How to submit my website to a Baidu search engine?

Before you can start optimizing, your site needs to be on Baidu’s radar. Submitting your website to Baidu.com is straightforward. First, ensure your site is in line with Baidu’s guidelines, focusing on localized content and mobile responsiveness. Then, head over to Baidu Webmaster Tools and follow the submission process. Remember, patience is key – it might take some time for Baidu to index your site.

The Dashboard: Your SEO Command Center

Once your site is indexed, the Baidu Search Console becomes your SEO command center. Familiarize yourself with its dashboard, where you can monitor your site’s performance, track keywords, and identify areas for improvement.

Keywords and Content: The Heart of SEO

In the world of Baidu.com, content is king, and keywords are its crown jewels. Use the Search Console to understand which keywords are driving traffic to your site. Tailor your content to these insights, ensuring it’s relevant, informative, and engaging for your Chinese audience.

Beyond Basics: Advanced Features of Baidu Search Console

Baidu’s Search Console offers advanced features that can give you an edge. Dive into its diagnostic tools to spot and fix any crawl errors. Leverage the link management tools to understand and optimize your backlink profile, a crucial factor in Baidu’s ranking algorithm.

Regular Monitoring for Performance Improvements

Once you’re all set up with your account, the real game begins with regular monitoring. It’s like keeping a vigilant eye on the health of your website. You’ll want to dive into the search queries that are bringing in traffic, scrutinize the number of impressions and clicks your site garners, and keep tabs on the indexing status of your web pages. Spotting and addressing any dips in impressions or clicks, and ironing out indexing errors, can be a game-changer for your site’s visibility on Baidu.

Optimizing Your Website for Baidu’s Algorithm

To really hit the mark with Baidu, you need to get into the nitty-gritty of keyword research. It’s about finding those golden keywords that have high search volume but low competition. Then, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get down to on-page optimization. We’re talking meta tags, headings, and content that resonate with your target keywords. And let’s not forget the mobile users – ensuring your website is mobile-friendly is crucial in today’s smartphone-centric world.

Mobile Optimization: Catering to the Chinese Audience

With the majority of Chinese internet users accessing the web via mobile devices, mobile optimization is non-negotiable. Use Baidu’s mobile usability report to ensure your site offers a seamless mobile experience.

Analytics Integration: The Power of Data

Integrating Baidu Analytics with your Search Console can unlock deeper insights into user behavior and site performance. This integration allows for a more data-driven approach to your SEO strategies.

Baidu Search Console is more than just a tool; it’s a gateway to understanding your website’s performance in Baidu’s search results. This free web service offers a treasure trove of data and insights. From search queries to impressions and clicks, it’s all about getting a clear picture of how your site fares in the digital landscape of Baidu.

Utilizing Baidu Webmaster Tools for Enhanced Optimization

But wait, there’s more! Baidu Webmaster Tools is the perfect companion to the Baidu Search Console. It’s like having an extra set of tools in your optimization toolkit. With features like site speed tests, backlink analysis, and HTML suggestions, you’re well-equipped to take your website’s ranking and visibility on Baidu to new heights. Analyzing your website’s loading speed, keeping an eye on backlinks, and sorting out any HTML code issues can significantly boost your site’s performance.

The Final Word: Continuous Learning and Adaptation

SEO is not a set-and-forget task, especially on a dynamic platform like Baidu.com. Stay updated with Baidu’s algorithm changes and continuously adapt your strategies. Regularly review your Search Console data to refine your approach.

Need Expert Guidance? Digital Crew is Here to Help

Embarking on your Baidu SEO journey can be daunting, but you don’t have to do it alone. Digital Crew is a Baidu agency with expertise in navigating the Chinese digital landscape, and is here to guide you every step of the way. Contact us for tailored strategies that resonate with your target audience and amplify your online presence.

The post Navigating Baidu.com: Unlocking the Power of Search Console appeared first on Digital Crew.

Understanding the Searcher’s Intent

First things first, we need to understand what the searcher is looking for. Are they just browsing, or are they ready to buy? By understanding the different stages of the customer’s decision-making cycle, you can target keywords that match their intent.

