Posts Tagged ‘business’

Learn how to effectively collect business cards and get expert tips and advice on dealing with business cards in this free instructional video. Expert: Jason Freedman Contact: bizcardguy.blogspot.com Bio: Jason Freedman started business card collecting in earnest around 1990. Filmmaker: JASON FREEDMAN

Meet some companies featured at the Chinese Business Summit and Top 100 Chinese Restaurants Six Annual Awards Ceremony hosted in Las Vegas January 3-5, 2010. Provideo, Lee Kum Kee, Yanjing Beer, Kikkoman , Rong Cheng Trading, Dr. Fuji

2010-03-05-16-07-25 Wangfujing, Beijing, China. พยายามสู้เต็มที่ แต่ไม่วาย ถูกฟันหัวแบะกลับมาอีกตามเคย

Value of Internet

According to China Internet Network Information Centre (CNNIC), number of Internet users in China is more than 103,000,000 in 2005.

More than half of Chinese Internet users were below 25 years of age. Out of the total, 32 per cent are students, 12 per cent are professionals and nine per cent are from business and service sectors.

People use Internet mostly for email, reading news and searching for information via search engines. Online shopping spending in China in 2005 was around RMB 9 billions, and will rise to RMB 30 billions in 2007. You can expect there will be a doubled growth in the subsequent years.

With the above figures, business persons must understand the value of using Internet to explore China market. Search engine marketing should be the most cost-effective method to reach Chinese Internet users.

China Region

In fact, China region does not only refer to the Mainland of China. You may also be aware of Hong Kong and Taiwan. Interestingly, Chinese in these 3 different areas have very different cultures due to their historical backgrounds. Even in the Mainland, people from different provinces speak totally different accents of Chinese languages and also differ in their daily life practices. For example, people in GuangDong and Hong Kong usually speak Cantonese. They speak Mandarin only when they talk with people from other provinces. Moreover, people in Mainland and Taiwan are usually not that good in English. Yet in Hong Kong, many people can speak and read English well. Therefore, you must notice the differences in order to write effective website copies to cater for different China Region readers.

Another important thing to note is that people from Hong Kong, Taiwan, GuangDong, Shanghai and Beijing usually have a higher spending power.

Search Engines in China

Major search engines in China include Baidu, Google, Sina and Yahoo. According to a study by CNNIC, Baidu has 51.5% market share, Google has 32.9%, Sina has 4% and Yahoo has 3.7%. Just based on the above figures, you may think that it should be most appropriate to spend most of your effort in Baidu and Google, right? The answer is “Yes or No. It depends!” Why?

This is because China Region is large and with complicated cultural differences. It is difficult for you to target the whole China Region unless you have millions of budget. If you are small to medium sized companies, decide your target region and focus on it first. For example, if you choose Hong Kong as your target market, I can tell you Yahoo Hong Kong is the most frequently used search engine and no almost one uses Baidu in Hong Kong!

Another point worthwhile to mention is that Google is rated the best search engine in China and the rating means a highly probable translation to its future growth in market share, according to a study made by Keynote Systems.

Paid Search Engine Marketing

Popularity in paid search engine marketing (pay-per-click) in China is increasing. Baidu, Yahoo and Google have their own programs. In order to succeed in a complicated region, search engines mainly rely on agents to sell their pay-per-click marketing. Pay-per-click is a new concept in China, and people there think it is too far too complicated. Therefore, agents usually sell paid search engine marketing by monthly flat rate according to the different schemes. It is somewhat different with the western world.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Search engine optimization is quite a new concept in China but acceptance of this concept is increasing. Currently, there are many black-hat spammers and white-hat optimizers in the country. In China, people usually optimize for Google and Yahoo only, and use paid search engine marketing for Baidu.

