NEW TRENDS IN DIGITAL PR WORKSHOP (0)
New Strategies in Digital PR
CultureFish Media’s CEO Lonnie Hodge and and Sam Flemming, founder of CIC, China’s first Internet Word of Mouth research and consulting firm, are the featured speakers at the New Trends in Digital Media Conference in Shenzhen, China. Topics to be discussed include: Benefits of Online News Releases, Myths and Realities of Digitization, Trends in Digital Online Ads, applications of Internet word of Mouth and Online Reputation Management methods. The event will give attendees a competitive advantage over the competition by revealing information needed to catapult a company, event, brand or website to top positions in search engines world-wide.
The conference is part of a trio of charity events designed to entertain and inform while raising money for important charities. The three events include a golf tournament, a concert with Virgin records star Che’Nelle and the Digital Workshop.
Veteran and apprentice PR, Advertising, Online Reputation Management and SEO and SEM specialist will equally benefit from the half-day seminar to be held at the famed Mission Hills Resort. Known for being the world’s largest championship golf complex Mission Hills is also a 5-star conference facility.
All proceeds from the workshop benefit two literacy projects: The Library Project in China which builds facilities in rural villages and orphanages and the Reading Tub which supports opportunities for under-privileged youth in America.
Cost for the workshop is $200 USD and covers lunch and dinner at the resort. All attendees can bring their families and discounted rates up to 50% for rooms and activities will apply.
To register for the events simply pay online at the Dream Bash: http://dreambash.eventbrite.com
The workshop is sponsored by Digital PR and Marketing Specialists CultureFish Media.
—You may also attend ONLINE. The workshop begins at 1:00 PM China Time
Posted 2 May, 2008 in Seach engine Optimization, Search Engine Marketing, SEM, SEO, Internet marketing China, Chinese Media, SEO China Expert, Online Advertising, Online Digital Marketing, seo expert services guangzhou china, China Business Consultant, Seo China, Chinese Internet, China web 2.0, China Consultants Directory, China Search Engine Marketing, Global SEO Services, China Editorials, China Cartoons, The Internet, China Web 2.0, 中国, China Business, China SEO
What the Shrek?!: Animation in China (2)
Meet some of the world’s best animation industry experts–like the co-director of Shrek– and a ‘who’s who’ of the China animation industry in historic and beautiful Suzhou, one of China’s most beautiful Canal Cities.
TV, film, education and training, games, mobile, advertising, and online animation will be featured at the workshop/conference. Animation, fast becoming one of the strongest youth market categories in digital media, is something everyone involved in Internet Web 2.0 should know more about.
X|Media|Lab in Suzhou has been concentrating on a “wealth of animation” and has brought together a stellar range of animation experts from all over the world:
The Keynote Conference Day focuses on four themes: Animation Industry Development; International Business Opportunities; Quality Assurance and Management; and Technologies and Skills.
The Business Matching Forum focuses on participants. There will be an opportunity to meet up with animation industry experts, directly discuss your own animation ideas, and network yourself right into the heart of the animation industry, and explore business matching and partnerships with the other international participants at the Lab.
International participants include:
- Raman Hui - Guest of Honour - Co-Director “ Shrek the Third ” (Hong Kong, San Francisco)
- Michael Johnson - Moving Pictures Group Lead, Pixar Animation Studios (San Francisco)
- Duncan Brinsmead - Principal Scientist, Autodesk (Maya Software)
- Suresh Seetharaman - Founder and President, Virgin Comics and Virgin Animation
- Sue Erokan - Supervisor, Character Animation, Dreamworks
- Dan Scott - Head of Global Production, Nokia Games
- Masakazu Kubo - Executive Producer, Pokemon Film and TV Series (Tokyo)
- Xavier Nicholas - Managing Director, Lucasfilm Animation Singapore
- Heather Kenyon - formerly Director of Development, Original Animation at Cartoon Network
- Dale Herigstad - 5-time Emmy Award Winner, Schematic (LA)
- Nickson Fong - Founder, Egg Story (Singapore)
- Paul Steed - Founder, Exigent Studios (Los Angeles)
- Madhavan - Founder, Crest Animation (India)
- Michael Stevens - Board Member, Park Road Post (Wellington)
- Tatiana Kober - Founder, Bejuba Studios (LA and Toronto)
- Anand Gurnani - Founder, Animation ‘Xpress (India)
- Tim Brooke-Hunt - Head of Children’s TV, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Sydney)
- Alan Lindsay - CEO, Vue DC Group (Perth)
China participants include a ‘who’s who’ of the China animation industry including: the Dean of Animation, Beijing Film Academy; President, Great Dreams Cartoon Group; Executive Deputy Secretary General of China Animation Association, and Head of Digital Media Technologies, Beijing Institute of Technology; Executive Vice President of China Animation Association; Deputy Director of Digital Animation Creation R&D Centre, China Art Academy; Secretary General of Mobile Animation Industry Association; CEO of China Animation Association; Managing Partner of China Renaissance; the Vice President of ID Tech Ventures; and many others.
