• +49 (0) 421 1769 1233
  • Deutsch
    • English (Englisch)
Regroup China
  • Über uns
  • Leistungen
    • Digitale Strategieentwicklung
    • Aufbau von Markenbekannheit
      • WeChat
      • Weibo
      • China Social Media Workshop
    • Umsatz generieren
      • SEO in China
      • SEA in China
      • Online Marktplätze
    • Webdesign & -Build
    • Reputations management
  • Referenzen
  • Aktuelles
  • Kontakt

Briefing

Sign-up for our tailored news service
  1. Home
  2. Blog
  3. Why WeChat Mini Programs can be key for UK brands wishing to test the market in China

Why WeChat Mini Programs can be key for UK brands wishing to test the market in China

  • November 11, 2019
  • Posted by: regroup

As anyone who has visited China recently will know, WeChat is enormous, with over 1- billion users, it is the largest App in the Country.

WeChat is best described as an ‘eco-system’ rather than as traditional social media or a ‘WhatsApp of China’, as the BBC recently described it. Describing WeChat as an eco-system captures the fact that it is all things in daily life in China.

It is Tencent’s (WeChat’s owners) vision for Chinese nationals to use WeChat throughout their day; using it for calls, messaging, playing games, paying bills, buying products, hiring taxis and posting their social media.


Key WeChat Functionality

What are Mini Programs?

Mini Programs are best described as ‘apps within an app’. WeChat is an app and a mini program is an app within the WeChat eco-system. These apps sit on Tencent’s server, not on the users’ mobile phone, as such they are typically fast to access.

For brands looking to enter the China market, mini programs can provide additional functionality to their WeChat account, to add shopping functionality for instance, to sell directly via a shop front, or to add booking engine functionality, to take bookings directly. The whole process can be done within the WeChat eco-system, using WeChat Pay as the payment gateway. The end-user never has to leave WeChat.

As such, Mini Programs can help brands monetise their WeChat account.

For UK brands wishing to test the waters in China, WeChat is the ideal vehicle, serving as a base to build brand awareness, and as a route to establishing sales.

Building a shopfront on WeChat

Using a mini program, brands can build a shop within WeChat at relatively low cost. The process typically involves taking a product data feed of product SKUs and marrying this up with design templates for the shop front. The whole process can take as little as 4- weeks to build significantly less than setting up a Shopify or Magento e-commerce channel.

Building up an audience on WeChat

Using the WeChat advertising platform, brands can target users based on age, gender, education, location and importantly on search behaviour, meaning brands can build up a targeted audience over time.

The other main key channel to building up an audience is via Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) who are effectively influencers and hold huge sway in China.

It has never been easier to set up a WeChat verified account

It is now easier than ever to set up an official Service account on WeChat for overseas brands. The days of requiring a Chinese business licence to register a verified account are long gone. UK brands can use their UK business licence and the whole process takes 2-3 weeks to process, faster than ever. Ownership resides with the brand, not a third party.

All of this makes for exciting times post Brexit. China accounts for a fifth of the world’s internet users, and 40% of worldwide e-commerce. Regroup China has been working with Tencent to produce some of the best known mini programs in the UK, including the WeChat shop for the Best of British event in Shanghai this year, where we onboarded over 30 UK brands selling product at the event via WeChat, using WeChat pay as the payment gateway.


The Best of British WeChat mini program

Regroup have also been at the forefront in producing mini programs as booking engines, producing the UK’s first property booking engine for Downing Property, the student-property business, who are targeting Chinese students in the UK, via WeChat.


Student Property Booking Engine on WeChat

Why should UK brands be excited about this?

We believe that UK brands wishing to test the market in China should be excited about this for many reasons, namely:

  • WeChat is getting bigger all the time, with well over 1 billion users and counting
  • Establishing an official WeChat account has never been easier for foreign businesses, and the process is fast. You own the account not a third party
  • Brands can build up brand awareness via WeChat ads, building up a highly targeted follower-base
  • Brands can set up a shop front easily, quickly and relatively cheaply on WeChat providing a direct route into this ever-growing market
  • Brands can take payments using WeChat Pay, with each transaction costing only around 2% per transaction in commission and the acquirer’s fee

All of this adds up to providing a unique opportunity for UK brands wishing to test the market in China. As a proof of concept, no other channels provide the ability to build awareness and sales, at low cost.

As such, we are of the view that WeChat is the priority channel for brands getting established in China, as a phase 1. Once the concept is proved, then we advise moving into key e-commerce channels such as Tmall and JD, who collectively own c 70% market share of b2c e-commerce in mainland China. Getting active on these channels is not a small consideration and requires investment. But building awareness and sales initially is far safer on WeChat as an initial undertaking.

