Launched in 2011, WeChat is a multipurpose messaging and social media app that Chinese often refer to as the ‘app for everything’ or ‘the super app’. With countless features, the WeChat platform is more advanced and powerful than any other social media network.
With a user base of over 1 billion, WeChat is the largest social network in China and a critical marketing channel for businesses that want to grow in the China market.
Besides the messaging functions, WeChat is used daily by Chinese users for their day-to-day tasks. It’s their go-to app for buying goods and services, transferring money, planning holidays, contacting customer support, marketing businesses, and a lot more.
Because of its wide usage, it’s also one of the most lucrative platform for paid advertising and reaching China’s
Top WeChat Features For Businesses
Let’s take a closer look at WeChat’s features that will help you understand how the social network can be used to reach more customers in China, promote your products and services and expand your business in China.
WeChat Official Accounts
To promote your business on WeChat, a WeChat Official account is required. With this account, you can get in touch directly with the customers, post relevant content and advertise your brand on the platform. There are three different types of accounts to choose from – Subscription, Service and Enterprise.
However, the process of opening a WeChat Official Account can seem challenging for international businesses. AdChina.io can help you set up an account in a hassle-free manner. You can also use AdChina.io’s platform to launch campaigns and track results. If you’d like to get started, you can book a free demo call with our China marketing experts.
Read – How to Register Wechat Official Account Outside China [2022 Guide]
WeChat Stores
WeChat stores offer businesses the opportunity to create an E-Commerce website that is integrated into WeChat’s social networking app. It offers customers a convenient way to purchase products.
With a WeChat Store, businesses can provide customer care services and send notifications to enhance customer retention.
Read – How to Create and Sell with a WeChat Store for your Business
WeChat Mini Programs
WeChat Mini Programs are apps that run within the WeChat ecosystem. They save the effort of downloading multiple apps into the phone and allow users to take all actions from the WeChat app itself.
Every business that aims to grow in the China market should consider the option of launching a WeChat Mini Program to offer seamless experience to the users.
WeChat Mini Programs have an advantage of loading more quickly than an app. Brands often launch special offers exclusively on WeChat that the users can claim through the mini program. Such purchases are very convenient and quick, making them popular among Chinese users.
Read – Your Guide to WeChat Mini-Programs
WeChat Articles
WeChat articles is a feature available for official business accounts. This allows businesses to set up paid blogs, offer different tiered content to different users and share valuable original content to users.
The articles can be placed behind a paywall that prevents unauthorized access to non-paying users. Apple users may still need the OS’ service to access content, however the full feature is available for Android users.
WeChat Advertisements
WeChat advertisements allow businesses to market products and enhance brand awareness. Businesses can create targeted content for the audience and reach them with flash sales, promotions and giveaway campaigns. You can also partner with local influencers (KOLs) to run Pay-per-click campaigns on WeChat.
WeChat Pay
WeChat has its own integrated payment system WeChat Pay which is the second most important payment method in China after AliPay. The payment method helps businesses offer a convenient way to customers to collect money.
WeChat CRM
WeChat CRM (Client Relationship Management) is an effective way for businesses to stay connected to your customers. With the CRM, they can collect information about your customers and track their behavior on the platform.
It also lets businesses offer instant support on the social platform and monitor feedback from the customers. The information on the CRM platform can then be leveraged to create an overall marketing strategy, understand the needs of the customers and run effective WeChat advertising campaigns.
WeChat Work
WeChat Work is the special messaging tool of WeChat designed for internal communication in corporate organizations. This tool comes with enhanced features that help improve the efficiency and productivity of the organization.
WeChat Work can help you track the working time of employees, handle email communications, track phone calls to be automatically billed to the company, send out important announcements, and so on.
Top WeChat Features For Individuals
The following features of WeChat are utilized daily by Chinese users in their day-to-day life to simplify many tasks.
Messaging and Calling
WeChat allows the exchange of messages between users and even supports free calls. The platform is used widely for its messaging functions such as text and voice messaging, broadcast messaging, video calling and conference calls. Unlike other social platforms, WeChat can also be used for international calling and messaging both to and from China.
Moreover, this functionality is also relevant for businesses. The chat page of WeChat shows private messages from friends in the same window as messages from the business accounts and group chats.
WeChat Location Sharing
WeChat app allows you to share location with friends when you turn on the location service. Same feature is useful for businesses to create geo-localized ad campaigns. It helps you run marketing campaigns.
QR Codes
Users can scan QR code to access a wide range of information and services, to make payments, to add a new friend to their WeChat account or to start following a business. You can find QR codes everywhere in China and they have become an important marketing channel for companies to direct users to their products.
WeChat Search Engine
WeChat Search Engine feature is used to explore content within the WeChat social network. I can be used to explore moments posted by your contacts, find articles on specific topics, or discover specific WeChat Official Accounts and content posted by them.
Hongbaos
Chinese people have a special custom of exchanging red envelopes containing money during special occasions and festivals. WeChat allows the same custom to be carried out online by allowing electronic exchange of red envelopes. Hongbaos allows money transfer to the WeChat wallet of selected users. This feature is widely popular among users and businesses use it to attract more customers through a reward system.
WeChat Moments / News Feed
WeChat moments feature is similar to news feed on common international social media platforms. Users can post images, text, and music on social media and to engage with their group of friends.
WeChat E-Wallet
WeChat E-wallet connects the app with Chinese bank accounts or credit cards. Once the E-wallet has been set up, they can use WeChat Pay to make payments by scanning a code on your mobile device.
Get Started With WeChat Advertising For Your Business
If your organisation is interested in taking advantage of the incredible power of WeChat Advertising in China, you can learn more about WeChat (and many of China’s top promotional channels) by creating a free AdChina.io account today. Our WeChina marketing tool and platform gives you complete transparency while running ads.