XML Suzhou will be the perfect place to make contact with some the best animation people from all over the world – whether you are interested in creative development, best practices, or business opportunities internationally or in China.
Suzhou is one of China’s animation centers of excellence, about 90 minutes north of Shanghai - and it exemplifies the “New China”: hundreds of huge new buildings springing up out of the ground, great vitality, and a commitment to developing the digital media industries.
Marketing partners the The China Business Network and International Online Reputation Management and Search Engine Marketing Agency Culturefish Media have a sign-up link here: Animation Workshop
从创意到财富——2008XML苏州动漫产业大会
5月8日-10日|苏州
结识四海精英，给你最好的融资拓展和国际市场方案！
★ 业界巨星阵容
★ 全新咨询模式
★ 黄金人脉拓展
全球顶尖的动漫行业精英首次云集中国苏州, 从商业模式、创意研发、生产管理、国际合作等各个角度为动漫公司提供咨询服务和发展机会。
18位国际顾问嘉宾包括《怪物史莱克3》导演Raman Hui, 皮克斯工作室电影部 负责人Michael B. Johnson, Autodesk（Maya软件）首席科学家Duncan Brinsmead, 维基漫画与维基动画 创始人兼总裁Suresh Seetharaman, 梦工厂角色动画 总监Sue Erokan等。更多名单详见www.xmedialab.com.cn。
9位国内顾问嘉宾包括香港万宽数码有限公司总经理黄宏显, 宏梦（上海）卡通实业有限公司首席执行官/宏梦卡通集团首席运营官王敬, 哥伦比亚广播CBS户外传媒（中国）有限公司合伙人刘均海 ,水晶石影视动画科技有限公司副总裁陈明等。更多名单详见www.xmedialab.com.cn。
从创意到财富——2008XML苏州动漫产业大会包括向所有动漫行业专业人士开放的一天专业论坛，以及接下来的两天封闭式实验室环节。
业界公司在XML精心设计的结构中有充分的机会和主动权结识任何感兴趣的嘉宾，展示自己的项目和团队，并获得他们的私人建议和业务支持。这种XML为业界公司提供的机会在全球动漫会展中都绝无仅有。
跨媒体实验室（X|Media|Lab）是一个享誉全球的数字媒体智囊团与创意峰会，专注于正在崛起的数字媒体市场的行业发展服务。
跨媒体实验室承诺所有的参会公司将获得：
1、 项目发展： 获得帮助以实现自己的项目创意。
2、 专业发展： 通过与全球范围内最好的从业者一起工作，丰富专业知识，提
升专业技能
3、 高价值的国际人脉网络：获得无可挑剔的全球专业朋友圈
跨媒体实验室致力于通过分享借鉴全球最好的动漫专家的知识和经验，协助打造成功的国产品牌。
更多资讯详见 www.xmedialab.com.cn .
如希望采访请联系： 袁培丽+ 86 139 1169 4727
Posted 16 April, 2008 in Reputation Management, Chinese Media, SEM, Online Digital Marketing, Online Advertising, Suzhou China, Animation, SEO, Internet marketing China, China Business, China Cartoons, 中国, Censorship, Chinese Internet, The Internet, China SEO
Brand and Reputation Management in China (5)
I have been thinking a lot about brand and reputation management (Yes, really!) in light of events in China over the last few weeks that I addressed in an earlier Onemanbandwidth post. Companies in the west tend to overlook reputation management unless there is a crisis and then it can be incredibly costly and I guarantee time will stand still during the repair.
It is especially hard on a multinational brand when negative publicity threatens them in a foreign country, like China. Suddenly every available bi-lingual marketer, search engine optimization specialist and online digital maketing company is called on to rebuild an image. A company should not have to ask, “Can we rebound from this?” Stock prices, and jobs will depend on the outcome.
Companies like CIC, the Internet Word of Mouth Research Company in Shanghai are called, after the fact, to assess damages and recommend strategies for leveling the Internet playing field again. If a brand’s good name is threatened a company should use (to exploit the metaphor) every play in the book to come from behind:
- Online Videos posted on popular Chinese video sites like Tudou and Youku and 56.com which may already be more popular here than Youtube.
For examples of success, look no further than the videos put out by Mattel and in America remember how Obama countered criticism of his pastor via Youtube and Facebook. - Buy Paid results in Chinese Search Engines. The first four search slots are for sale on Baidu and they have an incredible no-brainer tool I will mention later for branded terms and products. Partnering with Companies like Online Digital Marketing provider and Baidu partner Culture Fish Media, is a good idea. They will help you choose and translate, with help from CIC, the right keywords in the right local dialects. Armed with information and adwords they can then geographically target them for the right regions and toward the correct demographic profiles so you don’t waste advertising revenue with panic spending.
- SEO interface: Start looking again at keywords and language interface pages again. And be sure to hire a company in China that gets reputation management and IWOM.