The Three Phases of Search Intent

1. Awareness Phase: Keywords like “how to prepare my kids for the future?” indicate early buying cycle.
2. Consideration Phase: Keywords like “what age should my daughter learn English” show awareness of a solution.
3. Decision Phase: Keywords like “best kid’s English tutoring in Shanghai” show readiness to purchase.

Crafting Your Baidu Keyword Strategy with a Baidu SEO Agency in Sydney

Working with a Baidu SEO agency in Sydney like Digital Crew can help you navigate the complexities of Baidu keyword optimisation. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Step 1 – Brainstorm a List of Stem Keywords

Gather your team and brainstorm potential keywords based on your business objectives. Think about what your ideal customer might search for.

Step 2 – Identify Keyword Demand

Use tools like Baidu Webmaster Tools, Baidu Index, or Baidu Keyword Planner to understand search volume and popularity.

Step 3 – Analyse Keywords

Analyse your chosen keywords to see which ones align with your business goals. Consider factors like search volume, competition, and relevance.

Step 4 – Prioritise and Choose Your Targeted Keywords

Pick the keywords that are popular, valuable, and have low competition. Work with a Baidu SEO agency in Sydney to ensure you’re on the right track.

Technical Tips and Content Marketing for Baidu

Grasp the Optimisation Time of Long-Tail Keywords

Optimise long-tail keywords within three to six months after your website goes live. These keywords can bring significant traffic.

Focus on Technical and On-Page SEO

Ensure your site is easy to crawl and index. Focus on site speed, stability, design, and compatibility.

Content Marketing for Baidu

Create fresh content regularly, keep the length between 200 and 800 Chinese characters, and conduct keyword research to drive content creation.

Call to Action – Contact Digital Crew

Ready to discover profitable Baidu keywords for your business? Contact Digital Crew, the leading Baidu SEO agency in Sydney, and let’s make your brand a sensation in China!

The post The Baidu Blueprint: A Guide to Finding Winning Keywords appeared first on Digital Crew.

Take a leap into the digital landscapes of the East, and you’re sure to land on Baidu. Baidu is China’s number one search engine, and if you’re looking to expand your brand’s visibility in this massive market, you need to become best friends with Baidu. Your friendly neighborhood Baidu SEO agency, Digital Crew, is here to share some top-notch tips and tricks to enhance your Baidu SEO strategy!

Why Baidu?

To understand the importance of Baidu SEO, we need to look at the numbers. With over a billion users, Baidu dominates the Chinese search engine market, making it an essential platform for brands aiming to reach Chinese audiences.

Getting Started with Baidu SEO

Be Mobile-Friendly

The first step to acing your Baidu SEO is ensuring your website is mobile-friendly. Baidu prioritizes mobile-friendly websites in its ranking algorithm, given the massive number of users accessing the web via mobile devices in China.

Location, Location, Location

China is a massive market, and it’s essential to understand that one size doesn’t fit all. Baidu prioritizes local content, so consider creating dedicated web pages that cater to specific regions in China.

Cracking the Baidu SEO Code

Quality Content Matters

In the world of Baidu SEO, quality content is king. Create original, high-quality content that is valuable to your audience. Regularly update your website content and maintain a blog to ensure your site stays fresh and relevant.

Metadata Optimization

Optimize your page titles, descriptions, and meta tags with relevant keywords to increase your visibility on Baidu. Be mindful of keyword stuffing, though, as Baidu can penalize websites for this.

Backlinks and Social Sharing

Backlinks are a significant ranking factor for Baidu. Try to acquire high-quality backlinks from reputable Chinese websites. Also, ensure that your content is shareable on social media platforms, as Baidu considers social shares when ranking content.

Baidu Webmaster Tools

Baidu Webmaster Tools is a goldmine for any Baidu SEO agency. It offers essential insights into your website’s performance and provides recommendations for improving your SEO strategy.

Digital Crew: Your Trusted Baidu SEO Agency

Advancing your Baidu SEO strategy can be a challenging task. But with the right partner, you can navigate the intricate terrains of Baidu SEO with ease. As a leading Baidu SEO agency, Digital Crew is here to help. We employ data-driven strategies and an in-depth understanding of the Chinese digital landscape to optimize your brand’s Baidu SEO performance. Contact us today to start your journey to Baidu SEO success!

The post Advancing Your Baidu SEO Strategy: Tips and Tricks appeared first on Digital Crew.

