HOW TO REGISTER A WECHAT ACCOUNT AS A FOREIGN COMPANY?

WeChat is one of the largest social media platforms in China with a huge user base. Due to which many potential and large businesses are moving forward on this platform to reach their potential customers. Not only China but WeChat is getting its attention from all over the world and it is very important for foreign companies to promote their products and services on WeChat. But non-Chinese users have always been concerned to open their account on the WeChat platform. In the past, it was very difficult for foreign companies to register their account on WeChat because of complicated and stressful barriers, but it’s not the case in the current scenario.

Let’s discuss the various ways of registering an account as a foreign company on WeChat without having a Chinese business license: –

Through a third party Chinese company or agency:

You can make a WeChat account by borrowing a business license from another Chinese company or agency. This is possible because every Chinese company has the advantage of registering up to 5 accounts on WeChat. You can decide on your name, logo, and description but the legal name of the company or agency will also be seen there. This means that your WeChat account will be fully owned by the third party Chinese company/agency and hence risks are also attached to it. It is very important to keep account ownership if another company terminates the account or closes its business. In such cases, the account will also be closed.

Through registering an account using Overseas business license :

With recent events on the platform, foreign companies are allowed to open an account with it and verify using foreign business license. You can go to apply.wechat.com and submit your application with all the necessary documents, but the big problem is that your account registered here will not be visible in China. It will only appear outside of China. This process sometimes seems to be unclear. It is not desirable due to its long and expensive process. Usually, it takes 2-3 months and you will be charged $ 1000-2000 for registration.

Getting Special WeChat Official account which is visible in China:

To address the situation and if you want to have a functional commercial WeChat account then you can go for Special WeChat official account. It can be acquired only by depositing all the required documents along with one-off initial investment in WeChat advertising WeChat can help you start advertising and reach a larger audience through the WeChat App. Annual verification fees are also required for foreign entities. It seems a small complex process but by doing so you will be visible in China and it helps a lot to gain the confidence of Chinese users.

Only service accounts are available for the overseas users

While applying for WeChat account, you will be required to outline the type of account you want to use i.e. the subscription account or service account. However, only service accounts are available for the Special WeChat Official Accounts for overseas users.

With a service account, you can gain access to advanced WeChat public platform facilities like
4 broadcasts on a monthly basis, custom menu, push notifications and API payment support for all verified accounts. Your business also gets 48 hours window to respond to user messages.

On the other hand, subscription account is better for those businesses who want to publish regularly. There is lack of features like push notifications, custom menus and any support for payments. The business should be verified and use the WeChat API as it doesn’t allow customization. Here also a business gets a 48 hours window to answer user messages.

Having a WeChat account can be an asset to any business that wants to target Chinese audiences, but its success depends on how well it is in setup. WeChat is a great platform to reach the targeted audience, especially for those overseas businesses who want to make their mark in the Chinese market.

IS DOUYIN THE NEXT BIG PLACE FOR BRAND MARKETING IN CHINA?

Launched in 2016, Douyin is on the path of becoming the most popular short video app in China. Owned by ByteDance the app is based on another app owned by ByteDance i.e. Musical.ly which is very popular in rest of the world especially in the US. The app allows the users to create 15-second videos and provide a huge collection of background songs and dialogues. It has amazing filters and editing tools which help the users to create high-quality content. There are many other features which are attracting more users like Live videos.

The increase in popularity
There are many other applications that run on the same concept but the strategically planted advertisements and better features helped Douyin to grab the topmost position in the market leaving other apps like Kuaishou, Miaopai, and Haokan Shepin behind. In August 2017, the app crossed 1 billion views on videos which were a great achievement in a very short span of time.

KOL love Douyin
The team behind the app did not leave any single chance to attract Key Opinion Leaders or KOLs. As the app gained popularity more KOLs started using the app which further attracted more users in form of their followers. Douyin has special events for KOLs and also give them monthly incentives in form of gifts etc.

The Generation Z’s favorite app
As the technology is getting advanced, the younger generation with age group 18-24 better known as the Generation Z wants to have applications that provide entertainment but do not waste their time as well. This young generation loves to multitask and longer videos are a big hurdle in it. Thus apps like Douyin became their preferred app. Douyin’s user base has around 33% of Generation Z users. Also, the application is famous in all sections of the society and even in smaller cities as well. It has attracted women from all age groups as well and a good percentage of KOLs are women on the app.

