Asia is one of the largest growing markets in online retailing. It’s estimated that Southeast Asia has added 70 million online consumers in 2021 alone, that’s on top of the over one billion online shoppers found in Asia. That number is only about to grow in the coming years.
The e-commerce size in this region has reached over $120 billion, with a lot more room to grow. The country with the most significant share in China, but other countries such as Malaysia are poised to see considerable growth in the coming years.
What this means for you is that there are a lot of opportunities to sell products online in Asia. But, there’s also a lot of competition. You’ll need a robust B2C marketing strategy to break into this market. Here are five fundamentals that you should keep in mind when formulating your plan:
Know Your Target Customer
The start of every robust B2C marketing strategy is research. The first step is always to know who your target customer is. This is especially important in Asia, as the continent is home to many different cultures and religions. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to marketing here.
You’ll need to segment your audience and figure out what motivates them. What are their needs and wants? What are their pain points? Once you understand your target customer well, you can start tailoring your marketing messages to appeal to them.
If you want to know more about your target consumer, you can use tools such as Google AdWords and Google Analytics to figure out what keywords they’re searching for online. You can also use social media listening tools to see what conversations are happening around your brand or product.
Get Started in Social Media
Social media is at the heart of every marketing strategy in Asia. Countries like the Philippines have millions of people relying on social media for news and social interaction. So social marketing in the Philippines can help you grab a lot of consumers in just a few days. Moreover, social media is flexible and dynamic, allowing you to adjust your strategy as needed quickly.
The best way to start is by creating social media profiles on the platforms your target customers use most. Then, make sure to post interesting and engaging content regularly. You can also use social media ads to reach a wider audience.
Utilize SEO Tactics
Search engine optimization (SEO) is another crucial aspect of any B2C marketing strategy in Asia is search engine optimization (SEO). This refers to the process of optimizing your website and content to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs).
To do this, you’ll need to research the right keywords to target. You can use Google’s Keyword Planner tool to find out what keywords are searched for about your products or services. Once you have the right keywords, use them throughout your website and content to improve your ranking. You can also utilize other SEO tactics such as link building and schema markup.
Build a Mobile-Friendly Website
Since most people in Asia access the internet through their smartphones, your website must be mobile-friendly. Make sure your website loads quickly on mobile devices and that all the content is easy to read and navigate. You should also consider creating a mobile app for your business. This can help you reach even more customers and provide them with a convenient way to purchase your products or services.
You can always outsource your web design and development to an agency specializing in mobile-friendly website creation. Many agencies in countries like Singapore, the Philippines, and Thailand are willing to do this for you.
Accept Local Payment Methods
Another thing to remember when selling online in Asia is that not everyone uses the same payment methods. For example, AliPay and WeChat Pay are two of the most popular payment methods in China. So if you want to sell to Chinese consumers, you’ll need to ensure that your website accepts these forms of payment.
To reach customers in other Asian countries, you’ll need to research what payment methods are popular there. Once you know which payment methods to accept, add them to your website so that consumers can easily purchase your products or services.
By following these five fundamentals, you’ll be on your way to developing a solid B2C marketing strategy for Asia. Just remember to always keep your target customer in mind and adjust your tactics as needed. Then, with a little effort, you can penetrate the Asian market and boost your sales.
