Digital Marketing Inner Circle

Leveraging Digital Marketing in China for Luxury brands

matt@sinotechgroup.com.cn (Matt McDougall) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:27:06 +0000

Luxury businesses are feeling the effects of the economic downturn (although to a lesser degree in China) with growing job losses and plummeting consumer confidence. This has translated into cuts in retail spending; so many in the luxury brand category are looking for ways to reach the consumer in a more cost effective way. In a departure from traditional marketing practices, luxury brands are increasingly turning to the web for promoting their wares as well as seeking out new audiences that would rather chat online and read the BBS's than turn to more tradition marketing forms such as newspapers and magazines. The problem is that although luxury brands all have web presences now, many fail to realize the full potential of this medium.

Who Wants to Be a Chinese iPhone Marketer?

matt@sinotechgroup.com.cn (Matt McDougall) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 06:25:57 +0000

Last week, the Mac maker began selling the iPhone to Chinese nationals through a non-exclusive deal with China Unicom. But with only a reported 5,000 Apple phones having been sold since the Oct. 30 launch I am guessing there is lot of marketers running around discussing Plan B's and Plan C's.

I'm a Digital Marketer- Why Should I Learn Chinese?

matt@sinotechgroup.com.cn (Matt McDougall) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:57:33 +0000

This is yet another night in front of the computer, being introspective and trying to look forward at where us marketing professionals will be in a few years. I tend to start this 'introspective phase' with a cold beverage and a crazy idea. Tonight, it started after I finished chatting online with a friend where I finished with a "cu, 88"...

TripAdvisor (Daodao.com) buys Kuxun.cn

matt@sinotechgroup.com.cn (Matt McDougall) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:27:40 +0000

Travel-review Website TripAdvisor said Friday it is buying Kuxun.cn, a Chinese flight and hotel search engine, as it taps into a burgeoning tourism market buoyed by China’s resilient economy. TripAdvisor, owned by Expedia Inc. (EXPE), plans to invest more than US$50 million in China through late 2011, Chief Executive Stephen Kaufer told Dow Jones Newswires. The budget includes buying Kuxun, launching its own Chinese travel-review Web site, Daodao.com, in April, and hiring more staff.

China Has 360 Million Internet Users

matt@sinotechgroup.com.cn (Matt McDougall) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:07:13 +0000

According to statistics published during the 2009 China Internet Conference held in Beijing, by the end of September 2009, the number of China's Internet users had reached 360 million.

The Chinese Social Media Landscape

matt@sinotechgroup.com.cn (Matt McDougall) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 07:25:28 +0000

We, as Digital Marketing Specialists, are constantly preaching the benefits of social media to our clients. To us, everyone is eligible to participate and appreciate everything from brand recognition to improved ROI. Therefore, for those who want to work with Chinese social media, I have put together a simple diagram that outlines the main companies in various segments of the Chinese social media landscape. Inspired by Fred Cacazza, who put together a clear Social Media landscape diagram for Western marketers.

Don't Forget Men can Shop Too

matt@sinotechgroup.com.cn (Matt McDougall) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:44:16 +0000

Men hate to shop -- or so goes the stereotype. But does that still hold true today when eCommerce is becoming an online channel that should not be ignored? Has the focus been on targeting women for so long that marketers and retailers have created environments that alienate almost half of the adult population?

Baidu Posts Decent Search Engine Growth In China But Expects Negative Impact In Q4

matt@sinotechgroup.com.cn (Matt McDougall) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:27:00 +0000

Chinese search engine company Baidu Inc. announced its unaudited financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009, and stated though its revenue rose, it forecasts weakness in the Chinese Internet sector.

Baidu Inc. (BIDU) reported that its third-quarter earnings rose 42%, but their shares fell after hours as its forecast for the current quarter disappointed analysts. Baidu's earnings fell to 492.9 million yuan ($72.2 million), or 14.14 yuan ($2.07) per share, compared with 347.9 million yuan, or 10 yuan per ADS, a year earlier. Revenue rose 39% to 1.28 billion yuan ($187.3 million).

Building a Social Media Travel & Tourism Strategy

matt@sinotechgroup.com.cn (Matt McDougall) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 12:48:10 +0000

Social media is one the hottest issues within the travel & tourism industry today. In addition of its popularity Social Media has become one of the tools for various purposes - - branding, improving customer loyalty, lead generation, direct marketing and e-commerce.

Online Marketing Strategies to Combat Slumping Travel Sales

matt@sinotechgroup.com.cn (Matt McDougall) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 10:29:40 +0000

Over the past decade, China has rapidly emerged as the second largest travel market in the Asia Pacific (APAC). With the world's largest base of Internet users, China has seen an explosion in online activity and Internet entrepreneurship particularly in the travel, tourism and hospitality industry. The Chinese travel market is benefiting from these emerging technologies, supply-side deregulation and rising wealth. Therefore is no better time for travel companies to capitalize and establish a comprehensive digital marketing strategy.