- Because Bulletin boards (BBS) comments have such great authority in organic search results in China is is essental for a native team to continue to incorporate reputation monitoring as a regular business strategies. Ideally this is best done before a crisis.
Here are some facts compiled by the marketing pilgrim:
- 80% of adults are “very” or “somewhat” more likely to consider buying products recommended by real-world friends and family.
- 78% of executive recruiters routinely use search engines to learn more about candidates, and 35% have eliminated candidates based on the information they found.
- 52% of survey respondents from developed nations said they find “a person like yourself” to provide the most credible information.
- 87% believe the CEO’s reputation is an important part of a company’s reputation.
- 90% of consumers trust recommendations from others.
- 83% of companies will face a crisis that will negatively impact their share price between 20 and 30%, during the next five years.
- 100% of those reading this post have either a personal or corporate reputation to protect.
I would add that the stats for China, save the last one, are all higher. IWOM has far more impact here.
Some companies say full recovery from a PR trauma can take 4-41/2 years. That is a long time in the life of many stock portfolios. There is no need to get initial that situation in China in the first place. Baidu has a very inexpensive tool tailored for brands. It is called a power link:
Should your company have a trademarked name or branded service you can buy the entire first page of search results. On that page, a company can include up to 15 left-side links and a right hand display ad.
Think about that for a second: Owning your own page/keywords means a 100% click-through rate and 100% of the listings that are seen on the first page of results belong to you. It is the ultimate no-brainer for advertising.
Especially for a difficult to understand market like China it is important to begin SEM with a company, prior to an emergency, that can guide, nurture and maintain your online reputation.
—————–
Note:
Culturefish Media is currently working and with ad agencies, SEO firms and Independent marketing consultants to tailor solutions for online digital advertising and reputation management in China. Inquiries about partnerships and services can be made here: Culturefish
Posted 5 April, 2008 in China Business Consultant, SEO China Expert, 中文, Chinese Media, seo expert services guangzhou china, IWOM, Online Advertising, Online Digital Marketing, Reputation Management, Search Engine Marketing, Seach engine Optimization, The Internet, 中国, China Business, China web 2.0, Chinese Internet, Seo China, SEM, SEO, Internet marketing China, China SEO
Doing Business in China: Strategies (2)
Doing Business in China Part 2:
The third strategy in our series on Doing Business in China involves: “Besieging Wei to Save Zhao.” Basically this means that you don’t need a bigger army if you’ve got relative superiority at key points of contact. Ask anyone who has ever played the Japanese game of Go if they have ever lost due to “target fixation” by fixating on the larger battles and getting overtaken by the troops in the skirmishes. The story involves a general of Zhao, who allowed an opposing army to lay siege to the major city of Wei (one of 7 “key” cities) so that his army could exhaust his opponent and defeat them later.
During our time in China, and having traveled to meet dozens of top expatrapreneurs, we feel confident we could amass a formidable staff in your campaign for business superiority in China. The metaphor, however prosaic, stands to give you the information needed for relative superiority at any point of business contact:
Without a doubt, you’ll need China Law Blog as your JAG. If you have a question about the law you should be talking to Dan and Steve.They have the most powerful and best researched China blog on the Internet and don’t let the name fool you: they talk with good humor and keen insight about all aspects of life in China both personal and professional.
And recently we met Sam Flemming, CEO if CIC in Shanghai. His company, once providing niche research has created a mainstream standard in China and is an absolute necessity: to learn the latest IWOM buzz on your brand, Sam’s team provides the latest in searched-for terms for your product or service on in the China websphere and identifies for you all critical advertising data, reputation management information. Our Online Digital Marketing Company, Culturefish Media, has resolved not to enter into a large campaigns for clients without the thorough recon’ work offered up by CIC. Equally helpful is China Vortex, who keeps abreast of the latest Internet news, trends and information in China. And for in-depth knowledge about consumer markets in China, Shaun Rein and his team will prepare the field via white papers and in-depth reports that will guide you to success. And las, but not least is Marc Vanderchijs’ blog. Marc is a Dutch Entrpreneur and co-founder of the China video sharing site Tudou. Reading his blog wiill make you feel like you a fireside chat with a real veteran. There is much to be learned there.
For a good quartermaster, we heartily recommend All Roads Lead to China for the latest information about logistics, shipping, and import-export here in China. As for logistics, kinakontaak…kinaahgk…kinkatonkie the tall Scandanavian guys on the small motorbikes at Kinakontakten and the publicly traded kings of online savvy at Global Sources are two reliable resources for keeping supply lines open and moving with quality products.
For Engineers capable of helping you build a great business, Globe Forum and its SME incubator methodology will connect you with the world’s fast-growth and corporately responsible companies and opportunities.
In public affairs, Kaiser Kuo, Web Wednesday and Danwei are the best at what they do. All of them know the lay of the land and are not afraid to speak or change their minds as the truth mandates. If it is relevant, Kaiser, Napoleon and Jeremy have likely already talked about it over lunch or Twittered, Facebooked and Blogged it throughout the Middle Kingdom.
