the Guochao trend by incorporating cultural elements into their products and marketing, enhancing customer loyalty.
  • KFC’s localization strategy in China, with regionally tailored menu items, has contributed to customer loyalty in the country.

LINK: https://daxueconsulting.com/customer-loyalty-in-china/

 

6.Sign of the times: Halloween with Chinese characteristics takes flight in Shanghai as cultural jamboree sees young lampoon public figures

  • Young people in China have adapted the Western Halloween celebration into a “Meme Playing Festival” in which they lampoon controversial public figures and express themselves through performance art.
  • Not only did the extravagant costumes on show and the carnival atmosphere draw sizable crowds of people, but they also sparked a lot of conversation on mainland social media.
  • Numerous youths also took advantage of the chance to be dissatisfied with their current employment circumstances.
  • A young man in a plaid shirt with disheveled hair and dark bags under his eyes introduced himself as “The agent.” The suggestion was that he needed to be prepared to work anywhere and at any time, as evidenced by the tea drink and traditional black backpack he was carrying.
  • “Chinese people have their own way of celebrating ‘foreign’ holidays,” someone said. Could this be a novel manifestation of cultural self-assurance?

LINK:https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3240127/sign-times-halloween-chinese-characteristics-takes-flight-shanghai-cultural-jamboree-sees-young 

Exploring New Horizons: Uncovering the Latest Developments in China’s Market

1.Wechat Channel releases the “flash purchase” new function, only to specific categories opened

The Channel has unveiled the conditions for its “flash purchase” service, allowing retailers to facilitate online ordering during live broadcasts for specific users. To activate this feature, merchants must meet certain criteria related to their business category, qualifications, credit, product quality, and sales volume. The flash purchase products must be physical and described fully during live broadcasts, matching the invoice card and product information. Flash sale items can only be sold during live broadcasts, and the sale ends either when the broadcast concludes or when stock is depleted.

Merchants can create flash purchase orders for particular users, which are accessible only to those users. Multiple intended users can also be targeted with flash orders, but the same user can’t have duplicate orders and must create new ones after successful payment.

 

2.Bus rentals become this autumn’s hottest wedding trend

The usual Golden Week marriage boom came as expected this year, but so too did a fresh take on the traditional Chinese wedding custom of 接亲, or “picking up the bride”.

In a down-to-earth spin on the tradition, some young couples teamed up with local transport departments to create a bespoke “wedding bus” experience. In this trend, public buses decked out in DIY wedding decorations carry the wedding party to their venue, instead of the typical suite of austere luxury cars.

The top wedding bus post on the lifestyle-sharing platform Xiaohongshu, which garnered over 20,000 likes. 

With birth and marriage rates sinking lower and lower in China, state-led campaigns to encourage marriage and childrearing have become pervasive and transparent. Trends like wedding buses breathe new life into staid traditions and allow Gen Z and millennials to take ownership of these highly personal life decisions. 

LINK: https://daoinsights.com/news/bus-rentals-become-this-autumns-hottest-wedding-trend/

 

3.Is there a solution to China’s $81 billion ‘daigou’ gray market?

  • With young consumers having grown accustomed to purchasing from daigou, the market is growing at lightning speed. 
  • According to report, “The Daigou Index 2.0,” China’s gray market size is an estimated $81 billion (600 billion RMB), having expanded by over 40 percent since 2019.
  • Daigou can offer tax-free products, which are more affordable than purchases made within China. And even some brands don’t even have counters”.
  • Aspirational middle-class consumers are becoming more cautious with their spending. And as a result, they may prefer to buy products at a discount rate from daigou rather than purchasing directly from the brands.
  • In addition, Chinese Gen Z shoppers are keen on discovering and experimenting with new brands – gray market importers’ ability to access limited-edition or products unavailable in China has made the sector popular among young consumers.

https://jingdaily.com/is-there-a-solution-to-china-81-billion-daigou-gray-market/

 

4.WeChat Luxury Index 2023: How to Connect With 1.3 Billion Consumers?

  • WeChat has evolved into a vital platform for brands to engage and convert Chinese consumers, extending beyond mere communication.
  • WeChat’s various components, like Mini Program, Channels, WeCom, and Official Account, create a seamless customer journey loop. It has evolved into a primary direct-to-consumer (DTC) channel, offering services and information, challenging traditional websites. Brands can accompany customers from acquaintance to purchase, nurturing their private domains on WeChat.
  • WeChat’s open rates for articles have declined, partly due to muted notification settings for Service Accounts and follower disinterest.
  • Brands have adapted content strategies, pushing content less frequently but more focused on ROI.
  • Menu clicks and service-related behaviors have gained prominence, with over 55% of menu engagements being CRM-related.
  • Brands are redirecting efforts and investments to other WeChat assets, but Official Account content remains vital.
  • Brands capture more data through Mini Programs, with 85% of behavioral data collected from them, enhancing consumer profiles and WeChat strategies.

LINK: https://www.luxurysociety.com/en/articles/2023/10/wechat-luxury-index-2023-how-connect-13-billion-consumers

 

 

5. Coca-Cola teams up with Holiland for futuristic AI chocolate

  • Coca-Cola and bakery brand Holiland bring out a new flavour of Holiland’s popular ‘Dandelion Air Chocolate’ truffle.
  • This time they co-created with AI and named Y3000. On Weibo, China’s Twitter-like microblogging platform, ‘#可口可乐 好利来#‘ (#Cocacola Holiland) gained 27 million views, peaking at number 6 on the hot search list.  
  • This collaboration comes after the release of Coca-Cola’s Y3000 Zero Sugar Coke, an AI co-created soda of the future.
  • Holiland has been on a streak of crossovers including Hello Kitty and Rick & Morty
  • Now that AI is playing a bigger role in China’s digital economy, this co-branded chocolate feels like a natural next step for both parties.  