The link building process in China region is somewhat different with the western world. Link exchange is uncommon in Hong Kong and Taiwan. It is far more popular in the Mainland. However, the link format is quite different. First, high quality links are usually obtained from personal/ business relationships. Second, reciprocal link format in the western world is usually composed of a Title with hyperlink and description of site but in Mainland, it is only composed of Title with hyperlink. Seems like a link farm? However, it is a common practice in China. Therefore, obtaining meaningful links in China region is no easy task.

Key Factor in Chinese Search Engine Marketing

Many people make a common mistake. Their websites do not have a Chinese version but they want to promote their website in the Mainland and in Taiwan. English may be their mother language but it is not a mother language for Chinese. To succeed, you must have a Chinese version. In addition, you need to notice that traditional Chinese is used in Hong Kong and Taiwan while simplified Chinese is used in Mainland. Sometimes, wordings used in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Mainland are also different from each other.

If you are serious in getting online sales from Chinese but are not familiar with their languages and cultures, you had better use an Internet marketing company located in the China Region to help you.

China is a growing market, everyone want to win the customers there. Not like some other commercial companies which are restricted by export or import law, web hosting as a service, you can sell it all around the world online, and China is included definitely.

To win the customers there look easy. A web hosting package which cost you $100 per year from Chinese web hosting service provider, you will get about 250M disk space and 1 G bandwidth. But what you can get from US service provider, 300G disk space, 3000G bandwidth. It looks quite attractive, right? And another factor pushes Chinese to use US web hosting service is that the service of Chinese web hosting provider are quite worse.

But winning the customer in China is not an easy thing even most of the Chinese web site master know the great value price of US web hosting package and the great service they can get. So, what are the obstacle there.

First is about the payment method, most of the web hosting companies provides the payment method like Credit Card or Paypal, but both of two are not popular in China. For credit card, Chinese are still not comfortable with the security to give those information online and money will be charged without a password. And for Paypal, eBay create a new e-wallet web site in China which is totally different with Paypal, and this is failed in China (it’s beated by a Chinese local company). So, who has done great job in adding more payment options in their checkout process, that’s Lunarpages, the most amazing thing is that Lunarpages can support the payment like Debit Card used in China. So, there is no surprised that Lunarpages have won a lot of customers from China.

Secondly, most of Chinese customer will have to purchase a Dedicated IP eventually since it’s quite common that the IP of their web server are banned by Chinese government due to some illegal web site are created in the same IP. Right now, only IXWebHosting provide free Dedicated IP with fast connection, which has brought IXWebHosting considerable customers from China and it’s another winner here.

Last one is about the connection speed, since when Chinese host their web site in US, their target visitor might still come from China. A fast speed is what they expect. According to a survey I have done in China, BlueHost and HostMonster provide the fastest connection for Chinese customer. This is might not true, but if we only look at the market segment like shared web hosting or low cost web hosting, I believe HostMonster and BlueHost have done great job so far.

So, according to above analysis, Lunarpages, IXWebhosting, BlueHost, and HostMonster have become the biggest winner in Chinese web hosting market. And what about the other web hosting service provider, do you want to win the customers from China? If yes, you need to take action now: add more payment method, provide dedicated IP and increase the connection speed between China and your data center. The ealier you do it, the more you will win.

Reference:

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Only the knowledge of business behavior and culture with the appropriate strategy and partner, your China business can thrive as is the case with any import/export ventures in global sourcing. Your travel and China business plans must be based on several grounds when planning import and export strategies in China.

First of all, it is meaningless to duplicate strategies however successful they are in Europe. Secondly, the sheer number of US firms eyeing to import/export from China is another source of a problem: too many of them adapting the same strategy and chasing the same few companies for import & export alliance. But remember, not many large Chinese home grown companies were in the driving seat of its massive growth in recent years. This exposes the shortcomings of Chinese import/export companies and their competence to handle large volumes of global sourcing orders. This must serve as a wake up call to all China business seekers and give them a few points to ponder about.