Search Engine Marketing also known as ‘搜索引擎营销’ or ‘sou suo yin qing ying xiao’ in Chinese is not just synonymous with Baidu anymore. Unlike the West, where Google is the Alpha and the beta of search engines, the China search engine market keeps welcoming new competitive players frequently.

Baidu still enjoys a fair dominance over the search engine market share, but there are players like Shenma & Sougou that are emerging in the market because of shifts in consumer behaviour and optimising for the handiest gadgets – The Mobile.

Web traffic is important to understand how to convert those numbers into leads. If you’ve mastered the art of effectively driving traffic to connect with Chinese consumers, then you’re on the path towards boosting your business in China exponentially.

1. Few websites have Chances of Ranking on Baidu

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Baidu is a search engine of the Chinese, by the Chinese and for the Chinese. Would you expect a Chinese website to spring up while searching on Google? No. Similarly, you can’t expect your English website to rank on Baidu. However, there are a few exceptions for some non-Chinese websites (We call them the lucky ones) that rank on the search engine.

2. First Page Ranking On Baidu Is Difficult But Not Impossible

Baidu’s first page is heavily focused on ad content, but it has made massive changes over the years to make sure that its first page isn’t dominated by ads. What does that tell us about SEM? It’s a straight indication that the ad space is competitive but if strategized and optimized well, chances of it ranking are higher.

3. The Best Way To Boost Organic Search Traffic On Baidu?

There is, however, a range of different ways that you can optimise your SEO’s using different Baidu products. Baidu Webmaster Tools allows you to alter the crawl rate through your site, and answering questions about your company on Tieba allows you to become more trusted.

4. One More Secret To Grabbing Your Spot On Baidu?

Create Your Company profile on Baike – China’s equivalent of Wikipedia. The Baidu SERP prominently features Baidu Baike entries, because the more you patronise the search engine’s products, the better the results.

5. Engage on Baidu’s Quora – Zhidao

Zhidao is another essential part of Baidu’s infrastructure. This is a Q&A website which allows people to answer questions about their business. Since research is an essential part of the buyer’s journey as well as a massive part of Chinese buying culture, this is an excellent way to increase your reviews and create an organic search presence.

6. Sogou, the new kid on the block

Now If your strategy isn’t limited to Baidu, you could spread your eggs in another basket. The Tencent backed search engine – Sogou is slowly gaining its popularity in China. Sogou is owned by Sohu, an internet company that offers a range of internet services including news, games, search and advertising.

7. Haosou is another very important search engine in the Chinese market

Haosou is backed by QiHoo 360 one of the largest internet companies in China. They provide a range of internet services but are most well known for their web browser and cybersecurity products. One advantage that Haosou has is that the QiHoo 360 browser comes preinstalled on most computers in China. Many businesses in China also recommend that their employees use the browser for its security features, making it an ideal channel for B2B marketing.

8. What you need to know about Shenma

The search engine is a joint venture between UC Web, the company behind UC Browser, and Alibaba. As the 2^rd letter in the popular acronym BAT, which stands for China’s tech giants (Baidu, Alibaba, Tencent), Alibaba couldn’t be the only one without a product in the search engine category. With the help of UC Web’s UC browser and China’s preference toward mobile over desktop Shenma has been gaining market share in recent years and is only expected to grow.

Conclusion

With all that being stated, you wouldn’t fully understand the temperature of the waters until you dip your feet into it. It will take you a Chinese server, domain names & ICP licenses, Chinese content and Chinese seo to help you get started with your search engine marketing in China. We’d recommend local assistance to help you navigate the Chinese digital market for better results for you to get a grip on understanding how its done in China.

Let Us Help You Get Started

The post Search Engine Marketing In China: What You Need To Know appeared first on Digital Crew.

Chinese SEM: You probably know how to play the marketing game well with the powerful tool-Google. However, things are different when it comes to China. China has its own digital landscape that functions independently within its mainland ecosystem. Before you extend your business to China, you’d better learn how to play your SEM game well in China without applying the same old rules of Google.

Chinese Search Engine Market

In China, the major search engines are Baidu, 360 and Sogou. In the last 12 months (by April 2019), Baidu owned 66.89% of the market, Sogou owned 17.68%. 360 owned 3.22%, Google-owned 2.99% and Bing owned 2.25%. (data from Statcounter). Since Google left the Chinese market, Baidu has become the head of the search engine in China.