For more information on reaching the World’s largest market please contact us. We’d love to hear from you.

  • Call us on +44(0) 207 458 4147
  • Email at info@regroup-china.com
  • Visit our web site at https://www.regroup-china.com/

What we do transforms businesses.

CATEGORIES

  • Blog
  • China Ready
  • Events
  • In The News
  • Latest News
  • Project Latest
  • Projects
  • WeChat

RECENT POSTS

  • Regroup startet digitale Kanäle in China für das Schweizer Maschinenbauunternehmen Aisa Oktober 19, 2021
  • Regroup China work with Wolf 1834 to build their brand in China Dezember 30, 2019
  • Work with Occhio Dezember 4, 2019
  • Double 12 November 30, 2019
  • Getting China Ready November 22, 2019

Address German

Adresse:

Regroup Germany (Deutschland):
Schlachte 39, 28195 Bremen, Germany

Regroup London:
1 Fore Street Avenue, London, EC2Y 9DT

Regroup China:
13 Floor, East Ocean Center, Yan-An Road (East) 588, 200001 Shanghai, China

Room 1107, T.P.Plaza, Liu Hua Road 9/109, 510010 Guangzhou, China

Email

EMAIL:

info@regroup-china.com

Phone German

Telefon:

Regroup Germany
+49 (0) 421 1769 1233

Regroup London
+44 (0) 207 458 4147

Über uns

Regroup China ist eine von erfahrenen Marketingfachleuten und Technologieexperten gegründete Digital Marketing Agentur, die westlichen Marken dabei hilft eine Wachstumsstrategie für den größten Onlinemarkt der Welt zu entwickeln und umzusetzen.

#Rethinkchina

Unsere Leistungen

  • Digitale Strategieentwicklung
  • Aufbau von Markenbekannheit
  • Umsatz generieren
  • Webdesign & -Build
  • Reputations management
  • SEO in China
  • SEA in China
  • WeChat
  • Weibo
  • Weibo Account Set-Up
  • Weibo Advertising
  • Baike Set-up

AHK Greater China partner

Twitter

RegroupChina Follow

We are an award-winning digital agency committed to helping Western brands define and action growth for China #rethinkchina 🇨🇳

RegroupChina
regroupchina RegroupChina @regroupchina ·
13 Sep

Check out my latest article: WeChat Mini Programs – Selling to China via WeChat, 19th October 2023, 11 am – 12 UK time via @LinkedIn

Reply on Twitter 1701902091592056867 Retweet on Twitter 1701902091592056867 Like on Twitter 1701902091592056867 2 Twitter 1701902091592056867
regroupchina RegroupChina @regroupchina ·
12 Jul

Introducing Fintiba in China: Fintiba Chinese website is now live

Reply on Twitter 1679132931086794759 Retweet on Twitter 1679132931086794759 Like on Twitter 1679132931086794759 2 Twitter 1679132931086794759
regroupchina RegroupChina @regroupchina ·
15 Jun

Great to be a #pittiuomo this week in beautiful Florence. Fantastic to hook up with our clients in the fashion space and to meet up with new contacts.
#rethinkchina

Reply on Twitter 1669236349159849984 Retweet on Twitter 1669236349159849984 1 Like on Twitter 1669236349159849984 3 Twitter 1669236349159849984
regroupchina RegroupChina @regroupchina ·
25 Mai

Great to be mentioned in China Briefing this week in reference to our upcoming webinar with #DezanShira, where we will be discussing the basics of Personal Information protection (PIPL), SEO for Baidu, Pay Per Click (PPC), and more.

Reply on Twitter 1661725319567663104 Retweet on Twitter 1661725319567663104 2 Like on Twitter 1661725319567663104 3 Twitter 1661725319567663104
Load More

Instagram

regroupchina

Great to be at #pittiuomo this week in beautiful F Great to be at #pittiuomo this week in beautiful Florence. Fantastic to hook  up with our clients in the fashion space and to meet up with new contacts
#rethinkchina
Great to be mentioned in China Briefing this week Great to be mentioned in China Briefing this week in reference to our upcoming webinar with #DezanShira, where we will be discussing the basics of Personal Information protection (PIPL), SEO for Baidu, Pay Per Click (PPC), and more.
 