Foreign investors are pouring in capital in developing China business in the face of the burgeoning economy. It is mysterious that multi-nationals are pursuing theoretical approaches to import and export from China business investment. Success in China can be possible by steering away from unsuitable models in particularly advantageous areas. First of all, quite a few China business entrants, tired of global sourcing, bought out local players in the niche market which gave them established infrastructures. Others went ahead with long term import/export contracts, in place of global sourcing; befitting that China is world’s factory.

On its part, the government of China was pushing hard to step-up import and export strategically to position itself global sourcing alternative. This is around the time when China business entered WTO which coincided with feverish infrastructural development. China business SMEs provided the thrust for the rapid development focusing on manufacturing and import & export and gradually positioning itself as alternative to global sourcing in consumer items for import/export consumers. Although, import/export from China business stands in its favor it isn’t still in a position to completely replace global sourcing.

In this light, China business travel can be a positive experience. Eased-up access to import and export, quicker documentation and dispute resolution, improved infrastructure and fund flow have made China business an attractive alternative to global sourcing. China business has the potential to offer effective alternative to global sourcing through import and export in a few years.

Official kickoff to the Chinese Business Summit and Top 100 Chinese Restaurants Six Annual Awards Ceremony hosted in Las Vegas January 3-5, 2010

China has become a high potential business destination for multinational corporations of late. China business is offering excellent opportunities for import and export in the face of growing competition from global sourcing. China business is perhaps the most dynamic and vibrant one in the whole of developing world and is growing feverishly with countless global sourcing and import/export companies rushing in each year. Statistics place China business on top for attracting US$345.6bn foreign direct investment from 2001 through 2005.

Success in China business depends a lot on developing acquaintances and networking, no matter yours is manufacturing or plain import & export. The differences in China business culture require foreign companies to get acquainted with precise strategies to tackle dealings in China. Tactics for China business involves respecting superiors, staff and their families. Luncheon meetings with alcohol servings are common in China business culture.

-China Business Potential vis-à-vis Import and Export

China business import and export has increased steadily at around 20% each year in the last decade and currently stands at US$ 1761bn with a surplus of $177.5bn posing challenges to global sourcing. The top five import/export from China business accounted for a whopping $218bn with US while the import and export totaled $343bn for ten positions in 2006.

The trade balance from import/export with China business stands at $232.5bn in Chinese favor. The import/export encompasses high-tech to low-end consumer goods underlining the huge potential in the face of general global sourcing. The profit potential may be assumed to be the difference between the amount had the import and export been through traditional global sourcing which is safely 15-20%.

Import & export had always been the main stay of US economy and the evolution of China business and economy has augmented this. It appears as if China is turning the US way as about half of its GDP is from import and export with ten of its trading partners.

-Significance of Chinese Import and Export to USA Traders

Import and export from China comprises all that the US B2B and consumer market demands without counting global sourcing. Domestic supply chain apparently has gains to be made from import/export and China business, provided plans are executed well. For example, the story of China business and Chinese pharmaceutical generics is well known and needs no introduction. Once the supply chain channels get established, an US trader economizes by either global sourcing or going for import/export from China business.

Looking for precise coverage of major China business, import & export as a part of global sourcing, before you set out on a business travel and study investment needs, access several China business journals and magazines from the likes of WSJ and China Business which are sure to have it. Although China business in respect of import and export isn’t a cakewalk, a thorough research will guide you to a neat import/export deal, although initially. China Business seminars attract prominent global sourcing leaders, as also CEOs and government officials to speak. A brief sojourn ahead of import & export engagement with China business goes a long way to safeguard your interests. No matter what advices you are carrying along, China Business delivers the best return.

The new China business, especially for import and export, has a great potential provided you play cards safely. As a thumb rule, China business houses keep a mix of 50% import & export as original equipment manufacturing units leaving the rest as original designers. Keep this point as you negotiate with your import & export China business partners. One major area of focus for China business will be to take-on non-consumer buyers via a wide range of goods for the import and export demand, which is turning out an alternative to global sourcing strategy.

Hong Kong and Taiwan form the foundation for China business which is fuelling import and export dreams which will further boost. In addition, China has about 100 insurers to help grow individual China business.