Cheaper options
Using Douyin is not at all expensive for anyone. All income groups can use Douyin to make quality content without using any additional software etc. The app provides a special platform for the brands and companies to promote their goods and services on the app via short videos. These brands often collaborate with KOLs and take advantage of their reach. In return, the KOLs are paid in terms of goods and money.

The live video feature is gaining popularity among the KOLs especially for promoting brands. They combine their entertainment streak and subtlety promotes the brand while interacting with the followers. Some of the live videos are direct promotions as well. Even the big brands like Audi, Pizza Hut, and Michael Kors are exploring the platform in extreme possible ways.

The problems with Douyin
Although the platform is perfect for brand promotions there are many issues which are worrisome for the brands, KOLs and general users. It has been noticed in past that apps disappear from the market without any notification. The way Douyin gained popularity is not normal for any market and despite being backed by a large corporate house; there will always be some fear that app will leave the market.

Another problem which brands are facing is the fake KOLs. There are a lot of people who are exploiting the loopholes in the code of the application to gain followers unethically. There are services who charge for providing followers as well. The problem is that majority of them are fake profiles. Paying heavy amount to these fake KOLs result in a major financial loss for the brands. The app has to take drastic steps to remove such fake accounts.

Conclusion
Douyin is one of the best ways for the brands to explore social media platforms and reach new groups of customers at a very affordable price. However, it is still not as big as WeChat which has way more active users than Douyin. We can only hope that in coming days the app will gain more users and address the problems faced by brands and KOLs.

THE IMPACT OF VIDEO CONTENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA TODAY

The present era can be referred to as highly ‘socially active.’ By ‘socially active’ we mean that the usage of social media platforms today is at its peak, especially the rise of video content is one of the biggest trends on social media today. There must be only a few who aren’t there on any social media platform; otherwise, the rest of the world is crazily active on social media.

SOCIAL MEDIA VIDEO IS THE MOST VIEWED CONTENT

The number of videos appearing in our newsfeeds on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, etc. has exponentially increased. As we keep scrolling the newsfeed, a new video appears. Thus, it is pretty much evident that video content is used for almost every purpose, be it marketing a brand, awareness of a societal issue, spreading information, etc. According to TechCrunch’s report for 2016, over 8 billion videos are viewed on Facebook alone in one day and about 100 million hours of video content is viewed on Facebook every day. Big number, isn’t it?

SOCIAL MEDIA VIDEO CONTENT IS MARKETERS’ FIRST PREFERENCE

Social media video content has now become one of the most powerful and effective marketing tools. People in the marketing field have adopted and they practically follow the phrase that says, “actions speak louder than words.” This is true from all depths that what our eyes see leave a deeper influence as compared to using words. Therefore, TV advertisements, promotional videos, campaigning videos have become more and more common as they are the most effective means of brand engagement.

According to Social Media Examiner’s survey, 72% of the marketers think social media video content brings them the best ROI. On average, a social media video’s organic reach is 135 percent more than a static post. Furthermore, we see many videos that are about awareness of a certain issue or are for the welfare of the animals, humans etc. People now know that words cannot be as influential as the videos!

We understand why videos are being used for marketing, promotions, awareness but ever wondered why do we see videos flooding on our newsfeeds on all our social media accounts?

Well, this is because the people today rely majorly on their social media accounts. Videos have caused social media platforms to become a place for the marketing of products, awareness of issues around the world. Almost everyone we know, companies, NGOs, individuals, etc., uses social media video content to promote their business. Through uploading videos on such platforms, the message can reach a wider audience all around the world without much effort. And not only that, it is considered as an easier way to influence the minds of the major population of the world.

According to Social Media Examiner’s report for 2016, 60% of the overall social media marketers use video content, about 14% of them used live video feature on Facebook or YouTube. 1 out of every 4 marketers or brands falls behind a video as their cornerstone content.