Fengchao-Baidu’s Bidding System

Fengchao is the updated version of Baidu’s biding system. It helps companies capture more business opportunities and gain more customers; the promotion result is increased dramatically as compared to the old system.

Its advantages include:

• Long Term Profitability
• Good For Small Businesses
• More Displays And More Keywords
• Cover More Potential Customers

Baidu has its powerful user products. There are billions of search requests, over 100 million users browsing on Baidu and 80 billion times of location service requests. The advertising resources cover every aspect of users’ life.

Baidu even uses its new AI technology to capture users’ behaviours, automatically display ads according to the contents.

With the help of Baidu search and news recommendation, according to users’ intentions and behaviours, Baidu precisely locates over 2 million profiles, understanding the real needs and interests of every user.

Dianjing-360’s Bidding System

Dianjing integrates 360 Site Navigation and 360 Search. It has more than 90% market penetration. There are more than 4000 million active users every month.

By using different targeting approaches such as keyword, region and time, promotion becomes more efficient.

It’s easy and manageable to use. Multiple professional statistics reports bring convenience and efficiency to promotion and optimization.

Sogou-Sohu’s Search Engine

Sogou is owned by Sohu, it is the first engine that has 10 billion Chinese web pages. There are over 95% of people using Sogou keyboard. Sogou has its own high-speed browser, its portal site Sohu is one of the most popular portals in China, which means it has abundant audiences.

You don’t need to spend too much on Sogou, the lowest price of every keyword is 0.3 yuan. Not to mention it only needs 1500 yuan for a lifetime customer service.

Sogou selects suitable pages to display companies’ ads by using its own special techniques. It won’t charge you until potential customers enter your web page.

Conclusion

Among the three search engines-Baidu, 360 and Sogou, Baidu shares the most of the market. It doesn’t mean the other two search engines are not important. To layout your business strategy in China, it is better to cover all three of them, even a small percentage of people in China hides a lot of potential customers

The post Your Chinese SEM Guide For 2019 appeared first on Digital Crew.

Baidu is that search engine which doesn’t appear in your search engine because it has a universe of its own searches and couldn’t be bothered by the rest of the world. We’re talking about China. To keep things real, Mainland China doesn’t use Google, Whatsapp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest or Youtube but it does have equivalents that are distinguished but similar to its western counterparts. In China, Baidu replaces Google, WeChat replaces Facebook & Whatsapp combined, Weibo replaces Twitter, Instagram & the newest social media kid on the block – Xiahongshu aka Little Red Book replaces Pinterest.

Let these 10 facts about Baidu, change your assumptions about search engines because Baidu is unique with the way it operates.

1.History Of Baidu

Back in 1994, Robin Li was working for the Down Jones and Company and followed his instincts only to satisfy his curiosity about algorithms for search engines. He developed RankDex in 1996, an algorithm that ranked web pages. He worked with Infoseek for a few years after which he moved to China in 1999 to launch Baidu. Yes, the internet was introduced to China after the west and that made it exciting for the country, opening a window of new possibilities. Baidu initially began as a paid search service for major corporations. After a year, Robin decided to scrap the idea and launched Baidu as an independent service.

2. The Largest Search Engine In China

The first one to lead the flock tends to be the most successful one and also one of the biggest shareholders. Baidu began its journey in the year 2000 and now accounts for over 70% of the search engine market share in China. Its competitors like Sougou and Shenma cover as little as 8.8% of the China search engine market share. Over 90% of China uses Baidu as a search engine. The Chinese search engine has and operates almost every Google alternative such as Adwords, Translate, Maps and a host of other related segments.

3. Baidu and Its Silicon Valley Funding

Robin Li and Eric Xu founded Baidu in the early 2000s and managed to raise $1.2 million in the seed funding round from Integrity Partners and Peninsula Capital – both Silicon Valley venture capital firms. In September, the company had grown big enough to secure another round of funding from a pair of venture capital firms, Draper Fisher Jurvetson and IDG Technology Venture that invested $10 million in Baidu.

