Website behaviours in China
This second article on China online is an introduction to website behaviour in China.
The first article about online market trends in China is here, while the next one will focus on social media.
China presents a massive opportunity for UK businesses; but at the same time presents many challenges. Business is done differently and online behaviours are also different....
There is less trust for retailer websites and most consumers prefer using a third party platform (such as Amazon although it has very low market share in China).
Alternatively, if you do not have a local Chinese office, you can sell on TMall Global. You can ship from the UK but a deposit, annual fee and commission are still payable.
Taobao is the equivalent to Ebay. No deposit is required to gain listings and so can be a cheaper entry to market.
VIP.com, Jumei, jd.com, and yhd.com are other third party platforms.
Amazon is present in China. Although this provides the simplest way to list brands and test the market in China, their market share is low at around 2%.
The most important day in the e-commerce calendar is Singles Day on 11th November. It started as a day for giving gift to single people but it has grown into much more than that.
The firewall used to make this option impractical, but speeds have improved and this is now a viable option. You will need to check if your speeds are ok. If not, hosting in Hong Kong can be an alternative option.
You won't be able to register a .cn domain name unless you have a business registered in China so a .com will have to suffice.
Aliplay can be a good payment gateway. The Chinese currency is not traded on foreign markets and so they will collect funds for you and pay you periodically. They also take care of import duties.
Cash on delivery is normal in China as not everyone has credit cards.
There is no Google Analytics in China but they do have an equally good service called Baidu Tonji.
The average age of internet usage in China is currently 25 (much younger than the average age of 42 in the USA).
Eye tracking studies show that users in China will spend longer on each page and like to see detailed information. They need to be reassured, they want to know who you are, what you do and the benefits of your products on each and every page. Minimalism should be avoided.
Users are willing to scroll and scroll down pages; provided the information is useful.
Consumers are sceptical and suspicious. Consumer advocacy is key and goes a very long way in building your brand. Product reviews are taken very seriously.
After-care and trust are very important in China and details of your customer service needs to be prominent. Websites commonly have Live Chat as a sign of trust and availability.
Consumers are used to freebies and discounts. In fact, the more generous you are, the more your brand is considered a success!
For mobile usage, Android is far more popular than iOS.
The first article about online market trends in China is here, while the next one will focus on social media.
China presents a massive opportunity for UK businesses; but at the same time presents many challenges. Business is done differently and online behaviours are also different....
E-commerce in China
Currently 250m of the population shop online. This is less than 50% of active internet users.There is less trust for retailer websites and most consumers prefer using a third party platform (such as Amazon although it has very low market share in China).
Popular websites include:
TMall - this is the largest website (over 50% market share) and due to the high set up costs is only for more established brands. Businesses need to be registered in China. TMall stock a lot of well known fashion brands including M&S, Asos and Burberry.Alternatively, if you do not have a local Chinese office, you can sell on TMall Global. You can ship from the UK but a deposit, annual fee and commission are still payable.
Taobao is the equivalent to Ebay. No deposit is required to gain listings and so can be a cheaper entry to market.
VIP.com, Jumei, jd.com, and yhd.com are other third party platforms.
Amazon is present in China. Although this provides the simplest way to list brands and test the market in China, their market share is low at around 2%.
The most important day in the e-commerce calendar is Singles Day on 11th November. It started as a day for giving gift to single people but it has grown into much more than that.
Practicalities
Given the high entry costs, it may be simpler and more cost effective to test the market by having your own Chinese focused website, hosted in the UK.The firewall used to make this option impractical, but speeds have improved and this is now a viable option. You will need to check if your speeds are ok. If not, hosting in Hong Kong can be an alternative option.
You won't be able to register a .cn domain name unless you have a business registered in China so a .com will have to suffice.
Aliplay can be a good payment gateway. The Chinese currency is not traded on foreign markets and so they will collect funds for you and pay you periodically. They also take care of import duties.
Cash on delivery is normal in China as not everyone has credit cards.
There is no Google Analytics in China but they do have an equally good service called Baidu Tonji.
Website usage
Users in China interact with websites differently to the West.The average age of internet usage in China is currently 25 (much younger than the average age of 42 in the USA).
Eye tracking studies show that users in China will spend longer on each page and like to see detailed information. They need to be reassured, they want to know who you are, what you do and the benefits of your products on each and every page. Minimalism should be avoided.
Users are willing to scroll and scroll down pages; provided the information is useful.
Consumers are sceptical and suspicious. Consumer advocacy is key and goes a very long way in building your brand. Product reviews are taken very seriously.
After-care and trust are very important in China and details of your customer service needs to be prominent. Websites commonly have Live Chat as a sign of trust and availability.
Consumers are used to freebies and discounts. In fact, the more generous you are, the more your brand is considered a success!
For mobile usage, Android is far more popular than iOS.