Posted by Chia-Yi in Marketing-Communications China | 0 Comments
The Grand and Vast Chinese Internet
Social networks in China
The internet is fast becoming the archetypal medium of choice for communication and business throughout the world. Over time, internet users have become fierce consumers for goods and cyber data. More and more online transactions are being made as people feel more secure using the Internet and China is far from an exception to this change. Its global strength is incontrovertible even on new platforms of communication.
Social networks in Asia, as in the West, are extremely popular and true to form, China does things its own way. There are numerous Chinese networking sites (which few outside China know about and have access to) that have experienced enormous success thanks to the size of the Chinese population. A good understanding of the Chinese Internet proves to be vital if one desires to achieve success there. The popularity of the Internet and its use around the world demands that we invest more effort in this. Chinese and Canadian cultures are very different, which is why it is important to adapt our message so that the image we wish to project is appropriately transmitted.
Posted by Chia-Yi in Ethnic Marketing, Marketing-Communications China | 0 Comments
Statistics on Chinese Internet users
With a total population that exceeds 1.4 billion people, it is not surprising that the number of Internet users in China alone surpasses the total sum of users from many Western countries. Statistics on Internet use in China could give readers a sense of vertigo. It is estimated that over 300 million Chinese are Internet users, which is more than the total population of the US. Statistical forecasts suggest there will be close to 500 million users in 2015 which represents dazzling growth. Up to 92% of Chinese Internet users use social media, which is often made by and for Chinese users, despite the success of Facebook and Twitter. In comparison, only 76% of American Internet users in the US use these social networks. We can see that the Chinese, like the Japanese, are very fond of the Internet. Considering that the culture is totally different, it is normal that sites which have achieved great success in the West, don’t fair as well in Asia. Asian social networks often offer similar options but are integrally different.
Furthermore there are over 100 million Internet users in the rural regions of China alone. 60% of Chinese Internet users use mobile Internet (through intelligent phones such as iPhones from Apple), a tool which is expanding year on year throughout the world. For the majority of Asians, the Internet is a medium primarily used on cell phones. Numerous social networks in Japan require a cell phone number in order to register. It is important to know that cell phones in Asia have many functions that have not yet been developed in North America. Among others, it is possible to access public transport and make purchases from a cell phone. The Chinese are increasingly using their cell phones to get online to the point where computer sales are lower than those of telephones. This shows the major difference that exists between North-American and Asian users. These statistics also make it possible to see the vast scale and the possibilities that are offered to those who wish to succeed on the Web in China.
Posted by Chia-Yi in Ethnic Marketing | 0 Comments
Who are the Arabs?
The majority of Canadians of Arab origin are Lebanese (41%)[1], 12% are Egyptian whilst the proportions of Syrians, Moroccans, Iraqis, Algerians and Palestinians range from 4% to 6%. The largest Arab community in Canada lives in Montreal. Only 18% of Canadians are foreign-born, but this percentage climbs to 58% (2001 statistics) for Canadians who reported an Arab origin. In Canada, almost half of Arabs live in either Montreal or Toronto, but it is in Quebec that they make up the largest percentage of the provincial population.
When we talk about Arabs, it is similar to talking about Asians, we tend to put them all in the “same basket”, ignoring the multiple and real historical, cultural, religious and other differences. Their reality is diverse, Arabic cultures are a “mosaic” like Canada is. The Arabic language unites them, like Spanish unites Hispanics, but the cultural differences between a Lebanese and an Iraqi for instance, can be as noticeable as those between a Spaniard and a Salvadorian. Many Canadians of Arab origin are also francophone, in particular the Lebanese, Egyptians (although not all) and Maghrebi (North Africans) for historical reasons.