Social media was introduced for easy communication between friends and family members who live far away and to know what’s going on in their lives but it has now taken an altogether different shape.  Apart from social networking, the social media today has also become a wonderful platform for video marketing, spreading awareness, creating brands and many more activities.

Videos and social media together serve as the best tool to grab the attention of the world. Social media video content has become the king and is ruling all social media platforms. The world is evolving and we see innovative ideas springing up from every corner of the world. Today video content has become the most popular means of conveying messages all around, let us wait and see what the future holds, what new ways will replace the old ones!

USB MENU INTERFACE – THE NEXT-GENERATION PERSONALIZED WEDDING VIDEOS

Everything you need to know about USB Menu Interface and it’s important for wedding video clients and vendors.

Wedding photographs and videos are among the most important part of a couple’s special day. There are a lot of aspects of the wedding which the couple and the family miss during the event and these videos and photographs are the only way to relive those moments. There was a time when wedding albums were mainly provided in printed format only along with DVDs or CDs for the videos. Yes, the wedding albums are still more charming in printed format for the photographers are now providing soft copies in CDs or DVDs as well.

THE SHIFT TO USB INTERFACE

In the last few years, the USB drives are penetrating more into the wedding business. There are a lot of benefits of providing USB drives instead of CDs or DVDs. First of you can present them in custom-made boxes. It is even possible to engrave the company information on the USB drive. These drives come in a variety of shapes and sizes and some companies even offer custom made USB drives as well. Additionally, the TV screens and home theater systems have USB compatible ports where you can play the content directly from the drives. In the end, they are extremely easy to store.

Now, in the case of CDs and DVDs, there is an option, in the beginning, to choose the particular part of the event and play it. That selection menu is called DVD Menu Interface. Unfortunately, most of the videographers do not understand its importance or do not know how to add such interface in USB drives. USB Menu Interface is an interactive autoplay file of the drive which provides the user to select a particular portion of the event or the slideshow of the images to play.

THE PROS

The main point is, it is very important to give the content a personal touch in connection with the couple. Let us discuss the benefits of the USB Menu Interface for the end user or we can say the couple.

• User-friendly: It is a fact that not all users or couples are tech savvy. No matter how advanced the technology is in this world right now, there are a few people who do not want to get in touch with it. They can be the couple themselves or the family members of the couple. With USB Menu Interface, you can make the watching experience much more user-friendly. All they need to do is to plug-in the drive on TV or computer and it will auto load the menu.

• Attractive: Think about it and imagine what you will prefer. Would you like to receive the files as just list of events or you want the drive to auto loads the menu with your photograph in the background? Of course, you will like to opt for the second option and it is same with every single user.

• More personal: There are so many options that can make it more fun to watch. You can add couple’s best photograph or a collage of photographs in the background of the menu which will give it a personal and emotional touch.

• Easier navigation: With the USB menu even a technologically challenged person can choose the event to watch without external help.

Let us now discuss the benefits for the vendors i.e. videographers, cinematographers and the photographers.

• Personalized approach: You, as a vendor, can add a lot of information on the menu. You can provide a link to your website or social media accounts. You can add a logo, the name of the company and contact information right on the menu.

• Saves time: In comparison to Blu-Ray, DVDs, and CDs, creating USB drives for product delivery is much faster.

• Quick rendering: When you convert the content to Blu-Ray, DVD or CD, it takes a lot of time to render all files in right format. It is much quicker in case of USB drives.

For any newly wedded couple, the wedding videos are the amazing ‘ray of joy’ that brings back a flood of emotions. These videos and photographs are watched repeatedly over time and USB drives are the best way to preserve them. You can not only make quick copies of the drives but the USB Menu Interface can add a special personalized touch for every couple receiving the end product.

HOW CAN YOU PROMOTE YOUR WECHAT SHOP IN CHINA?

If you are planning on expanding your customer base to the Chinese market, it is important to open your very own WeChat shop. WeChat’s monthly active users passed the one billion mark just this March. Users continue to increase in number, and trendy businesses are already taking advantage of everything the sales channel offers.

Of course, simply launching your brand on WeChat is not enough to bring in an increase in revenue. In fact, it is only the first step. You must also pay attention to promotion strategies if you want to succeed. We have all heard of WeChat success stories, but you need to know how to attract customers if you want to make the most out of the platform.