4. Its Ad Space (Is Not Like Google)

If you’re under the impression that Baidu’s Ad buying process is the same as Google, you might as well stick to Google because Baidu functions differently. It may take you a few months to establish yourself as a business online in the Chinese world as it involves the provision of documents such as a business license, other Id Proofs to the search engine company. You will also have to be fluent in Chinese, because the entire application process is in their language obviously and you have to just fit in.

5. Most Popular search

The good news is that Baidu makes its profits with ads. Chinese internet users were transfixed on a mix of sports events, natural disasters, politics and entertainment in 2018, a pattern that also prevails on Google’s search listing. The Chinese do a lot of product research online before buying household items, electronics, fashion, beauty and health products which is where Baidu capitalizes its share of ad revenue.

6. Most Popular Keywords

According to another report, the ten most popular keywords used on Baidu are the following: qzone, Da Zhu Zai, Baidu, Double Chromsphere, Zhe Tian, Mang Huang Ji, The Tang Door, Wu Dong Qian Kun, Taobao, and weather. These words may come in handy if you’re trying to get your material or your company higher up on SEO.

7. Its More Than Just A Search Engine

Baidu is more than just an ordinary search engine. In fact, the company offers close to sixty community and search services ranging from Qunar, a travel booking service, to Baidu Yi, a smartphone operating system. In addition, services also include an eCommerce platform, games, patent searches, a social network, government information search, and an encyclopaedia. Baidu also owns a small number of shares in Didi Chuxing, which is now China’s answer to Uber.

8. It Sells Bikes And Builds Driverless Cars

Like Google, Baidu also believes that a natural extension of its data-mining ecosystem would be autonomous electric cars or driverless cars. Baidu began testing out driverless cars in 2015 on public roads, forming a tech research centre last April in Silicon Valley. The cars are powered by a combination of its own AI algorithms, HERE Maps, and NVIDIA’s automotive chips. The company is presently outsourcing production of these driverless cars to automakers in China.

In addition, Baidu also has smart bikes in their arsenal, called DuBike. The bicycle comes equipped with a wide variety of motion and health sensors, syncing to a mobile application. Furthermore, it features onboard navigation signals, allowing the rider to follow directions without having to constantly look down at their phones/tablets. It also lets riders share their route with others. What’s even more surprising, is that the entire system is powered by the rider’s very own kinetic energy, which doesn’t require any recharging.

9. Mobile Optimization

MIP(Mobile Instant Pages) is a set of open technical standards applied to Baidu’s mobile web pages. Through MIP, the content of the page will reach the user instantaneously in a more friendly way without waiting to load. Baidu hit a milestone of 500 million monthly active users after which it decided to introduce an app version. The app saw 151 million daily active users as of September 2018 and the search engine company stated that its net profit for the third quarter last year, jumped by 56 percent and recorded continued growth in revenue and traffic to its mobile app.

10. It’s SEO Is An Internal Game

Baidu SEO isn’t as easy as Google SEO. Baidu uses some of its own sites to be placed in the top of search results, culminating in around twenty percent of Baidu traffic being redirected to one of the company’s subsidiary sites, such as Baidu Zhidao, Baidy Baike, or Baidu News. This results in a challenge for brands to obtain top ranking in terms of SEO. On Baidu, brands will need a large number of keywords and backlinks in order to have a strong SEO presence.

Want To Know How To Grow Your Business On Baidu?

Download ebook

The post Baidu: 10 Interesting Facts appeared first on Digital Crew.

Digital Crew rang in the New Year by partnering with the lifeline of Chinese social media – Weibo & WeChat. The firm is all set to explode with fresh new synergies brought about by this partnership and is growing stronger by the months with their arsenal of multilingual experts, certified translators and digital marketing specialists.

It is by far, an independent agency that elicits its multilingual specialisation in the Apac region  with a Weibo and WeChat partnership in addition to Alibaba, Google, Baidu and NAATI.

Weibo

The microblogging platform that is supposedly known as Chinese twitter is a portal of information about the western world and international brands to the Chinese users. The leading social media platform with 600 million users allows users to create, distribute and discover Chinese language content.

Digital Crew has successfully leveraged Weibo for campaigns that reached millions in China for brands like Lancôme, Loreal, Chimelong, Toll group, Chemist Warehouse, Cebu Pacific. Etc. The team of multilingual experts have curated targeted and localised content for these brands over the years.