China biz needs an expat Signal Corps: men, women, and sites dedicated to quality digital content, keeping up with the latest in online technology developments. China Web Review 2.0 will keep up to date on the latest in Internet trends, David Feng will brief you on the latest updates on technology and trends (especially Apple Products), and ChinaOnTV will provide you with high-quality digital videos about anything from history to contemporary Kung Fu and Chinese Recipes. Meanwhile, China Webmasters will keep you ahead of the power curve and put your website on track for visibility in China.
For cultural affairs, Shanghaiist stands out as a great collection of the most interesting cultural news in China. From updates on the Worldwide Pillow Fight in Shanghai to updates on F-visas, these guys know what is going on. The defense language institute belongs to Chinesepod and The Lost Laowai Blog.
For personnel needs, look to ChinaBiz Speakers and the wealth of great knowledge these speakers can tap into. The top aggregator of talent driven content about doing business in China is the China Business Network. CBN, hosted by our comrade-in-arms Christine Lu, is a one-stop Linked-In connection for Web 2.0 in China and Silicon Valley leaders and visionaries.
Everyone needs a Morale and Welfare Corp, and in China’s all-too-serious blogosphere, some down-to-earth chopping wood and carrying water is needed. The Library Project, which builds literacy in orphanages and rural schools around China, does a great job of spreading goodwill as does The China Dreamblogue, whose purpose is to create travel, charity and educational opportunities for Westerners and Chinese while promoting engagement with all that is positive about China. CCTV9’s Culture Express provides a surprisingly well produced source of information about China’s remarkable past and contemporary cultural heritage. And since we live on the south we look to GZ nightlife, Shenzehn Stuff and the newest gourmet dining spot in the area belogs to our friends at Wilbur’s Guangzhou Restaurant–They even have their own private-label house wine if you get tired of that Rothchild’s brand.
There is plenty more to come. Not nearly as many links, but a footlocker full of books, movies, and other valuable resources….
Posted 2 April, 2008 in Internet marketing China, Chinese Internet, The Internet, New Blogs, SEO, SEM, China Law, SEO China Expert, 中文, Chinese Media, 中国, Top Blogs, Greater Asia Blogs, Hong Kong Blogs, Top China Blogs List, China web 2.0, Intercultural Issues, China Editorials, In the news, China Business, China Cartoons, China SEO
Doing Business in China (4)
Doing Business in China Guide
Part 1
(whew!)
This is our latest series on doing business in China. In these posts, our advice will correspond to the thirty-six strategies designed by the ancient and great Song general and strategist Tan Daoji–that is, we predicate all this advice on never using the 36 strategies as a way to do business in China. We have bookshelves stacked full of expensive kindling labeled “how to do business in China” that we will later use to heat our house.
The first listed strategy is “Deceiving the Heavens to Cross the Sea,” or man tian guo hai(And no, it’s not a reference to a sea-going Dali clique). While the strategy typically involves deception and refers to an advisor who got the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty so drunk and engaged in feasting for three days that the ruler had no idea he was on a boat–akin to the Beijing guides who accompanied press on yesterday’s “Meet the Lamas” broadcast.
Instead of learning to deceive the heavens, your best bet to getting introduced to China is learning some Chinese. Among our billions of dollars of unread books, unopened CDs, and untouched lessons, here are some tools we actually used to learn the language and culture of China:
The Rosetta Stone: though sometimes maligned for its interface, we give props to the English-free interface of the program and its integration of reading of and listening to Chinese characters from the beginning.
FSI language courses: a full and free year’s worth of free Chinese language instruction. This is the stuff the diplomats used to use and despite that it is hands down a great free tool for helping people learn to pronounce and listen to standard Chinese.
Chinesepod: Have a random question about Chinese? Allergic to parsley? Unsure about a specific word for sports? Head for Chinesepod. With a vibrant community of online learners, free daily podcasts, and a great selection of different tools like flashcards and online lesson reviews, Chinesepod’s collective of learners deserves its rock-star status on the net.
Lost Laowai: As always, well crafted by Ryan; Canadian accent comes free of charge, aye.
Berlitz: The only “learn Chinese in 30 minutes!” that actually works.
The next step is to get some culture (God knows we could use a lot more):
Lost Laowai, offers up real-life experiences of expats in China. We are hoping for the reality show to displace “swin in China.”
The HaoHao Report, everyman’s aggregator with Digg-like China focused features.
Panda Passport: Everything about China cyberspace you wanted to know but were afraid you’d get busted for on an IP violation.
RConversation, the most harmonious blend of blogging and citizen journalism on the web.
CDT, all the news from China blocked in China.
ESWN, a blog that brings together news from the East and the West–not the best in its class, but rather a species by itself.
Global Voices: China. The World is Listening. Are you?
China Herald, all the news that fit for bandwidth.
Cal Poly MBA Trip, a blog from the MBA Program with no ballast to throw overboard.