-China Business Decisions

No matter what, China business has ranked top in overall strategy for import/export than global sourcing. This has contributed to make China import & export people pretty savvy and informed before they make business decisions. This has also contributed to produce a red hot market for China business which places China manufacturers/import & export ahead on global sourcing list. Internet has fuelled the worse competition and Chinese companies are often feared to hijack their competing China business’ import/export models which are turning out to be a boon to global sourcing.

-China Business – A broader Picture

The true picture of China business in the global sourcing for import and export landscape may be obtained from the ground level reports specific to China business. For concise but comprehensive coverage on acquisitions and investment deals on China business, the most reliable source is WSJ. Like else where, sharp China Business information, positions you appropriately to benefit from deals like import and export, mergers etc. Another global sourcing authentic information on China Business/import and export is from WE Marketing Group.

In the last two decades, no country like China has received so much coverage worldwide. Their economy expansion has attracted many foreign investors who want to get a piece of the growing economy. Furthermore, with regard to the WTO, China has been relaxing their restrictions on foreign investments regulations. This actually indicates that the government is supporting foreign investors to enter into the China market. China is placing more importance to the quality rather than the quantity of foreign investment. This shows the development of the China market where they are focusing on refining their economy as they expand further.

The growth of the China market is increasing as such a high speed that the number of foreign companies is flocking in each year.

From 2001 till 2005, China has attracted 345.6 billion U.S. dollars in foreign investment more than the 323.3 billion dollars that poured in over the nine years from 1992 to 2000. China market’s appeal to foreign investors are growing at such a rapid rate that China’s economy is no longer just a production factory. Foreign companies are entering into China not only to produce their goods but also to selling their products to the local consumers.

However, entering the China market needs a lot of tactics, networking, and familiarities.

1. Tactics

Many of the foreign investors who enter into the China market have a huge amount of experience in business administration and marketing strategies. However, the Chinese have a different way of doing business and most foreign companies do not have the correct tactics to deal with things in China.

2. Networking

Most people would agree that networking is very important for business dealings. With a strong network, we will be able to seek for help or consult someone if any problems were to occur. In China, networking or “guan xi” is one of the main methods which the Chinese use. “Guan xi” is the Chinese term that the locals use. The Chinese believe that everyone needs to establish good relationships with others. The only way to really survive in China is through “guan xi”.

Foreign investors may think that as long they have good business relationships with other organizations would lead them to be successful in China. However, this is only partially true. In China, any kind of relationships are important. Be it a personal or business or even governmental relationship, all of them are crucial in establishing a successful enterprise.

With good personal “guan xi”, the Chinese can rope in people whom they can trust into their business. The Chinese believe in having trust among their counterparts.

With good business “guan xi”, the Chinese would be able to negotiate easily and collaborate with others to ensure a lasting partnership with other parties. Having business “guan xi” would allow the local companies to meet more clients and suppliers to expand their business.

With good governmental “guan xi”, the Chinese would be able to settle their bureaucratic and administrative work faster as their contacts would be able to advise them on a personal level. Furthermore, any problems encountered with the paperwork, the Chinese would be able to seek help through their governmental relationships.

Thus, the Chinese value relationships very highly and even though their business with their contacts failed, the Chinese would continue to maintain a close relationship with them.

3. Familiarities

To enter into the Chinese market, one must have a good grasp of the Chinese culture. As different countries have their own unique way of values and working styles, lots of conflicts tend to arise due to differences. Thus, the foreign companies need to familiarize themselves with the Chinese culture and understand how the Chinese work.

For example, without a full understanding of how the Chinese handle with the authorities can bring a lot of problems to the enterprise. The way the Chinese communicate to the authorities differs from how the way it works in other countries such as the US and Europe.

Hence, one of the best ways to familiarize themselves with the Chinese culture is to engage a local individual or firm as the link between the foreign company and the China market. Local parties have the expertise to handle any problems and have a better idea on how to negotiate with the local firms.