LINK: https://daoinsights.com/news/coca-cola-teams-up-with-holiland-for-futuristic-ai-chocolate/ 

Unlocking Opportunities: Exploring the Latest Developments in China’s Market

Tencent officially launched its large language model

  • Chinese tech giant Tencent officially launched its Hunyuan large language model at the company’s Global Digital Ecosystem Summit.
  • The move comes several months after fellow Chinese tech giants Alibaba and Baidu launched their own AI products.
  • The full stack self-developed Hunyuan LLM with over a hundred billion parameters is trained with 2 trillion tokens of pre-training data. It possesses strong capabilities in Chinese language comprehension, content creation, logical reasoning, and task execution.
  • In the future, the Hunyuan model will support Tencent Cloud’s MaaS (Model-as-a-Service), with customers able to directly access it through APIs and use it as a foundational model to develop applications for various industry scenarios, Tencent said.

LINK: https://www.jiemian.com/article/10057854.html

 

Publish without notification display in the homepage

  • When an article is posted, there will be two buttons, one to publish to all and one to publish without notification.
  • Publish without notification means that published content is not pushed to users. However, now the published content will be displayed on the home page of your WeChat account. The published article can also be forwarded to friends, friends in your circle, set for automatic replies, deleted, and so on.
  • Although, only fans can actively come to the home page to see the post article, if businesses publish frequently, it will end up making the home page look very busy. This then points to the need to be careful when using the post function in the future.

 

Xiaohongshu embarks on the era of “personal shoppers”, boosting social commerce

  • After the livestream momentum gained by the Chinese actress Dong Jie and subsequently KOL Zhang Xiaohui, Xiaohongshu now seeks to give influencers the official title of “personal shoppers”, stepping up efforts in social commerce.
  • The move closely follows the just concluded Red-commerce Partner Week 2023, which was hosted on August 24 in Shanghai. Touting the tagline “Entering the era of personal shoppers”, the event also marked the public debut of Xiaohongshu’s e-commerce division.
  • “Personal shoppers” would “play a crucial role in connecting merchants and consumers”. “The first things personal shoppers on Xiaohongshu need to work on is to understand the specific needs of their target audience, they are expected to direct other users to the products they are looking for.” As such, “personal shoppers” would act as upgraded KOLs, bringing together the content-focused “Community” and e-commerce ecosystems that are not yet well integrated on the platform.
  • This shows the ambition of Xiaohongshu in setting itself apart in the much-contested territory of e-commerce from existing experts such as Douyin (Chinese TikTok) and its rival Kuaishou by differentiating its approach to “influencing” consumers to that adopted by other social media platforms.
  • Such a practice also appears to be more persuasive and appealing to Xiaohongshu’s user demographics, which are economically satisfied and more knowledgeable in fields related to their interests.

LINK:https://daoinsights.com/news/xiaohongshu-embarks-on-the-era-of-personal-shoppers-boosting-social-commerce/

 

 

China Sets Filing Requirements for Smart Phone Applications

  • On 4 August 2023, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) set a timeline to enforce the filing of mobile applications (APPs), in the published Notice on Carrying out the Filing of Mobile Internet Applications (Notice). 
  • APPs that are pre-installed on a smart phone or downloaded by users, should conduct filing through their network access service providers. For example, an APP hosted on Tencent Cloud’s cloud service should conduct filing through the Tencent Cloud portal. 
  • APPs based on API that users can use without installation, such as mini programs, quick apps, etc. should conduct filing through their distribution platform. For example, mini programs in WeChat should conduct filing through the WeChat portal. 
  • A foreign company that operates an App in China can register its Chinese subsidiary or representative office as the APP holder. Alternatively, it can enter into a cooperation agreement with a local partner.

LINK: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/w2xLVI75H4X59DRR5rODNA 

 

 

China’s newest viral collab: megabrands Luckin Coffee x Moutai join forces

  • Many young Chinese people are tasting their first cup of luxury liquor—Kweichow Moutai — at domestic café chain Luckin Coffee. The two beverage giants partnered up to co-create a new flavor of latte, Moutai Latte (酱香拿铁), which was released today. 
  • The collaboration was an instant hit, with long queues forming outside the 10,000-plus Luckin coffee shops distributed across China, and several related hashtags topping Weibo’s Hot List, each with over 100 million views. 
  • Through the partnership with Luckin Coffee, Moutai is using a fresh way to popularize its product’s taste and brand among China’s younger demographic. 
  • The collaboration seems to be a winning formula for both. The high-low partnership has tapped China’s guochao trend, offered surprise, delight, and nostalgia for consumers, and earned both brands new virality. 

LINK: https://jingdaily.com/luckin-coffee-moutai-collaboration/ 

 

 

‘Mom skincare’ —China’s maturing Gen X consumers give rise to new beauty opportunities

  • The cohort of 60-years-plus consumers could provide a new growth engine for skincare and personal care labels.
  • The options for mature skin are lacking, with many major local and global brands focusing on launching skincare lines for young women and men.
  • China’s Gen X consumers are big savers and users of high-end skincare labels. They have more knowledge about skincare and beauty than the preceding generation had.
  • Older consumers rank anti-aging effects as the top product function. However, hydration and moisturization also rank highly.
  • Brands have deployed celebrities in their 40s and 50s to endorse their skincare lines and promote their products on Weibo, Douyin, and Xiaohongshu. 