The Chinese market is different from the Western market. Failure to acknowledge this can lead to the detriment of your business. Aside from the branding basics, it is important to use web marketing techniques that will work for this population. WeChat commerce strategy can be very different from what you are used to.
The following are tips on how to promote your WeChat shop for the Chinese market:

Create a public account
The first thing you would need to do is create a public account. You will be channeling traffic to your WeChat shop using this account, so don’t forget to set it up as soon as possible. You need to improve this public profile so that you can gain followers and post products. Make sure to post interesting content to keep people’s curiosity up. It is only when you have accomplished this that you can proceed to the next step, which would be to sell on WeChat and employ a great marketing plan.

Invest in design
One of the reasons why WeChat has seen such huge success can be attributed to its user-friendly interface. Majority of WeChat users access the application via mobile devices, though there are also options for PCs. Navigation is the most important thing here because it will let users find what they need without a hitch. A poorly-designed interface might prevent users from visiting your WeChat store again.

Turn to influencers
Brands often turn to influencers for help when it comes to building a connection with members of the audience. The Chinese market has its own set of influencers for whatever industry you can think of. Their services can involve writing blog posts about your products, creating video reviews, and appearing in print ads. When hiring an influencer, it is important to consider the following they have. It would be ideal if their fan base and your target audience overlap so that you can make the most out of the investment.

Employ clever marketing strategies
Consumers are always on the lookout for discounts and promotions. A popular technique is to launch giveaways. This is a very cost-efficient way to gain a following and cause excitement. A lot of these promos involve asking participants to follow the store’s social media profiles and spread the word about the giveaway. This functions much like a pyramid scheme and the revenue from new followers often make the investment worthwhile.

Content creations is yet another promotion strategy that can bring attention to your brand. The goal is always to create viral content for maximum exposure. This would involve getting to know your client base so that you have a better understanding of their preferences. Videos are excellent ways to create an impact on your audience. H5 posts that can be opened independently can also be a great method to provide digestible bits of information.

Pay attention to other platforms
While WeChat has a huge user base, it is important to maintain a presence on other social media outlets. You can do this to redirect traffic to your WeChat shop. Don’t forget to adjust according to the Chinese market. Facebook and Instagram, for example, would not be the best way to reach out to this population since they are blocked by the Great Firewall. Use Meipai and Weibo instead. It would also be useful to have a personal website so that you can convert offline customers into online customers.

Get paid advertising
This might not sit well with most people because it involves payment. However, WeChat paid to advertise can be a great way to attract the attention of would-be clients. Ad holder accounts undergo a screening process to ensure that the business is legitimate. One example is the popular Japanese fashion brand Uniqlo. You can pay Uniqlo to put ads on their account. Anyone following Uniqlo’s account will be able to see your ads and, hopefully, check out your listings.

It can be challenging to launch your brand in a foreign market, but you will reap the benefits if you do it properly. The WeChat shopping mall has proven to be a lucrative market, and mastering it as early as now will give you a definite edge over your competitors.

5 HELPFUL TRICKS TO FIX ISSUES WITH WEBSITE BACKGROUND VIDEO

The trends for using background videos in websites have picked up the pace for the past few months. With 5G internet technology and better video codes, its future seems promising. However, do you know that this lucrative design feature is a double-edged sword? A little mistake in its implementation could ruin your website’s speed. If you don’t get it right, your customers might say you goodbye forever. After all, in the fast-paced world, who has time for the website that loads at a snail’s pace? Watch it!

If implemented right, the website with a background video could work wonders for you. It not only adds an extra layer of thoughtfulness but also brings tangible results to the table. But, there are some pitfalls to avoid for letting this great design feature work for you. These tricks will help:

1. COMPRESS BACKGROUND VIDEOS TO 720 PIXELS

Things could not be worst than a customer waiting to see the website’s background video that takes forever to load. That long buffers make the life of user miserable. Why take the risk when you know that you will lose customers? Better compress the background video to 720p video, keep the frame rate to 24 frames/second with low bitrates. This trick gives you miraculous escape from this issue.