Thomas Crampton, former correspondent for the International Hong Kong International Herald Tribune, Mr. Crampton shares on-the-ground and insider info about the latest web innovations and websphere happenings in Hong Kong and greater China.
Imagethief, named for his photography habits and not for any actual Interpol related activity, is the creator of such marvels as the Stupidvator. a blog to lightens the cargo of the China blogosphere.
China Rises: Journalist and great story teller Robert Johnson: The only chief corresponsdent in China with hand-written instructions and a GPS reporter locator given by Central Government for any coverage of Tibet the Olympics.
China Blog List: a comprehensive guide to the many blogs passing us in the night.
The Opposite End of China: Life’s a Riot, and this blog reports on it. Veteran journalist Manning is as good as it gets and still chooses to farm tomatoes along the silk road.
More to come…
Posted 28 March, 2008 in Charity in China, 中文, Podcasts China, Chinese Proverbs, Chinese Media, Search Engine Marketing, China Book Reviews, SEO China Expert, China Business Consultant, Book Review, 中国人口福利基金会, Cal Poly, 中原, China Law, China Expat, china books, Seach engine Optimization, SEM, Teaching in China, China Editorials, China Cartoons, Intercultural Issues, Top China Blogs List, China web 2.0, Book Reviews, China Business, Confucius Slept Here, Internet marketing China, SEO, Seo China, Chinese Internet, 中国, The Internet, China SEO
Am I Hot or Not: Google vs Baidu (8)
He talks about Google trying to conjure up a potion to put some lead in its seach engine pencil in China. He fails to mention that they also need a dose of virtual Viagara in Korea, Russia and Japan to name three more….
But he does go on to say he is relatively, almost certain that Google might possibly join up with a Chinese music site to probably offer songs from Universal Music (home of the Soon-To-Be-Elevator-Music Artist’s Alliance) and conceivably (rumor has it) SonyBMG and EMI. Oh yes, and Stephen says “Warner Music, is also believed to have expressed an interest.”
He goes on to assert that Baidu is an “upstart search engine” (founded in 1999–one year after Google) operating in a “culture of piracy” and that it built its business on piracy and is getting “a large portion of its traffic from users searching for illegal music.” In Stephen’s world 7% is large– and no, I won’t make the obvious joke. The 7% represents music searches he assumes to be illegal.
He finshes up his article by expressing his belief that a Google led “experiment with advertising-funded free music in China would be a significant break with the past.” He fails to note that EMI and Baidu already have a deal to live stream Chinese songs and they are working on more aliances with companies and artists.
No I don’t have a rose-colored display on my computer and I know how prevalent IP theft is in China both on and off of the net. But, I also know China is not alone, but they do make good headlines.
Search for Utorrent software–the program that allows you to crib virtually anything–and you will find that it is not de-indexed by Google nor are most of the sites that post anything stealable from movies to games. Isohunt.com a favorite site for world-wide free-downloaders, was hosted in the US until very recently. And I don’t think YouTube is going to be winning any award’s from the folks at Creative Commons. How many steps removed must you be before we eliminate you from the accomplice’s list?
Baidu is in China the country the west loves to hate: they will happily exploit China to make a buck as they demonize them in the press.
On a lighter note: I look at Google and Baidu this way: Who would I want to take to the prom? Baidu is the nerdy kid with the cheaper clothes (Google’s R&D budget exceeds a quarter’s worth of gross revenue for Baidu) while Google is always in the running for Court King or Queen. Baidu saves , Google spends. Google wears contacts and a night retainer, Baidu has hardware and emo glasses. Baidu returns my phone calls, Google’s dance card must be full….
I love the underdog, the laughing dance partner with two left feet and the kids that are never picked for dodgeball: bloggers with humility instead of journalists without borders.
Cast your vote for hot or not:
Posted 9 February, 2008 in Seach engine Optimization, SEM, SEO, Internet marketing China, Search Engine Marketing, Chinese Media, Baidu, china expert seo services guangzhou, SEO China Expert, 中文, Seo China, Chinese Internet, Asian Humor, China Humor, Humor, China web 2.0, Asia, Intercultural Issues, The Internet, 中国, In the news, China Business, China SEO
Baidu Basics…. (6)
I was reading an article that merely posed the question: “Can Google Gain Ground on Baidu?”
The benign and oft asked question then regressed into odd xenophobic commentary and a recanting of long traveled urban myths about the world’s #3 search engine Baidu (百度)…
Some of the feedback:
“I heard china were banning US based search engines (yahoo,msn,ask,google) in a politically driven move.”
–I think we should ban bad grammar in post-based nonsense. No, Google (New Motto: “Do a Little Evil“), Yahoo! and the others voluntarily censor themselves in pursuit of the almighty Yuan.
“Baidu’s PPC management tool is far less advanced than that of Google. However, they simply dominate the Chinese market. It would probably change as search marketing industry matures in China.”
–Another English major heard from….Actually, Baidu has a number of tools and programs that I prefer over Google. They can, and will, work side-by-side with companies to ensure maximum exposure. They are now opening up API access to distributors and analytics firms to ensure the best ROI.