These Arabic communities are culturally vibrant, very far from any obscure fanaticism. To be convinced, one need only to listen to Radio Middle-East, broadcast 24/7 on 1450AM in Arabic (with intermittent words in French and English), that addresses the Arab community (Middle-East and Maghrebi), or go to the Arab World Festival of Montreal, that has been around for 10 years and enjoys the support of numerous private sector backers as well as various governmental support[2]. On the web, Montreal Arabic (French website) also reflects the community’s diversity presenting a wide variety of subjects from advice for new immigrants, to the price of petrol and recipes; furthermore, it offers a selection of videos, articles, topics and debates that concern the host country, but also the Arab world and international scene. Arab restaurants are everywhere and are frequented by many Quebecois, Arab students form associations, entrepreneurs publish company newsletters for which they offer trilingual services in Arabic, French and English and there are exuberant Oriental evenings held in Laval’s flashy restaurants. Canadians of Arab origin are also very present in cultural domains, among others the political scientist Sami Aoun, the intellectual Rachad Antonius, Wajdi Mouawad (theatre), Rawi Haje (literature) and Rachid Badouri (comedy), or the winners of the “Arab Women of Quebec” trophy. To connect with Arabs, there are also numerous “ethnic” newspapers such as Al-Akhbar, El-Ressala, Al Magrheb-Al Machreq, Al-Mustakbal, Atlas, El-Masri, to name only those that have over 10,000 readers. In brief, the Arabs are among us!
This clearly doesn’t happen without paradoxes and incidentally an inquiry by Leger Marketing underlined this in 2007: in spite of popular opinion, the Arab community is one of the most integrated in Quebec society[3]!
[1] http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/89-621-x/89-621-x2007009-fra.htm
[2] http://www.festivalarabe.com/?id=pages/dynamic/Partenaires&lang=fr
[3] http://www.legermarketing.com/documents/spclm/070115fr.pdf
Posted by Chia-Yi in Ethnic Marketing | 0 Comments
Immigration: If the trend continues…
If you live in Vancouver or Toronto chances are you’re familiar with Chinese or Hindi accents and Asian cultures and food. If you live in Montreal you are likely to recognize Arab accents and you may even be a huge fan of couscous… If the trend continues, in 20 years three out of ten people will belong to a visible minority group and 96% of new immigrants will live in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal. Thus, a safe assumption is that multiculturalism will only increase in our society. Multiculturalism refers to the “presence and persistence of diverse racial and ethnic minorities who define themselves as different and who wish to remain so[1]”.
These differences can enrich our lives or puzzle us and even make us feel uneasy. But in everyday life, whether in Vancouver, Toronto or Montreal, our future looks younger as immigrants are lowering the average age of Canada’s population, and most certainly colourful, vibrant, rich in ideas and activities, new writers and artists, entrepreneurs and debates. So, as the writer Khalil Gibran stated, why “dread thirst when your well is full”?
[1] http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/library/prbpubs/936-f.htm#alemulticulturalisme
Posted by Chia-Yi in News from Orchimedia | 0 Comments
Back to HEC
With the positive feedbacks from MBA students of HEC (November 23, 2009), Chia-Yi is invited to animate two classes in March 2010 at HEC: ” Analyse sectorielle et occasions d’affaires” by Jean-François Lalonde; and “Stratégies d’affaires et marchés émergents” by Jean-Paul Thiéblot.
Posted by Chia-Yi in News from Orchimedia | 0 Comments
The launch of Orchimedia’s new blog
Great news! The new Orchimedia blog AsianMarketing.ca is online! Included are a variety of topics such as the new economic trends in Asia, the cultural differences between Asian peoples, ethnic and international marketing and bilateral relations between Asian countries and Canada; we will shine the spotlight on various countries as well as provide you with tools and advice on what is appropriate to do, and what isn’t, in order to develop strong relationships with your Asian partners and thus capitalize on all the exciting opportunities that these fast-growing markets offer. The search button will allow you to perform a simple but focused search of all the content and thus you will have no trouble finding the information of particular interest to you. The blog already includes nine newsletters and we invite all our readers, clients, partners and friends to meet us there so that we all share to better understand China and Asia as well as exchange on any event or meeting specific to this continent so full of promise.
Ce blogue est également disponible en français sur MarketingAsiatique.ca
Posted by Chia-Yi in Chinese New Year | 0 Comments
The date of chinese new year changes every year
I am often asked why Chinese New Year is celebrated on a different date each year. In fact, Chinese New Year (one of the most important holidays for Chinese-speakers) is always celebrated on 1st January, but it is based on the lunar calendar (which is set by lunar phases and formerly based on agricultural cycles). In business, residents of China, Hong Kong and Taiwan have followed the Gregorian calendar (52 weeks) since 1949, but the traditional Chinese/lunar calendar still applies for traditional holidays.