2. USING AN OVERLAY IS THE KEY

Wondering what to do with the low-quality video because this is the only thing that you have got in your hand? Or, does its high quality is your point of concern? Whichever it is, adding an overlay to your video disguises the quality and works like a charm.

3. SHORTER LENGTH VIDEO IS ALWAYS THE BETTER

Users visit your website for seeking your product or service and not for watching your background video. So, cutting it to a shorter version say 30-40 seconds will fit the purpose. Just add a loop that works flawlessly. It makes you ready to serve your clients with an awesome video that silently plays back in the background while your customers go through your offerings.

4. AVOID EXCESSIVE PANNING

Remember that background video is just supplementary and it shouldn’t steal the actual focus of your business offering. Excessive panning could distract the customers. Make sure your video plays smoothly with no quick cuts. Refrain from the videos with excessive movements for the better user experience.

5. OPTIMIZE VISIBILITY OF TEXT ON VIDEO

Often it happens that the text positioned on the video is not readable. Blame it on the text color but there is a way out. Sometimes the solution is as simple as adding an overlay to enhance the visibility of your text. Alternatively, you could also add a text-shadow to avoid merging the text with the background.

Conclusion

Taking care of these crucial aspects is the key to get better background videos. The background videos can make or break a business. Better use it right to leverage benefits out of this design feature. If you find it difficult to implement this technical feature in your website, better leave it to professionals.

Ask us for getting background video feature and never regret. We are We Do Design, a leading website design firm based out of Australia. Our developers are technically sound who know every bit of implementing great design features like background videos. Let us be a reason for your online success. Call us now.

5 HELPFUL TRICKS TO FIX ISSUES WITH WEBSITE BACKGROUND VIDEO

The trends for using background videos in websites have picked up the pace for the past few months. With 5G internet technology and better video codes, its future seems promising. However, do you know that this lucrative design feature is a double-edged sword? A little mistake in its implementation could ruin your website’s speed. If you don’t get it right, your customers might say you goodbye forever. After all, in the fast-paced world, who has time for the website that loads at a snail’s pace? Watch it!

If implemented right, the website with a background video could work wonders for you. It not only adds an extra layer of thoughtfulness but also brings tangible results to the table. But, there are some pitfalls to avoid for letting this great design feature work for you. These tricks will help:

1. COMPRESS BACKGROUND VIDEOS TO 720 PIXELS

Things could not be worst than a customer waiting to see the website’s background video that takes forever to load. That long buffers make the life of user miserable. Why take the risk when you know that you will lose customers? Better compress the background video to 720p video, keep the frame rate to 24 frames/second with low bitrates. This trick gives you miraculous escape from this issue.

2. USING AN OVERLAY IS THE KEY

Wondering what to do with the low-quality video because this is the only thing that you have got in your hand? Or, does its high quality is your point of concern? Whichever it is, adding an overlay to your video disguises the quality and works like a charm.

3. SHORTER LENGTH VIDEO IS ALWAYS THE BETTER

Users visit your website for seeking your product or service and not for watching your background video. So, cutting it to a shorter version say 30-40 seconds will fit the purpose. Just add a loop that works flawlessly. It makes you ready to serve your clients with an awesome video that silently plays back in the background while your customers go through your offerings.

4. AVOID EXCESSIVE PANNING

Remember that background video is just supplementary and it shouldn’t steal the actual focus of your business offering. Excessive panning could distract the customers. Make sure your video plays smoothly with no quick cuts. Refrain from the videos with excessive movements for the better user experience.

5. OPTIMIZE VISIBILITY OF TEXT ON VIDEO

Often it happens that the text positioned on the video is not readable. Blame it on the text color but there is a way out. Sometimes the solution is as simple as adding an overlay to enhance the visibility of your text. Alternatively, you could also add a text-shadow to avoid merging the text with the background.

Conclusion

Taking care of these crucial aspects is the key to get better background videos. The background videos can make or break a business. Better use it right to leverage benefits out of this design feature. If you find it difficult to implement this technical feature on your website, better leave it to professionals.

Ask us for getting background video feature and never regret. We are We Do Design, a leading website design firm based out of Australia. Our developers are technically sound who know every bit of implementing great design features like background videos. Let us be a reason for your online success. Call us now.