“Baidu has only page rank of 7 i think the chinese just dont feel home in google. you forgot to mention google have a local version in china called SOSO.
“another factor is in china end users cannot manage their adwords account only by special adwords brokers appointed by google if every chinese would have made one link for me i was happy man ”
–The above mentioned blog has a diverse, albeit moderately literate, readership. First (or is it “firstly” Des?), Google ranks sites in countries relative to each other. Were Baidu in America it would likely be an 8-9. Anyway, Baidu’s Page rank (capital ‘P” ’cause it is named for the inventor, not the function) is not likely to affect its keywords in western searches. Secondly, SOSO (搜搜) belongs to the “QQ” people at Tencent (note: 搜，which in Mandarin sounds like the English word “so,” means “search” in Chinese). Thirdly, i too was happy if every one of the 230 million users in China would made one link for me.
“Surely google will deserves a position wherever it may be…”
–Insert your own punch line here______.
“You shouldn’t take Baidu’s dominance at full face value, remember that the Chinese government essentially turned google off a couple of years ago and redirected all traffic to baidu. In fact, on a recent visit to China a good friend of mine found it’s still happening intermittently. Not that he minds the free movie and mp3 downloads…”
–1. There is no Google master switch in president Hu’s office. 2. My friend thinks he gets lottery numbers from re-runs of It’s a Wonderful Life. 3. Baidu (百度) is now pursuing contracts with artists and companies and even branding legitimate mp3 players for musicians and advertisers. The Chinese invented noodles and fireworks and may have discovered America, but they did not come up with bit torrent. 4. Current data shows Baidu’s market share in China to be at about 60%. Baidu says that the 60% figure may be accurate for total searches done through a China-based portal, but Baidu claims a 70-75% share for queries originating from in-country. Google is running a distant second and Alibaba is limping in at 3rd. Tencent’s SOSO is an also ran…
“baidu is targetting Only China , but Googole is targetting all the world , so google will have all the previleges to be the n 1 in the world”
–Baidu, in a questionable moment of marketing sanity, just launched a Japanese search engine. “Googole” may be targeting the world, but it is missing the bullseye and shooting itself in the foot in Korea (ever heard of Naver?), China, Russia (Yandex) and other markets. In the David and Goliath wars, my money is on David with his home-field advantage.
Any savvy marketer, blogger or SEO provider needs to understand the mechanics of regional search. For starters:
- Use properly translated keywords in your tags and text. Baidu and Google.cn are more likely to pick you up.
- Submit your URL to Baidu at: http://www.baidu.com/search/url_submit.html
- Be wary of foreign based SEO players outside of China that do not have an on-the-ground presence in country, or purport to know the market while telling you things like, “Simplified Chinese will be sufficient to serve all markets.” A good SEO will optimize for the various ethnic groups and service or product targets you choose. China has 56 ethnic groups and a minimum of 6 distinct markets that can require special understanding and consideration.
- Get an authorized Baidu agent to place any ads for you. Do not buy from any company that claims Baidu has a set-up service fee. Ask for a copy of their contract with Baidu and access to your own control panel, even though it will be in Chinese.
A special Baidu Basics seminar will be held on-line March 6th and is free. Click on the banner above and head for the contact page and drop us a note. We will try and save you a spot and email you information. Whether you are a blogger, businessman, or SEO provider, there will be information on how you can successfully interface with Baidu on behalf of your clients.
Posted 3 February, 2008 in UK SEO EXPERT, SEO China Expert, 中文, Korea, Tencent, QQ, Yandex, Soso, seo expert services guangzhou china, alibaba.com, Chinese Media, Search Engine Marketing, Intercultural Issues, Asia, China Humor, China web 2.0, China Business, 中国, Seach engine Optimization, SEM, SEO, Chinese Internet, China SEO
China SEO Expert Services (0)
SEO Consulting China
For paid campaign work, inclusion in Baidu or partnerships in keyword advertising on Chinese search engines please fill out the contact form at: Culture Fish Media
Unlike many other search engine consulting (SEO) firms, I can be quite flexible as I work with clients individually. From simple search engine optimization to full scale consulting I can assist. Work for Non-profits agencies is free.
SEO, SEM China Client Profile
Typical Search Engine Optimization Consulting Clients are owners of websites with a dedicated team of webmasters and programmers, or are internet website owners who can handle the basic coding required to undergo a successful search engine optimization campaign or have an employee who can assist them.
If you have no Internet expertise, I can provide team members who can do this work as independent contractors.
The Search engine consulting client (or the client’s webmaster) should be able to implement suggested changes with as little assistance as possible (or see above). I send all suggestions via email or transmit them telephone/Skype. I make things as simple to follow and and never complicate things.
The Search Engine Consulting client must commit to a minimum of 5 hours of SEO consulting. Ongoing work beyond the first five hours is negotiated after the first month. All search engine consulting services are on a pre-fund (up front) basis. Once your hours have expired, you must purchase more time via pay pal.
