Posted by Chia-Yi in Ethnic Marketing, Marketing-Communications China | 0 Comments
Comparison of social portals
In China, the Internet is developing rapidly and social networks there see their member numbers increase rapidly. Earlier we mentioned that the most frequently used Chinese networking sites are often inaccessible or little known outside of China. QQ, which is China’s most popular networking site, has a 50% market share with 380 million users. This site that started out as an instant messaging service has developed itself into a portal and now has its own form of virtual currency. Its popularity is so widespread that it is possible to perform transactions in online shops and gaming sites that function outside of the QQ network.
The popularity of Google in North America is undeniable. Nevertheless, the largest search engine in China is Baidu. Many local varieties of Facebook (51, Kaixin, Renren) and Twitter (Digu, Taotao, Zuosa, Weibo) have tens or even hundreds of millions of users. Even sites such as Youtube and Ebay have very similar Chinese equivalents (Tudou and Taobao respectively). And all this is only within China. The strength and diversity of the Chinese.
Internet is partly driven by its population. It was a lack of understanding of the cultural differences by Western computer giants however, that led to the development of these local alternatives.
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
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