LINK: https://jingdaily.com/chinas-gen-x-saves-big-but-also-consumes-high-end-skincare/

The Evolution of Xiaohongshu, RED, into a Travel Platform

China’s Gen Z has found Xiaohongshu, also known as “RED”, to be a distinctive platform that resonates with them in the rapidly changing world of social media and e-commerce. Xiaohongshu stands out for its clever integration of influencer culture and retail. This is what draws in young customers looking for inspiration and authenticity. RED began as a shopping guide for wealthy mainlanders traveling abroad in 2013, but its development has been characterized by seismic shifts. This article will delve into Xiaohongshu’s evolution from a cross-border shopping platform to a thriving hub for travel inspiration, highlighting its impact on China’s digital landscape and the broader tourism industry.

📕 Little Red Book: Main Functionalities

Xiaohongshu RED Travel Tourism Content

From Shopping Guide to Social Travel Hub

RED embarked on its journey as a shopping guide, providing valuable insights to Chinese travelers visiting international destinations like Hong Kong, Thailand, Japan, and South Korea. Gradually, it embraced a new dimension by acknowledging users’ desires to do more than just window shop. The company capitalized on the growing trend of users wanting to purchase products endorsed by influencers and. celebrities. Then everyday consumers started to share their experiences on the platform. This transition led to the birth of a social e-commerce ecosystem, enabling Xiaohongshu to position itself as a pioneer in this emerging industry.

The platform’s evolution didn’t stop there. Over time, it expanded beyond its initial shopping-focused approach, transforming into a digital haven for travel and lifestyle enthusiasts. The 2020 China Tourism Industry Report revealed that Xiaohongshu had secured its position as the go-to platform for 64% of China’s wanderlust-driven individuals. This staggering popularity catapulted Xiaohongshu beyond conventional online travel agencies, underscoring its potential to redefine the market.

🌏 Reaching Chinese Tourists and Top Online Travel Agencies in 2023

AI-Powered Growth and Expansion

Firstly, Xiaohongshu harnessed the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance content distribution since 2016. This strategic move proved instrumental in captivating the preferences of young consumers, effectively driving the platform’s popularity. Two years later, the platform expanded its horizons by launching Puzhen Xiangli, a travel agency rooted in Shanghai. This venture showcased the platform’s commitment to becoming a comprehensive travel resource, offering services ranging from travel consulting and hotel management to catering and tourist site operations.

Fast forward to 2023, Xiaohongshu solidified its authority by forging a strategic partnership with Tourism New Zealand. This collaboration, announced during a high-profile event in Shanghai, exemplifies Xiaohongshu’s ability to foster alliances that amplify its impact and influence.

New Zealand Xiaohongshu RED

A Catalyst for New Behavior Patterns

Xiaohongshu’s influence extends beyond commerce and travel, shaping the behavior patterns of its users. Online travel agencies remain pivotal for trip planning and booking. However, Xiaohongshu emerges as a frontrunner during the pre-planning phase, catering to nearly 40% of travelers seeking outbound experiences. Notably, travel content occupies a significant position on the platform, showcasing remarkable growth alongside beauty-related content.

Data Travalers China 2023

Subsequently, The COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed shifts in travel preferences, favoring short-to-mid-distance trips. In this landscape, Xiaohongshu demonstrated its prowess in driving conversions for lesser-known and budget-friendly travel offerings, reflecting its adaptability and agility.

However, Xiaohongshu is not without its critics. The platform’s embrace of user-generated content transformed picturesque locations into influencer magnets, yet this practice also attracted criticism. Accusations of heavily filtered and stylized content raised questions about authenticity. Notably, during the National Day holiday, influencers’ images on Xiaohongshu faced scrutiny when compared to real-life experiences. It prompted a candid discourse about the platform’s portrayal of destinations.

In conclusion, Xiaohongshu’s evolution from a shopping guide to a diverse platform blending commerce, travel, and social interaction demonstrates its user-focused agility. Through AI, strategic alliances, and embracing changing travel trends, it has firmly established itself in culture and commerce. Xiaohongshu’s enduring legacy lies in its adaptability, innovation, and bridging digital and real-world experiences.

Keeping Up with China: Latest Market Updates and News

iFlytek demonstrates new AI writing tools based on its own language model, claims it outperform ChatGPT

 

With the release of its own AI language models and associated applications, iFlytek is continuing the contribution of Chinese tech companies to the global AI development initiative sparked by ChatGPT.

An artificial intelligence writing tool called the iFlytek AI Writer aids users in quickly creating articles based on given information and prompts. On May 6, the product had its initial release.

According to the chairman of iFlytek, the model has surpassed ChatGPT in the areas of Chinese long-text generation, medical knowledge, and mathematical prowess but still falls short of ChatGPT in this area.

Three upgrades will be made to the model soon. On June 9, the model will be improved with code and multimodal interaction skills, and on August 15, it will be improved with open-ended question, multi-round dialogue, and mathematical ability capabilities. He added that by October 24 the model will be on par with ChatGPT’s current level in English and surpass ChatGPT’s current level in Chinese.

https://technode.com/2023/05/10/iflytek-demonstrates-new-ai-writing-tools-based-on-its-own-language-model/

 

 

Xiaohongshu tests new feature enabling influencers to add shopping links to posts

 

As part of its push towards e-commerce transactions, Xiaohongshu is enabling a select group of merchants to invite platform influencers to include shopping links when they post recommended content.