For search engine consulting clients, there are no guarantees: no minimum PR value and no guaranteed search engine positioning unless of course you purchase a PR package. I can then talk to you about guaranteed Page Rank in the engines.
I can advise on adwords campaigns, but will not manage the campaign. I take no commission from Google for any advertising. This policy leaves me free to make the best decisons for you.
Cost for Search Engine/ Chinese Market Consulting
$100-$200 per hour depending on needs…Free for non-profits
Writing Meta-tags and such are done at the same rate. It is always my goal to teach you or your team to do as much of this as possible yourself.
Most smaller websites can have all major problems dealt with in under 10 hours of consulting…
Posted 22 January, 2008 in SEO China Expert, 中文, UK SEO EXPERT, chinese serach engines, china expert seo services guangzhou, seo expert services guangzhou china, Search Engine Marketing, Seach engine Optimization, The Internet, 中国, Seo China, Internet marketing China, SEM, SEO, China SEO
China SEO Expert…. (3)
I am not at the top of the rankings as a Martian Search Engine (SEO) expert ( I am only 3rd), but I might be after this post! The algorithms that govern what is and is not registered by search engines like Google and Yahoo! are shape-shifters: They catalog combinations from blogs and websites that can mystify, amuse and swindle you. For example, I am #2 in Google for Adult Pampers Makers even though I can’t remember mentioning diapers on this blog. Maybe, I am too old to remember using them and too young to worry about them just yet. I believe, like Robin Williams, that diapers are like politicians and should be changed frequently because they are both full…
But, I digress…
I know about this listing because someone searched for the term, and my analytics program identified from whence they came. There are other authentic one-hit wonders for which I rank highly, though I am clueless about why people searched for them or why I showed up tops. They ALL beg for an aside, but I am resisting, thinking that you can use your imagination: Pocket Fisherman Diagram, Plentiful Breast Pictures, Professor Asshat, China Olympic Professor Blog, Hairy Chinese Women, Wedding dress Market Report in China, I had my hepatitis shot, but the test says I have no immunity, Naked nurse teaching in China, Anais Nin commerative coin, American Prostitute Self, Naked nurse teaching in starbucks china, quota of America to China, You Tube Hong Kong Free Sex Video, How culture affects the way we use utensils, and Cartoon Photos of a man being massaged among hundreds of others…
Some SEO “Experts” list some of the keywords they claim to have earned in Google’s top ten rankings. They claim that these listings attest to their prowess, and they use these words to convince you that they can move your blog, site or company into a position where you will get more hits and gain international fame and fortune. Most of the words are like the ones above.
Far too many so-called expert Chinese SEO firms prey on clients using this strategy. And most businesses, woefully unaware of SEO methods, are bilked out of thousands of dollars every year. The cost for a “hot word,” one with search results in the millions (think “Buddha,” “free buffet,” or “online video game”), is staggering: the top ten in Google is 20,000 RMB a year ($2,500 USD). A “cold word” with low search returns (think “delicious rat recipes” or “Japan learned everything it knows from the Tang dynasty”) will pull 10,000 RMB ($1,250 USD) from your wallet.
So, as an example, “China Expert SEO Consultant,” at 2 million returns, would cost you 20,000 RMB and bring you absolutely no traffic. “China SEO Expert Guangzhou” will get you two hits a day. I’m always suspect of the word “expert” anyway: In bomb school, an expert was laughingly referred to as a “former drip under pressure”–never a good thing in explosives. It was a surefire way to tell someone was not what they purported to be.
I have many great search results I’m proud of, but were someone to actually come to them, I would worry about their mental health or my ego. I am number one for “American professor” in Google, hands down, and I frequently use this in lieu of a business card when I forget one. I am also in the Google China top ten for “American blog” (out of half a billion returns) and number 1 for “handsomest American in China” (move your Canuck ass over, Da Shan!) And in all humility, I found I rank quite high for “China blog about nothing” and “Lonnie isn’t exactly the sharpest guy in the world,” which isn’t exactly what you’d want when you are trying to build up your consultant site that’s already number 1 for “china business consultant blog” in Google, Google China and Yahoo.
If you are really interested in a legitimate search engine marketing provider, drop me a note at via Culture Fish.
FYI: I am doing SEO work or global marketing lectures free for nonprofit groups or companies who agree to donate my normal fee to the China Dreamblogue project.
For a quote or a assessment of an Expert China SEO/SEM project in Guangzhou or elsewhere you may need please fill out the form below at EXPERT SEO SERVICES CHINA
Posted 25 December, 2007 in Internet marketing China, Guangzhou, SEO, SEM, Seo China, Chinese Internet, Hong Kong Stars, The Sharpest Guy on the Planet, Censorship, The Internet, Seach engine Optimization, Search Engine Marketing, China Expat, Beijing Olympics, UK SEO EXPERT, china expert seo services guangzhou, China Business Consultant, SEO China Expert, Chinese Media, 中文, American Professor in China, Guangzhou China, 中国, Greater Asia Blogs, Asia, Japan, China Expats, Asian Women, Asian Humor, China SEO, China web 2.0, Humor, China Humor, Intercultural Issues, China Editorials, Just Plain Strange, cartoons, In the news, Top Blogs, Weird China, China Olympics, China Cartoons, China Business, Gratuitous Cheesecake, Uncategorized
Cultural SEO in China (3)
There is a new kid on the China SEO Block! Well, actually it is a group of old hands who have pooled their talent to create a powerfully needed new company: Culture Fish Media.