For those who have an online presence in China looking to be compliant with relevant laws such as Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL) or looking to establish a web presence and improve Search Engine Optimization (SEO), please register here: 

See the full China Briefing article here: https://www.regroup-china.com/?p=2946&preview=1&_ppp=8e8e778691

This article was first published by Asia Briefing, which is produced by Dezan Shira & Associates. The firm assists foreign investors throughout Asia from offices across the world, including in China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, India, Dubai, and Russia. Readers may write to maria.kotova@dezshira.com for more support.

#rethinkchina
#PIPL
#BaiduSEO
#BaiduPPC
Great trip to Shanghai at the Beauty Expo. A big t Great trip to Shanghai at the Beauty Expo. A big thanks to all the team for making it happen.
Planning to establish an online presence in China? Planning to establish an online presence in China?

Join our exclusive webinar discussing the complexities of establishing an online presence in China.

Our experts will cover #PIPL, #SEO, and #PPC for #Baidu and discuss #regulations governing #data protection, privacy, and site speed in China. With keynote speakers Richie He, Business Advisory Assistant Manager of Dezan Shira & Associates and Scott Muir, Director and Founder of Regroup China, you’ll gain valuable insights into:
➡️Personal Information (#PI) protection
➡️Privacy notices
➡️SEO protocol for China
➡️Baidu’s paid search

https://www.regroup-china.com/upcoming-webinar-e/

#RegroupChina
Great to be at #chinabeautyexpo today representing Great to be at #chinabeautyexpo today representing #emmahardie
Top 5 China E-Commerce Trends to Watch In 2023 As Top 5 China E-Commerce Trends to Watch In 2023

As we ramp up to 6/18, and beyond, read all about the key trends we can expect to see during the remainder of '23 in the online world in China - 1 billion consumers, 45% of all retail sales, rising consumption of pet care and outdoor products, Gen-Z shoppers; a must-win battle....

https://lnkd.in/eNQ5DDG9
#chinadigitalmarketing
At #watchesandwonders2023 this weekend. Great to m At #watchesandwonders2023 this weekend. Great to meet existing clients and to make new acquaintances.
Magnifique
#watchesandwonders
At the Chic China International Fashion Fair yeste At the Chic China International Fashion Fair yesterday. Great to catch up with clients and make new contacts.

A fantastic event with real value, thanks to the organisers and exciting to see China up and running with no restriction events.

#chicchina
#shanghaifashionweek
#rethinkchina
Key Seasonal Dates to consider in China, 2023. Co Key Seasonal Dates to consider in China, 2023.

Contact us at info@regroup-china.com to reach the world's largest online market.

#digitalmarketingchina #wechatmarketing
#RegroupChina
#RethinkChina
Wishing everyone a merry Christmas and a prosperou Wishing everyone a merry Christmas and a prosperous New year
Skincare brand Emma Hardie Launches Multi-Channel Skincare brand Emma Hardie Launches Multi-Channel E-commerce Strategy in China with Regroup

Pioneering British skincare brand Emma Hardie has launched a new multi-channel strategy in the Chinese market this Autumn, partnering with Regroup China. Emma Hardie’s new TMall Global flagship store and WeChat mini-program store went live in September, and are soon to be followed by flagship stores on JD.com and Douyin, all of which are sure to go down well with the brand’s passionate legion of followers in China.

The Regroup China team has also launched the brand across a range of Chinese social media channels, managing content on WeChat and Little Red Book, featuring influential beauty bloggers, adding to the buzz around products such as Emma Hardie’s multi-award-winning Moringa Balm, with personal reviews and beauty tips. 

Regroup are also managing live-streaming events featuring established beauty KOL names during the run up to this year’s all-important Single’s Day shopping festival on 11 November.

With sales growing daily, we’re excited to see what the future holds for Emma Hardie in China!

https://www.regroup-china.com/skincare-brand-emma-hardie-launches-multi-channel-e-commerce-strategy-in-china-with-regroup/

#rethinkchina #Wechatminiprograms #tmall #chinadigitalmarketing
John Smedley pushes forward this month in China, s John Smedley pushes forward this month in China, supported by Regroup China, sharing exclusive product news and style tips through its official accounts on WeChat, Little Red Book and Weibo, and also launching an e-commerce mini-program shop on WeChat, so customers can buy via China’s #1 app, thereby making the brand’s luxury merino wool and John Smedley’s sea-island cotton knitwear more accessible to China’s appreciating style-lovers.

#regroupchina #rethinkchina
Mehr laden… Auf Instagram folgen

© Copyrights 2019 Regroup China. All Rights Reserved
Ein Mitglied der Melchers Gruppe
Privacy Policy