3 Steps to Enter the Chinese Market
The Chinese market is the largest in the world and is snowballing. So, it has become the biggest priority for businesses to start selling their products in China. But, How to enter the Chinese market with political and cultural considerations?
Based on my 40 years of experience working for different organizations, including government, schools, and state-owned enterprises, I can confidently say that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to succeed in the Chinese market. The most efficient way to enter the Chinese market varies on your industry. But we can start from the following three steps.
1. Localize Your Business in China
Ignoring cultural and political sensitivity will be dangerous if you want to map your business to a vast market like China in light of an upsurge in patriotism in this country. Instead, it would help if you had a solid understanding of your audience and the local market. Your business will survive and thrive if you set up a dedicated team with knowledge of the local language and culture, create a product or service relevant to the local market, and develop a marketing campaign that will resonate with your target audience. So, businesses must pick the right partners and distributors for their products to enter the Chinese market. Localize your business thus is suggested to be the first step, and we ussually recommend you to find experienced agency like Easy Marketing to shortlist for you.
2. Decision-making Process
After localizing your business with the right partner in China, it’s important to sit down and determine your business goals and objectives in the Chinese market, as well as identify your target demographic. With this information, you can map out the best course of action to achieve your goals.
Here are three essential steps to take:
Pick the right products or brands to sell in China. You may have the same product line to offer worldwide, or you can discuss with your partner which categories of your products are suitable for the Chinese market.
Get prepared for selling to the Chinese market. Localize your product by translating it into Chinese and adding basic information such as usage instructions or care instructions on your product’s packaging or label, so Chinese customers can comfortably use it without reading instructions/manuals printed in English or any other language.
Ensure that your product has FOB (Free On Board) prices set by the distributor to avoid losing money on shipping and taxes when selling it to customers in China.
3. Execution Plan to Market Online
3.1 Chinese Marketing Channels & Marketplaces
One crucial consideration when entering the Chinese market is that all digital marketing channels are entirely different from those in other countries. Even if you have partners in China, you will still need to work with them to market your products and services on these online channels. This is important to avoid risking your investment if you deliver all your products directly to your partner’s warehouse. You will also need to understand the popular social media networks in China, such as Douyin, Toutiao, Redbook China, and Weibo, since popular platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Quora, WhatsApp, Snapchat, and TikTok are all blocked in China.
Additionally, running eCommerce in China requires a completely different approach than what you may be used to. While Amazon, eBay, Wish, and Etsy are prevalent in many countries, the eCommerce ecosystem in China is fragmented, with platforms like Tmall, JD, and Pinduoduo being the major marketplaces. Foreign businesses can access the market through popular platforms like WeChat Shop and Douyin Shop.
The Marketing Director Leo, Easy Marketing, indulged in eCommerce for over ten years with proven operation records in accessories, women’s bags, men’s clothing, shoes and home appliances. We offer competitor analysis, digital communication strategy, budget plan and execution plan before you go to the market to support risk-free selling in China.
3.2 Event Marketing Solutions Entering Chinese Market
Events are an excellent way for brands to connect with their customers. You may market your products or service from national-scale events or by hosting independent events. Easy Marketing, the executive director Alice, has seasoned event experience and can help you find venues, book speakers, and hire talent for your event. But most importantly, we can help you with translation, creative design, and technical support to promote your event through traditional and digital marketing channels like social media and short message marketing campaigns (similar to the email marketing campaign you will need in your country).
China Marketing & E-Commerce Agency
Easy Marketing Ltd is based in the UK, with sub-companies in China that are your first choice to localise your product in the Chinese market. Our service includes Market Research, Business Negotiation with Chinese Contractors, WeChat Marketing, Search Engine Optimization, Search Engine Marketing, WeChat Mini Program, WeChat Store & PR, eCommerce Marketplace Operation and Local Strategic Partnership. While we offer customized services, our lifetime service sets us apart from our competitors. We support your Chinese marketing requirements with a profitable solution. Please send us your marketing to China requirements.