WeChat

As one of China’s top social media platforms, WeChat is an application that runs on a Chinese individual’s phone by default. With over 1 billion users, WeChat is an a one in all app that offers an array of functions right from hailing a cab to shopping online and of course texting.

Digital Crew has helped brands like Cebu pacific, Chemist Warehouse, Kiehls, Ironfish, Chime Long etc to scale up their Chinese marketing strategies through successful WeChat and Weibo campaigns

Cebu Pacific WeChat Statistics Result

The organisation is a multi-award winning multilingual digital agency with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Tokyo, New York and Mumbai. They specialize in Chinese, English, Japanese and Hinglish Digital Marketing services. They help brands target audiences in local and international markets by generating leads, improve user engagement, raise brand visibility, increase sales, and build successful partnerships.

Alicloud Partnership

Digital Crew established their partnership with Alicloud 3 years ago with a view to improve the efficiency of their website services as a result of which:

-The intuitive ICP application process has eased the workload for the web development team

-Strong server access throughout Mainland China has fastened the domain and hosting process

-Supportive assistance in a timely manner by dedicated personnel has helped us update features quickly

-The compatible credit system for simple payment solutions doesn’t come with any hidden costs and the buying process is as transparent as it can be.

-The Comprehensive server and website monito have relieved administrator pressure

Google

Digital Crew signed up with Google as a partner in 2008 and continues to grow stronger with its presence on the search engine till this very day. The Google partnership has benefitted the agency and strengthened client relationships:

-The partnership has increased the client revenue growth and sustained the client base

-The specialized partnership has helped Digital Crew leverage search and optimise the website for some of the biggest brands

-The supportive algorithm has worked in favour of the team across multiple countries

-Access to exclusive business strategy consulting from Google has put the agency at the fore front of its search game

For more information on Chinese Digital Marketing, Download our E-book

The post Digital Crew Has Officially Joined Hands With Weibo And WeChat appeared first on Digital Crew.

About Toutiao News

Jinri Toutiao, which translates into English as ‘Today’s Headlines’ is a news and information content platform that was launched in 2012. Forbes reports it currently has around 80 million daily active users and 4,000 content partners. Toutiao also makes considerable use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to drive its platform. The app is providing popular with investors due to its stable traffic and platform format.

Toutiao:

• Uses AI to filter and distribute news content, but does not have writers or editors of its own.
• Breaks content into smaller ‘bites’ and uses various formats to appeal to younger users. These include videos, cartoons, GIFs, and a lighter style and approach than some of China’s other news platforms.
• Makes use of a combination of human reviewers and automation to identify and filter out fake news and plagiarised content.
• Provides tailored content feeds and in-feed advertising to users, based on their click-history and location.
• Uses machine learning to generate short sporting reports.
• Provides a self-publishing platform for media organisations, a video channel where users can create and upload their own short videos, and a live interactive Q&A / discussion platform.

The company is also currently expanding internationally, notably in India, Indonesia and the USA.

Toutiao’s growth has been quite staggering. For example, Technode reports that from 2014 to 2016, its revenue from advertising grew from 300 million RMB ($US44 million) to 6 billion RMB ($US886 billion). According to Forbes, the company is valued at $US11 billion. It also recently secured $US1 billion in funds for further expansion.

Why might Toutiao outrank tech giant Baidu?

Baidu has been generating revenues from a considerable amount of search advertising, mostly from the health and medical industry. Its revenue suffered a major blow in 2016 due to tighter government regulations regarding the advertising of health and medical products. This was largely driven by the death of a cancer patient following the use of an experimental treatment advertised on Baidu.

However, Baidu is now fighting back by developing its own in-feed ads and personalised content.

Some analysts have also said that Toutiao’s profit margin is relatively low, and that the company would require considerable growth to catch up to Baidu.

Time will tell what will happen next, but it certainly appears that Toutiao News will be keeping Baidu on its toes and giving it a run for its money!

If you would like to find out more about online advertising in China for your business, get in contact with our bilingual digital marketing team.

The post Why Baidu May Need to Watch its Back Around Toutiao appeared first on Digital Crew.

Content is at the heart of Baidu optimisation. Creating great content can help you rank well, get noticed by your target market, and engage with them.