Instead of connecting to external e-commerce platforms, the links are directly connected to stores within Xiaohongshu.

In January 2021, the feature was initially accessible to all platform creators, but it was removed six months later due to “unsatisfactory link conversion rates.”

Xiaohongshu, which is frequently compared to Instagram, has been refocusing on e-commerce in recent months. It tested a group-buy feature last month and found success with livestream shopping earlier this year.

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/FTb_v-_vYsghkMr454iNtg

 

 

LinkedIn to shut China app, cut over 700 jobs

 

 

InCareer, the Chinese version of LinkedIn, will shut down its job board in August. Thanks to our strong China-based team, InCareer had some success over the past year, but it also faced stiff competition and a difficult macroeconomic environment.

LinkedIn stated in October 2021 that the Chinese-language version of its services would be discontinued due to “a more difficult operating environment” and “greater compliance requirements.”

Instead, the Microsoft-owned company introduced InCareer, a stand-alone employment app. InCareer had 57 million users as of July 2022 and was linked to 875 million members globally via LinkedIn.

700 employees in China will lose their jobs as a result of InCareer’s decision to change its business strategy and assist Chinese companies with recruiting, marketing, and training personnel abroad.

https://news.linkedin.com/2023/may/a-message-from-linkedin-s-ceo

 

 

Dazi culture in RED

 

 

Users of Xiaohongshu list the “professional” connections they require to expand their personal social network beyond simple acquaintances.

Recently, the “Dazi Culture” has become a trend on the internet. Finding a partner for a certain activity or pursuit—be it a study partner, a travel companion, a movie buddy, or a workout partner—is central to “Dazi” culture.

“Da Zi” is a colloquial term for a friendship. They do provide a relationship that people are eager to have, especially when you just want someone to eat or shop with but not share your most private secrets with. Despite the fact that they are not close friends.

“Da Zi” may be the reason why young people associate with one another because they have common interests, taste, or preferences.

The “Voice Live” feature, which focuses on voice social networking and lets users create open rooms and have conversations with random people about a variety of topics of interest, was internally tested by Xiaohongshu in October.
In February this year, 小红书 launched a “group chat” function, continuing to break the reality-based social networking model of acquaintances and connecting strangers by interests.

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/rWi4TqsjEsMSXrk7uLMtew

 

 

Balenciaga gives a nod to sustainability for 520 festival

 

 

Balenciaga, a luxury French fashion house, is leveraging Chinese Gen Zers’ growing passion for sustainability in advance of the 520 shopping festival (also known as Internet Valentine’s Day).

Chinese Gen Z consumers’ attention to brands’ social responsibility has emerged as a defining characteristic. With the recent launch of 500 new sustainable products on Tmall Luxury Pavilion, luxury brands have made sure to stay on top of this trend.

Along with the launch of the line, Balenciaga also published an interactive mini-program on the messaging app WeChat. On the microblogging platform Weibo, as of May 10, the hashtag “Balenciaga 520” had accumulated 17 million views.

Balenciaga gives a nod to sustainability for 520 festival

 

 

Chinese Tourists’ Spending In Europe Rises, But Visitor Numbers Remain Weak

 

 

The return of Chinese tourists to foreign countries began closer to home, with Asian locations like Thailand, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore emerging as early favorites, according to data from several Chinese travel agencies. Richer Chinese tourists appear to be among the first to travel back to Europe.

Chinese consumers now pay much more to travel to Europe, and demand is still below pre-pandemic levels. Those who do make these lengthy trips, though, are spending more money than before.

Europe will likely have to wait until the end of 2023 or 2024 to see the return of large-scale Chinese tourism.

https://jingdaily.com/chinese-tourist-europe-spending/

 

 

Lancôme spotlights Chinese ceramics in eye cream campaign

 

 

For the promotion of its Absolute Eye Cream, Lancôme examined the beauty of conventional Chinese ceramics. The campaign uses the restoration of old objects as a metaphor for rejuvenating sagging or aging skin.

Chinese consumers’ desire for goods that honor their country’s rich cultural heritage, both old and new. Foreign brands can take advantage of this trend with clever product design and local partnerships, making it far from the exclusive domain of domestic brands.

According to the study, half of Chinese women between the ages of 25 and 30 use anti-aging products like skin-lifting creams, serums, and eye creams.

Lancôme spotlights Chinese ceramics in eye cream campaign

 

Court Ruling Sparks Debate Over Promoting Work on Social Media

 

 

Luxury brands are embracing the concept of “virtual luxury” more and more in order to appeal to younger, digitally savvy consumers who value sustainability and one-of-a-kind experiences. To engage customers and create fresh opportunities for brand interaction, this entails using virtual experiences and products.

But the question still stands: Is authenticity still important in marketing? While virtual luxury might be alluring in the short term, brands shouldn’t discount the value of authenticity and quality when fostering long-term consumer trust and loyalty.

Given these trends, luxury brands should think about how to strike a balance between the advantages of virtual luxury and the requirement to uphold a strong brand identity and reputation. This might entail coming up with inventive ways to combine tangible goods and services with digital ones, all the while upholding the brand’s commitment to excellence and authenticity throughout.

https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1012863

Checking the performance of prior posts within the last 30 days is now possible in the WeChat backend, which is a new data point available.

