DIGITAL CHINA:
WORKING WITH BLOGGERS, INFLUENCERS AND KOLS
Co-authored with Lauren Halloran
Want to know more about influencer marketing in the world’s largest and fastest growing online market? This is the second book in our series guiding you through China’s digital space. China is one of the most attractive markets in the world and collaborating with bloggers, KOLs and influencers is essential if you want to find a place in the consumer’s heart. Don’t know where to start? This book will help newcomers and experienced marketers alike gain insight and take action.
YOU'LL LEARN ABOUT :
- The Most Influential KOL Platforms and How They Work
- How to Find and Select the Right Influencer for You
- The Ins and Outs of Effective KOL Campaigns
- KOLs in action: Revealing Case Studies
If you need a clearer understanding of one of the most dynamic marketing areas in China, this book is for you.
Digital China: Working with Bloggers, Influencers and KOLs will help you to get the most from your
cooperation with influencers in China. Don’t miss your chance to get ahead of the game.
HERE’S AN EXCERPT TO GIVE YOU A TASTE
A KOL is a key opinion leader. In the West, they’re called influencers or thought leaders. They can be bloggers, online personalities or internet celebrities. Working with KOLs on Chinese social media is not just a necessity for businesses entering the market but also a key component in the marketing strategy of some of the world’s most famous brands.
Influencers have a stronger influence in China than they do in the West. They have follower bases who see their opinions and suggestions as credible and influential but they don’t just spread information. They also promote attitudes and approaches that affect the buying decisions of their followers and readers. Many also excel in driving online sales and unlike bloggers in some other regions, it’s not unusual for them to engage in direct sales.
With the expansion of official WeChat* accounts and with the growth of new platforms, their followers continue to grow, increasing their influence and value.
Who are these KOLs? How do they operate? And why do Chinese consumers look to them so consistently? Let’s find out.
REVIEWS
If you are new to digital marketing, Digital China: Working with Bloggers, Influencers, and KOLs by Ashley Galina Dudarenok is a great place to start. Using her experience and first-hand knowledge of digital marketing, the author presents the information in a clear way that even beginners can follow and understand. The author explains the rise of collaborating with bloggers, influencers, and KOLs (key opinion leaders) to find consumers. If you are trying to get people to your website or sell products, working with these types of people can do huge things for your business. While the book is written specifically for China, the lessons the author shares can be used anywhere since the internet is universal.
Jen C
While I’ve been marketing in the US for nearly a decade, I have little experience in China. The insights and clear, thoughtful writing in this book helped break down the complexities of this space. In addition to explaining the evolution of China’s influencer market, co-authors Ashley Galina Dudarenok and Lauren Hallanan offer practical tips on working with Chinese KOLs (key opinion leaders). I recommend this book to any marketer or entrepreneur looking to break into the Chinese market!
Sara DeForest
FAQ
KOLs stands for Key Opinion Leaders, they are online and social media stars who have become famous using social media and digital channels. They attract large fan bases ranging in sizes from hundreds of thousands to millions.
KOCs stands for Key Opinion Consumers, they are either nano-influencers or brand employees. Their voices and opinions are seen as more reliable and have very high engagement ratios.
Chinese consumers rely on word of mouth recommendations when choosing and purchasing products or services. There are even platforms built around word-of-mouth recommendations. Xiaohongshu, one of China’s fastest-growing social media platforms, has a community of over 100 million Chinese consumers who share product reviews for a variety of products.
Finding a KOL that perfectly matches your brand’s tone and image takes some groundwork. You can find a plethora of KOLs through the WeChat and Weibo search bar by searching up certain keywords and looking at the official accounts that come out in the results.
You may also look at Wei-Task, a platform where Weibo campaigns have to be registered at, and find registered bloggers on there. A place where you can look for top-performing KOLs is at the Taobao List Index, where you can see lists with a ranking of KOL broadcasters’ influences.
Brands can also reach out to KOL Marketing Agencies and companies that manage KOL Online Databases. While KOL Marketing Agencies specialise in connecting brands with suitable KOLs. databases can help users get the latest data on KOLs and some also list the price range for collaboration.
KOL promotions can be evaluated by their post views, likes, comments, follower growth, shares, number of hyperlink clicks, and sales.
While not all KOLs in China have fake followers, it is still very common. Accounts purchase fake followers in order to appear more popular. Some bloggers and marketing agencies even purchase them to reach KPI targets set by clients.
Viya is a popular live-streamer known as the ‘Livestream Queen’ for her ability to sell millions worth of products to her viewers. Li Jiaqi, also a popular live-streamer known as the ‘Lipstick King’, is considered one of the best beauty products salesmen in China. He is called the Lipstick King because he once sold 15,000 lipsticks within 5 minutes while live-streaming.
While not all KOLs are live-streamers, live-streamers can be classified under the KOL category. KOL is a broad term that described influencers with a certain level of promotion power, and live-streamers in the context of China marketing, refers to live anchors that promote products in their streams.
MEET ASHLEY DUDARENOK
Ashley is a well known marketing thought leader, LinkedIn Top Voice in marketing and an Asia-Pacific Top 25 Innovator. She has lived and worked in Greater China for over 15 years and is your go-to person for everything related to China marketing. Through her marketing agency, Alarice, she has worked with some of the world’s biggest brands and through ChoZan, she has given Chinese digital marketing training to teams at major corporations throughout Asia and globally. She has a large following on LinkedIn, where she publishes her China insights daily, as well as on her Instagram and YouTube channels.
She’s been a member of Alibaba’s Global Influencer Entourage from 2017 to 2019, a member of JD’s Global China Experts Group in 2018, and worked directly with a Tencent co-founder to conquer Western social media from 2017 to 2019.
Having already published three Amazon top sellers, Unlocking The World’s Largest E-Market: A Guide to Selling on Chinese Social Media, Working with Bloggers, Influencers and KOLs, and New Retail: Born In China Going Global, Ashley is always looking for ways to educate people on opportunities in China.