Here’s how to optimise your content for Baidu.

Content marketing for Baidu

Your content needs to be high quality, relevant and interesting to your audience in order to rank well on Baidu. It also needs to be unique –  just like Google, duplicate or low-quality content will risk a penalty on Baidu.

According to Search Engine Land, Baidu’s ranking factors include the following:

• Correct language – content and tags should be written in simplified Chinese characters.
• Clear content definitions – especially since a single word in Chinese could convey several different meanings. This makes it vital to use a person fluent in Chinese and English to translate your content, rather than a software program.
• Keywords and popular search terms – while these are not as relevant for Google as they once were, they still hold sway with Baidu, although it’s important not to overuse them.
• Backlinks – as for keywords, link building is an important factor for Baidu.
• Fresh content – it’s important to regularly post new content, such as blog articles, to increase the visibility of your site. Articles should also be submitted to Baidu’s newsfeed.
• Local hosting – hosting your site in China will ensure faster page load times than if you host offshore.

Putting it into practice

While these factors need to be taken into consideration, remember that the whole point of your content is to communicate with real people.

Provide solutions to problems they may be grappling with, or give them information they need. Make your content engaging and entertaining, as well as informative.

Here are some tips:

• Provide content that is relevant to your specific target audiences. This may require segmenting your audiences into categories according to their demographics, needs and interests.
• Vary the content types – you can do this by using videos, images and infographics as well as text.
• Share on Chinese social media platforms – social media is often used by Chinese netizens to check out goods and services, so make sure to share your content regularly.
• Listen as well as speak. In China, relationships are particularly important. Listen to what people say and want, and respond to comments on forums and social sites.
• Deliver on your promises. Positive reviews can be pretty powerful in China, so make sure to always provide top quality service.

Content is just as important for increasing your visibility on Baidu as it is on Google, and it should form a key part of your overall marketing strategy. For assistance with content marketing in China, contact our bilingual team!

The post Top Tips for Enhancing Your Content for Baidu appeared first on Digital Crew.

Optimising a site for Baidu helps to make it more visible and more easily found by Chinese audiences. It has quite a number of similarities to optimising for Google in Australia, and some rather stark differences as well.

One of the main similarities to Google is that regularly updated and high-quality content is vital, and increases the chance of better ranking, as does ensuring your site does not have any duplicate or plagiarised content.

Some of the differences to western search engines revolve around the use of language, backlinks, keywords and phrases, as well as site hosting, censorship and design.

Baidu China SEO tips

Here are a few tips for how you can optimise your site for Baidu.

• Language:

Just as we might dislike sites here that use poor English or badly translated content, the same is true for China. It’s not good enough to simply use a translation widget to convert an English-language site into another language. Instead make sure to get someone with a good grasp of the nuances of Chinese language and culture involved in the development of your site from the start.

• Keywords and phrases:

While keywords don’t hold the same sway they once did for Google and other western search engines, with Baidu they are still a strong ranking factor. So make sure to do good keyword research and include them in title tags, meta descriptions, headers and content. It’s important that your keywords and search phrases are in popular use by your target audiences, and that they fit with your site’s overall content and describe your brand.

• Title tags and descriptions:

As for keywords, these tools are also still in use in the west, but they are more of a ranking factor for Baidu than Google. Make sure yours provide an accurate description of webpage content and are inviting enough to encourage users to visit your site.

• Loading times:

No one likes a slow-loading site, and Chinese internet users are no exception! The best way to ensure faster loading times for Chinese websites is to have them hosted on mainland China. To do so with your website you will need an ICP (Internet Content Provider) licence and number to avoid your site being blocked.

• Link building:

Backlinks are another ranking factor with Baidu. Quality as well as quantity is important in this regard, so the important thing here is to ensure your links are high quality and relevant.

Key things to avoid doing

There are few things to avoid as well, including:

• Links to foreign sites, as this could slow down your pages.
• Links to sites blocked in China such as Facebook and Twitter. Make use of China’s social media platforms instead, such as Sina Weibo.
• Topics, statements and words that are banned or could be considered controversial in China.

Optimising your website for Baidu might be essential for marketing in China successfully, but it is no simple matter. If you need assistance with any aspect of online marketing to China, contact our experienced bilingual marketing team.

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