With over 550 million active users a month, Weibo is the second-largest social media site in China and is often compared to Twitter and Facebook.
Unlike Facebook and Twitter, however, most businesses outside of China know very little about this huge platform and its incredible marketing potential.
That’s why, today, we want to show you how to use Weibo in English to help you understand this platform and build a strategy for it.
But first: how to sign up for Weibo in English
Before you can use Weibo in English, you’ll need to open an account. To do that, check out our guide on Weibo international sign-up. It covers everything you’ll need to know about creating a Weibo account overseas for your business.
How to use Weibo in English — a step-by-step guide
Once you’ve opened your Weibo account, you’ll then be able to start using it in English.
There are three ways to do this:
- Using the Weibo mobile app
- On the Weibo website
- Using the Weibo International app
Using Weibo in English via the Weibo app
The Weibo app is very easy to use in English, and it’s compatible with both iOS and Android devices. The following screenshots are from an iPhone, but the same process applies no matter what device you’re using.
Step 1: Download the app
Head over to your app store, search for ‘Weibo’ and click download.
Step 2: Log into your account
Log in by entering the details associated with your Weibo account.
Remember to check out our guide on opening a Weibo account overseas if your account isn’t up-and-running yet.
Step 3: Go to your account settings
Once you’ve logged in, click on the ‘Me’ icon in the button navigation bar and select the cog icon in the top right corner.
Then, from the menu that appears, select ‘Settings’:
Step 4: Change your language settings to English
Once you’ve clicked on the ‘Settings’ option, you’ll then notice a ‘Language’ option at the bottom of the list. Click this option and select ‘English’.
You’ll now be able to use the Weibo app in English. Simple!
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If you’d prefer to use Weibo in English via a computer, that’s fine, too! Simply follow these steps and you’ll be ready-to-go in a couple of minutes or so.
Step 1: Log into your account
Go to Weibo.com and enter your login details on the right-hand side of the page.
Step 2: Go to your account settings
Click the cog icon in the top right corner, and click the first option on the list. This is Mandarin for ‘account settings’.
Step 3: Go to your account preferences
Next, click the cog and heart icon in the left-hand menu. This will take you to your account preferences.
Step 4: Change your language settings to English
Click the bottom option on the list, and select ‘English’ from the drop-down menu that appears. Then, click the orange icon to confirm your language preference.
You’ll now be able to use the Weibo website in English.
Pro tip: if you’re using Google Chrome, you should be able to translate the Weibo website automatically by clicking the ‘translate this page’ icon in the URL bar:
Using Weibo in English via the Weibo International app
Launched in 2017, Weibo International is specifically for overseas account holders. Its main advantage is that it automatically translates user-generated content, unlike the Chinese Weibo app and website, which only translates in-app instructions.
This means that you’ll be able to view posts on Weibo in English, which help you to understand what content performs well on the platform.
Step 1: Download the app
Simply type in ‘Weibo International’ into your app store and click download.
Step 2: Log into your account
Weibo International can be accessed using your standard Weibo login details — there’s no need to create a new account.
Step 3: Translate posts to English
Simply click ‘See Translation’ under each Weibo post and you’ll be presented with an automatic translation in seconds.
If your phone is set to English, your translations will automatically be in English. If it isn’t, just click the ‘Me’ icon in the bottom corner, select ‘general’, and then change your language and translation settings to English.
How to use Weibo in English via AdChina.io
Although translating Weibo into English is relatively easy, posting content to the platform isn’t — not without an understanding of Mandarin, Chinese culture, and Chinese users.
Opening a Weibo business account can also be tricky, too, which is what you’ll need if you want to use Weibo as a marketing tool.
That’s why it’s best to use a Chinese marketing platform like AdChina.io.
We’ll open your account for you, and upload bespoke content to it as part of our Weibo Content Marketing Package.
Sound good?
Click here to learn more about using Weibo in English via AdChina.io.
How to use Weibo in English — the bottom line
There are multiple ways overseas businesses can use Weibo in English. But if you want to unlock real success on the platform, AdChina.io is the way to go.
Our English platform will also let you advertise on some of the main channels in China, such as Douyin and WeChat, all from one interface you can trust.
Sign up for your free account today.