Unlocking Opportunities: Current Updates from the Chinese Market

China’s short video war heats up as Tencent offers cash to influencers from rivals Douyin and Kuaishou

 

Tencent’s Weishi, a short video app, is enticing influencers from competing platforms, such as Douyin, TikTok’s Chinese counterpart, by offering cash rewards and other perks. This strategic move aims to capture the attention of viewers in the highly competitive market.

The program primarily targets content creators specializing in movie reviews, healthcare, parenting, and other relevant fields. Additionally, Weishi actively seeks individuals with a relatable and “down-to-earth” lifestyle to participate.

It is important to note that this recruitment initiative aligns with standard industry practices and is not a recent development for Weishi. After witnessing the immense success of ByteDance’s Douyin, which popularized short videos, Tencent revived Weishi in 2018. Subsequently, in 2021, Tencent merged Weishi with its long-form video platform, Tencent Video, creating a unified operation within its platform and content group.

https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3220197/chinas-short-video-war-heats-tencent-offers-cash-influencers-rivals-douyin-and-kuaishou

Douyin (Chinese TikTok) saw an 80% increase in e-commerce total sales last year

 

In the year 2022, the total expenditure of consumers on purchases made through the short video platform amounted to RMB 1.41 trillion ($201.4 billion).

Douyin, owned by ByteDance, is actively promoting and encouraging its video viewers to engage in shopping activities through livestreaming and the app’s marketplace channel. This strategic move by the platform aims to diversify its revenue sources and explore new avenues for generating income.

During Douyin’s annual ecosystem conference held in Guangzhou, Wei Wenwen, the president of Douyin’s e-commerce division, unveiled plans to allocate RMB 10 billion to provide support to merchants and facilitate their businesses on the platform.

https://36kr.com/p/2261274230894216

Tencent Games see 25% growth in overseas gaming sector in Q1

 

In its latest financial report, Tencent, the Chinese tech giant, announced robust growth in gaming revenues during the first quarter. The company’s overseas gaming revenue experienced a significant increase of 25% compared to the previous year, reaching RMB 13.2 billion ($1.88 billion).

Similarly, gaming revenue within the Chinese market witnessed a year-on-year growth of 6%, amounting to RMB 35.1 billion ($5 billion). Tencent’s performance exceeded analysts’ expectations, with the company’s total revenue for the first quarter reaching RMB 150 billion ($21.8 billion), marking an 11% increase compared to the previous year. On a non-IFRS basis, the net profit for the period reached RMB 33.4 billion ($4.9 billion), representing a 27% year-on-year growth.

https://technode.com/2023/05/18/tencent-games-see-25-growth-in-overseas-gaming-sector-in-q1/

More and more brands are using young men as anchors

 

What is the rationale behind brands using “boys” for live streaming? Will the “boys trend” emerge as a new trend amidst the increasing competition for audience attention and rising solicitation costs?

Utilizing “male appearance level” to tap into organic traffic has become an unspoken consensus among numerous brands. According to data from the Forward-Looking Industry Research Institute in 2021, women constitute 53.8% of Chinese live streaming e-commerce orders, positioning them as the primary consumer group. Platforms like Taobao and Douyin see women accounting for over 60% of users placing orders. Additionally, in terms of age demographics, young and middle-aged individuals form the main consumer base for live streaming e-commerce products. Notably, nearly 30% of viewers belong to the post-1995 and post-2000 generations. Young women exhibit distinct advantages in the realm of live streaming.

Particularly in areas such as beauty products, skincare items, and household goods, women serve as the primary consumer group. Although the correlation between male hosts and products may not be significant, they can pique consumers’ curiosity, foster a sense of participation, and enhance brand attention.

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/ytJ005A5HISf9uK-Ka2h-w

62% Of Chinese Luxury Shoppers Are Buying At Home Vs. In European Capitals

 

Even with the reopening of international borders, Chinese luxury consumers continue to opt for domestic shopping.

In April 2023, 62% of luxury expenditures by Chinese consumers were made within China. As a result, domestic high-end retailers are witnessing robust sales growth.

Chinese consumers have a preference for personalized experiences and interactions with local sales associates. In response to this trend, luxury brands are expanding their presence in China by opening more stores and making global price adjustments.

These brands are also investing in experiential flagship stores and VIP-only boutiques to cater to the expectations of Chinese luxury consumers, who value personalized experiences and seek added value from the brands they choose.

Thus, despite the reopening of international travel, a significant portion of Chinese luxury consumption remains concentrated within China.

https://jingdaily.com/62-chinese-luxury-shoppers-buying-at-home-vs-in-european-capitals/

 

 

Strong Domestic Travel Rebound In China Foreshadows Return Of Global Chinese Tourism

 

 

There has been a notable increase in the demand for overseas travel and a rise in international spending. However, Chinese consumers are showing less interest in traditionally popular destinations such as Europe compared to pre-pandemic times.

Many Chinese consumers still have concerns regarding deterrents and factors that include the absence of adequate COVID-19 safety measures, strict testing requirements, and barriers related to visa acquisition.

Chinese travelers are now in search of unique and novel experiences and are willing to invest in entertainment, dining, shopping, and distinctive accommodations, including boutique hotels and one-of-a-kind Airbnb homestays.

Specifically, individuals aged between 21 and 45, as well as those with higher incomes, have demonstrated a strong desire to resume overseas travel.

https://jingdaily.com/china-international-outbound-travel-mckinsey/

 

5 strategies domestic brands use to outshine foreign ones

 

Chinese domestic brands are capitalizing on their local advantage to challenge the positive reputation enjoyed by foreign brands.

The emergence of the “Guochao” concept highlights consumers’ inclination towards brands that embrace Chinese culture, traditional flavors, scents, and symbols.

To remain competitive in the Chinese market, brands need to prioritize digital transformation, innovation, and establish a strong presence on various social media platforms.

Social media platforms play a pivotal role in brand growth, and features like live commerce contribute significantly to increased sales.

Brands are adopting an omni-channel approach by transforming physical stores into immersive experiences while simultaneously expanding sales through e-commerce channels.

In addition to Key Opinion Leader (KOL) strategies, brands are incorporating Key Opinion Consumers (KOCs) to attract and retain more loyal customers, effectively bridging the gap between brands and their target audience.

Exploring WeChat Channels Backend: Features & Stats

WeChat Channels: In today’s digital age, social media has become an essential part of our lives. From personal to professional use, we all use social media platforms to connect, share, and grow. One such platform that has gained immense popularity in recent times is WeChat Channels. Channels are one of the most important features that Tencent plans to invest in this year. We wrote more about it in WeChat Channels: An In-Depth Look at the Statistics and the Future Plans.

One of the key features of WeChat is that it can be accessed both from the mobile and desktop levels. While the mobile version is ideal for content creators who want to create and share content on the go, accessing Channels through the desktop version offers more functions and a clearer overview of statistics.

Some of the key channel statistics that WeChat provides are follower metrics, message data, engagement metrics, average open rates, location and demographics, and content performance. WeChat’s channel statistics provide valuable insights for businesses to track their performance and make data-driven decisions to optimize their marketing and engagement efforts on the platform.

Let’s dive deeper into this to understand how the WeChat Channels backend works to take the utmost advantage of the platform for different business needs.

You can access it at: https://channels.weixin.qq.com/

 

WeChat Channels Backend Homepage:

One of the key features of WeChat is its desktop-level functionality, which allows users to schedule the publication of posts and view important daily data.

WeChat Channels Backend Homepage Desktop

WeChat Channels Backend Homepage

Upon logging into WeChat, users can see the most important daily data from the previous day. This data includes key statistics such as the number of views, likes, and comments on recent posts. This information is useful for businesses and individuals who are interested in tracking the performance of their content on the platform.

In addition to viewing daily data, users can also schedule the publication of their posts directly from the desktop. This functionality allows users to plan and prepare their content in advance, which can be particularly useful for businesses and individuals who want to maintain a consistent posting schedule.

 

WeChat Channels Content Management:

Preparing and scheduling social media content can be a time-consuming task for content creators. On the desktop backend of WeChat Channels, brands have the ability to prepare their posts and schedule them for publishing at a later time. This includes the ability to upload videos or create carousels of images, write engaging copy with relevant hashtags, add location tags, and schedule the post for a specific date and time.

WeChat Channels Backend Post Scheduling

WeChat Channels Backend Post Scheduling

In addition to these key features, brands can also add a short title for SEO purposes, helping to optimize their post for WeChat search engine and improve its visibility for the Channels algorithm. By carefully crafting the title and post description along with hashtags, content brands can increase the chances of their post being discovered by users who are actively searching for related content.

🏆 Explore top practices for WeChat Channels posting in WeChat Channels – How to Post for Success?

 

WeChat Channels Data:

The statistics page is where the most important information sits. We have access to all the data, including followers’ data, demographics, and post data. 

Firstly, we can see changes in the follower base. 

It is worth noting that following the WeChat Channels account requires a separate action to follow. As of now, official accounts where brands post articles although can be linked in many ways do not share the follower base pools. 

WeChat Channels Data

WeChat Channels Data

On this page, we can track changes in the follower base by different time ranges and actions performed. We can also see our followers’ demographics, such as gender, age, location, and system used.

 

Secondly, we can see data regarding our posts. By day and time periods, we can see total views, engagements, and source of traffic. 

For each unique post, we can see: 

  • Completion rate
  • Views
  • Average playtime
  • Engagements such as likes, recommendations, comments, shares
  • Set as ringtone

 These data points help content creators to understand what kind of content is resonating with their audience. This way they can optimize their strategy accordingly.

 

Other functions of WeChat Channels desktop:

In addition to the above data points, the WeChat Channels backend also provides other important functions. For example, live-streaming, e-commerce, comments, and private message management. These features can be linked with WeCom, WeChat’s enterprise communication and management platform. The heating tool is another useful function that allows content creators to boost views and increase exposure.

Live-streaming: WeChat allows users to live stream videos from their desktop. This feature can be used for personal or business purposes, such as conducting online workshops, tutorials, and product demonstrations.

🎥 Learn more about WeChat Channels Livestreaming in one of our most popular blog posts

E-commerce: WeChat has a built-in e-commerce platform that allows businesses to sell their products directly on the app. It allows for a seamless and instant shopping experience.

Comments and private message management: WeChat’s desktop backend allows users to manage their comments and private messages more efficiently. This feature can be used by businesses to improve their customer service and respond to customer inquiries more quickly.

Heating tool: WeChat’s heating tool is a feature that can be used by businesses to boost their views and increase exposure. This feature can be used to promote a business or product to a wider audience.

Explore our Beginner’s Guide to WeChat Channels

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the WeChat Channels backend is a powerful tool that provides valuable insights and statistics for content creators to analyze their performance and optimize their strategies. By leveraging this information, content creators can understand their audience better and tailor their content to engage and grow their followers. With the help of additional functions such as live-streaming, e-commerce, and heating tools, content creators can further enhance their presence on WeChat and achieve their marketing objectives.

If you want to know more about the Chinese market and how we can help create successful WeChat campaigns for your business 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.

 

Chinese Marketing Updates

TikTok Parent ByteDance Battles Meta for Virtual-Reality App Developers

Developers who created virtual reality software for Meta Platforms are being offered payment by ByteDance Ltd. to port their programs to its rapidly expanding Pico headset line.

After experiencing lengthy delays in receiving distribution approval, some software developers have expressed frustration with the way Meta is reviewing new applications for its Quest headsets. Some developers claim that the business’s procedures lack precise guidelines, leaving them to eagerly anticipate the entry of new rivals. 

ByteDance acquired Pico, a B2B-focused company, in 2021 and changed its focus to B2C. Currently, the Pico 4 headset performs worse than the Meta headset and has a much smaller selection of games (300 vs. 500).

https://www.wsj.com/articles/tiktok-parent-bytedance-battles-meta-for-virtual-reality-app-developers-30ce091f

 

An interesting “mini” marketing strategy for the brand

 

The milk tea company “Diandian” has introduced the Earth Day mini cup to celebrate World Earth Day:

McDonald’s mini cone, DQ mini ice cream, and a Wuling small car that popularized the mini model have all used mini marketing to successfully penetrate various product markets.

Creating products that are larger than conventional, creating visual impact, and raising traffic topics when consumers are tired of brand and product cognition.Meet the market’s demand and expectations for weight loss, lightweight, and burden free products.

For current consumers, lightweight consumption and cute design in various aspects have become undeniable market trends, and product miniaturization is the simplest way to approach the trend.

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/R6FoptfmnOiLZPFMTh2uLw.  

 

Galeries Lafayette teams up with Hopson Group for luxury expansion in China

 

The new partnership aims to open ten stores in China by 2025. Future stores will carry independent Chinese designer brands in addition to well-known international ones.  

In order to convey “a certain vision of the French art of living in the heart of unique and selective multi-brand environments,” the joint venture will also concentrate on selling luxury brands in their upscale stores.

Through the partnership, both parties will be able to leverage their individual strengths to build a cutting-edge high-end department store company with a world-class buyer team and cutting-edge supply chain management system. 

Overall, the new partnership between Galeries Lafayette and Hopson Group marks a significant advancement in China’s luxury retail market. 

https://daoinsights.com/news/galeries-lafayette-teams-up-with-hopson-group-for-luxury-expansion-in-china/

 

Rivals Tencent Video and Douyin Reach Content-Sharing Agreement After Copyright Spat

 

Both parties have formally agreed to support content sharing, enabling users of Tencent’s well-known TV dramas to access them through the Douyin app without violating copyright. This is an intriguing development in the competition between China’s video and live-streaming apps, which are increasingly popular among Chinese consumers as tools for shopping and entertainment.

The collaboration may be an example of putting differences aside for the benefit of developing China’s tech and social media sectors. In the long run, it might also draw more users to the platforms.

https://jingdaily.com/tencent-douyin-content-agreement-copyright/

 

How Luxury Brands Are Courting the New Chinese Consumer As Shopping Tourism Resumes

Luxury brands are utilizing a variety of digital strategies, including e-commerce, social media, and live streaming, to connect with China’s extremely tech-savvy consumers. 

Personalized shopping experiences are created by luxury brands in collaboration with travel agencies as part of their key strategy for appealing to Chinese consumers.

By providing immersive, experiential shopping opportunities like in-store events and pop-ups, luxury brands are also leveraging the growth of the “experience economy.”

With features like personalized recommendations and augmented reality try-ons, Alibaba’s Tmall Luxury Pavilion and Luxury Soho platforms are playing an increasingly significant role in connecting luxury brands with Chinese consumers.

Additionally, luxury brands are taking action to address Chinese consumers’ concerns about sustainability and ethics in their marketing and business practices.

https://www.alizila.com/how-luxury-brands-court-chinese-consumers-shopping-tourism-travel-alibaba-lvmh-richemont/

 

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

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.

 

Maximizing WeChat Channels: An In-Depth Look at the Statistics and the Future Plans

WeChat, China’s biggest app, grew from just a chatting messanger to a major business platform a long time ago. And Channels, the video sub-platform of WeChat, is becoming one of users’ and businesses’ favorite features.

Channels advanced last year, with more services and content available to both consumers and businesses. Since the start of its internal beta testing on January 21, 2020, it has experienced significant user engagement. The feature, which enables anyone to record, create, and share videos, saw total user time exceed 80% of that of Moments, the latter of which offers mutual contacts with asynchronous photo, video, and audio sharing.

If you’re not very familiar with WeChat Channels yet, explore our introductory post for beginners here – A Beginner’s Guide to WeChat Channels.

Now, let’s analyze the WeChat Channel statistics and growth plan for 2023.

 

WeChat Channel Statistics

WeChat Channels have powerful tools for businesses to connect with their target audience and drive growth – with the help of innovative content.  The total number of views has skyrocketed, with a 200% YoY increase and a 400% YoY increase in video views based on AI recommendations.

The number of daily active creators and video uploads has also surged, with a 100% YoY increase, and significant growth in the number of viral videos and original video views. However, short videos are not all. 