CultureFish Media personalizes their China-US business partnerships with emerging and established companies to create recipes for growth in new market media using language and approaches sensitive to local tastes. CFM is a talent trust of friends dedicated to introducing ethical and passionate ideas effectively and sensitively into any cultural medium through Cultural SEO (CSEO) and SEM.
Culture Fish came about after I trued to place a few ads for an Israeli firm with Baidu’s local office. After two months of diligent communication, in-house training from Baidu for me and a group of digital interns, and several face to face visits with the ad manager. Tracking statistics were off, communication in English was impossible, IT changes could not be effected by the regional office and the Guangzhou branch refused to give me the number of the International sales office–actually they said they hey did not have the number…Lost it I guess.
About the same time a Fortune 200 company emailed me and said that the had tried repeatedly to contact Baidu by email to no avail. Several months and 80 some phone calls later , by me and various native Chinese speakers, I landed a meeting with Baidu HQ in Beijing. I took a savvy interpreter with me. In America I would have gone to the confab with guns blazing, but my translator assured me that I was dealing with incredibly nice people and it turns out she was right.
In their modest offices I learned that Baidu was self-effacing about their ability to communicate in English and anxious to find ways to capture and maintain International traffic. And part of the problem was that western SEO firms had a long history of misrepresentations to the International office. They had lost faith in promises of culture hopping fortune seekers. Having 60% of the search market in China tend to make bets on unknown entities a second thought….
It has taken a lot of diligence, patience and sincerity to build a solid foundation with a company essential to the success of any marketing program for a western company looking for business in China. We plan on a long and mutually prosperous relationship with the good people of Baidu.
We have also secured many other solid connections like the one we are fostering with Madhouse, China’s leading mobile advertising group and Alibaba the world’s largest B2B portal. All of them have been a delight to work with and understand that we not only know the Chinese market, but the sub-markets inside of China, so we will create higher ROIs for clients and creaste higher return advertsing statistics for the service providers.
(We have also initiated contact with Tencent of QQ fame, but it may take a regional conference with the dozens of lieutenants in their decentralized command structure to get very far with Tencent.)
So, as a result: a new standard in digital advertising in and from China has opened for business: CultureFish Media has joined together the world-class talents of an artistic and tech-savvy team to create culturally sensitive SEO (CSEO), SEM,Branding and Identity Management, Social Media Marketing & Tracking, Content Creation and Management in multiple languages, Ad Campaign Management: Print, Film, Digital,Interactive and Conventional (PPC, Banner, RSS, CPM…) Marketing while providing cost saving analytic Reports and ROI Maximization for emerging and established companies.
CSO, a new approach in on line content management and advertising and involves: Culturally Sensitive and Appropriate Keyword Programs for Countries and Targeted Regional Campaigns, language specific writing and editing, native translation and foreign language content management like website translation services,
CultureFish, whose clients include pizza parlors, camera shops, vacation clubs universities such as Cal Poly and Fortune 500 concerns like Oracle, can: Design Logos, Banners, CSS, and Total Campaign Management including China Web Design and other International Set-up, Email Campaigns, Feed Management, PR Releases and Optimization and Interface and partnerships with country portals and ISPs like the above mentioned Baidu, Naver, Alibaba, and Madhouse. We count Sina.com as a bad investment as they are pretty busy spending Google investment monies to answer business development calls,
CultureFish (文化鱼), via its slogan, “如鱼得水” (Like a fish in water), implies skill and dexterity at a task. Our English slogan, “Making Digital Waves,” speaks to our use of sophisticated content management, cutting edge networking, interactive and visual media, paid ad campaigns, organic search empowerment and public relations to pursue excellence through new media that will best reach consumers in their native tongues. The team, together fluent in more than 10 languages, offers world class services to bloggers, SMEs and multinationals in any geographical region.
Each member of our diverse team, hailing from America, Canada, China, Israel, and Singapore, is ethically and socially bound to best practices in SEO/SEM, and all aspects of business. Some profits are set aside for environmental and humanitarian causes: The , Charity and Overseas Education site The Blog of Dreams, our digital internship program, the online Olympic Souvenir Store for shopping online in China are three such projects. CultureFish will always provide generous time and talent to nurture promise, especially in individuals or enterprises facing socially difficult challenges or, through our affiliation with the China Business Network, SMEs doing business in China and other important digital markets.
Some statistics that caused us to re-think and re-tool culturally targeted marketing in China: