In this article, we will start with introducing Wechat, Wechat Official Account, and how to apply for a Wechat Official Account for your organizations. Today we will introduce one of the most popular social media in China: Wechat. However, there is no Google, no Facebook, no twitter, no YouTube, … How do you reach these “netizens” then? At Goglo, our local talents can help you to identify the right target group, select right local social media, and efficiently engage your target group within these platforms. Contact us and we’ll be happy to get you started marketing on WeChat.China‘s internet population in 2014 hits 649 million, 86% on phones, which is almost the total population of Europe. We also offer online, live WeChat training to help get you acquainted with this important tool. LAT manages WeChat accounts for a number of Canadian companies. Evaluate what you hope to achieve, then determine which approach is best for you. The bottom line? Choosing the right WeChat account for your business or brand takes some understanding of the channel, a close line of sight to your overall objectives, and proper resourcing and planning to make it all work. It all depends on your type of business and what your goals are, and what makes sense in terms of your budget and ability to manage this amazing platform. It might be a good idea to use this type of account to provide customer service, and keep your Official (Service) WeChat account for overall branding and engagement. Maybe! An Individual Account offers more flexibility to post and connect with customers than the Official Account. LAT’s team of Chinese content writers can help! Should I have both types of accounts? Given the huge amount of content competing for readers’ attention, make sure your articles are well written, interesting and graphically appealing. Once done, it is important to optimize the account by building a menu and writing useful content that will be hosted within each tab – a process not dissimilar to building a mini website, in Chinese! Once your account is properly registered and ready to go, it is time to start posting articles for your readers. We usually advise clients to expect a wait time of four to six weeks to get the account registered. They are set up via the WeChat website which can be a challenge as they require you to submit various pieces of paperwork to confirm your company’s identity, and there can be a great deal of back and forth (in Chinese!) with Tencent, the owner of WeChat. Unlike Personal Accounts, Official WeChat accounts cannot be created directly from the App that you download. Post articles up to four times a month (with up to eight articles each time).Share important information (hours, parking, Wi-Fi password, location, etc.).Run marketing campaigns to increase exposure.Through this type of account, a company can: For companies that do not have a presence in China, there is only one type of Official WeChat account available to them: the Service Account. It is the best option if you are seeking to expand your reach and develop brand awareness.
Here’s a quick explanation of the difference between Personal and Official WeChat accounts. But if you want to build brand awareness and engage more regularly with your Chinese audience, you may need a corporate service account. If you plan on using the app for your small business, you may find that a Personal account is what you need. One of the first questions our clients who want to target Chinese demographics frequently ask is, “Do I need a Personal or Official WeChat account?”