Live streaming has also seen tremendous growth, with a 300% increase in users, a 156% increase in viewing time, a 614% increase in content creators, and an 83% increase in broadcast time.

🎥 Learn more about live-streaming on WeChat Channels

WeChat Channels continue to expand its support with new features like live streaming e-commerce, quick sharing, and product windows. This makes more brands eager to leverage a massive userbase to drive their sales and reach their target audience. 

The GMV of live-streaming e-commerce on Channels has grown by over 800% since 2021. Moreover, the average transactions now exceed RMB 200.

Top Events in 2023

WeChat Channels have become one of the most popular platforms for users to watch and share short videos. 

It’s clear that short videos are a hit among WeChat Channels users. The number of views for short videos in 2022 increased by 237% compared to the previous year, showing just how popular they have become.

When it comes to the most popular short videos, five topics stood out. These were the workplace, cultural history, financial management, eloquence/speech, and trivia. This shows that users are interested in a wide range of topics.

WEChat Channels Stats 2023

For those looking to be entertained, WeChat Channels has a plethora of options. The top five concerts in 2022 included “Yearning” by Li Jian, Cui Jian’s first online concert, the Backstreet Boys’ first-ever online concert, Luo Dayou’s “Childhood” concert, and “You Want a Good Concert.”

Backstreet Boys WeChat Channels

In addition to entertainment, WeChat Channels users are also looking for ways to improve their physical health. The top six fitness keywords searched by users were yoga, bodybuilding, boxing, body, aerobics, and diet meals.

For those looking to explore, WeChat Channels offer a wealth of travel content. For example, the top 10 most popular destinations in WeChat Channels included: 

  1. Yellow River Xiaolangdi Reservoir,
  2. Huashan Long Sky Boardwalk,
  3. Tiananmen,
  4. Leshan Giant Buddha,
  5. Yellow River Hukou Waterfall,
  6. Tianmen Mountain in Zhangjiajie,
  7. Forbidden City,
  8. Gulangyu Island in Xiamen,
  9. Macao Green Mao Port,
  10. Former Residence of Chairman Mao in Shaoshan.

 

WeChat Channels’ Growth Plan 

In the fast-paced digital world, it’s essential for businesses to keep up with the latest trends and technologies to reach their target audience. WeChat Channels is one such platform that provides a unique opportunity for businesses to reach a vast audience through its innovative features and rich content ecosystem. According to WeChat Weixin Pro Class 2023 (our coverage of the 2022 edition available here), Tencent plans to invest more into Channels in the coming years. 

 

Short Video

The short video feature on WeChat Channels has seen significant growth in the past year. As a result, with more and more creators joining the platform, the content ecosystem has become more diverse and prosperous. 

Moreover, the time spent by WeChat Channels users has also increased and is now approaching that of WeChat Moments. The video views based on recommendation algorithms have increased by over 400% YoY, making it a great opportunity for businesses to reach a vast audience.

To provide comprehensive author services, WeChat Channels has upgraded its creator traffic and honor incentives, with new product capabilities such as online content heating, video product sharing, and video monetization tasks.

These tools will provide creators with more monetization options and help them grow and get better returns on WeChat Channels. 

In 2022, the number of daily active creators and video uploads increased by more than 100% YoY, original content played increased by 350% YoY, and the number of creators with 10,000+ fans increased by 308%. 

 

🗺 Learn how to optimize your WeChat Channels posting with our quick guide

WeChat Channels Video

Live Streaming

WeChat Channels’ live broadcasts have become an integral part of users’ social lives, covering a range of content from hot events to daily information communication and celebrity speeches. Above all, it provides a platform for individuals to start broadcasting and showing themselves, encouraging diverse content production. 

The platform provides a rich live broadcasting ecosystem:

  • the viewing scale increasing by 300%,
  • the viewing time by 156%,
  • and high-quality launch time by 614%.

WeChat Channels has always encouraged the production of diversified and high-quality content. In order words, providing a platform for “every individual to pick up his mobile phone and start broadcasting.” 

As a result, this led to a significant increase of 101% in 2022 and total anchor revenue growth by 447%.

To sum up, live streaming will invest 5 billion in traffic incentives and more rich and perfect realization tools and incentive policies to help every individual have a good start, growth, and income. 

E-commerce Live Streaming

Live Streaming Channels

The commercial potential of WeChat Channels live broadcast has continued to grow. With sales increasing by more than 8 times YoY and the platform’s public purchase conversion rate by more than 100%. 

The top three categories of consumption are clothing, food, and beauty. Finally, it’s worth noting that the purchasing power on WeChat Channels is split between 20% male and 80% female users. This information is useful for businesses and content creators looking to target specific demographics with their products and services.

The launch of WeChat Channels stores provides businesses with convenient and efficient business tools, with over 90% of sales coming from the WeChat Channels store. The platform has connected over 1,000 service providers, contributing over 30% to Channels’ sales.

Firstly to better support brand merchants, WeChat Channels will soon release an incentive plan for merchants. Secondly, Tencent will provide more opportunities, including traffic, brand identity, and other services. For instance, the platform will also continue to increase its support for service providers and focus on investment. For example, in areas of identity authentication, traffic incentives, and operational tools.

Conclusion

WeChat Channels have come a long way, with improvements in short video, live broadcasting, and e-commerce. Above all, with the continued development of the ecosystem and the implementation of incentive policies, WeChat Channels will continue to attract more users and creators, providing a platform for rich and diverse content. 

If you want to know more about WeChat channels and help create a content strategy for WeChat, 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.