What Is Xiaohongshu?
China has its version of almost every mainstream Western social media platform—case in point: WeChat, an equivalent to Messenger and WhatsApp combined. Then there’s Baidu, which rivals Google. However, one social app has gained international fandom: Xiaohongshu (小红书).
Globally, users refer to it as “Little Red Book”. It was launched in 2013 as a photo and video review platform. Chinese travellers would recommend beauty products purchased outside mainland China and share their experiences — hence the slogan “Finding Stuff Overseas.”
It started as a platform catering to the beauty and fashion community but has now expanded to cover various topics, including travel, food, fitness, and lifestyle.
Billed as a Chinese version of Instagram, Xiaohongshu is China’s most trusted social shopping platform.
Xiaohongshu boasts an engaged user base, with a significant portion of its audience comprising young, affluent, and influential consumers. Over 300 million users (mostly Gen Z women) log into the app monthly, looking for beauty tips, travel recommendations, and dinner advice. Hence, it presents a golden opportunity for foreign brands to showcase their products and services to a massive and eager audience.
The app blends e-commerce, content creation, and community building into one comprehensive social marketing platform. It’s rewriting the rules of online shopping, revolutionizing product discovery, and creating a new way for brands to engage with Chinese Gen Z consumers.
Think of Instagram, Amazon, and Etsy as being rolled into one.
So, if your business wants to break into the Chinese market, Xiaohongshu should be at the top of your list. To help you navigate the app, we’ve prepared this guide to walk you through the basics of marketing your brand on Xiaohongshu.
Eventually, the platform would start attracting people with no travel intent. As a result, Xiaohongshu was forced to expand its missions, incorporate more features, and build an ecosystem that serves users with various interests.
That would see to it that they also changed their slogan to “Marking Your Beautiful Things.”
Although the app mainly specializes in beauty and fashion products, it recently positioned itself as a lifestyle app, catering to all interests and passions, including gaming, home, food, travel, entertainment, parenting, creativity, culture, and education.
It also expanded its content to include original articles, live-streaming videos, video reviews, social events, etc., transforming from a product discovery platform to a comprehensive social app.
How Does Xiaohongshu Work?
One of the most impressive aspects of Xiaohongshu is its incredible number of features.
At a casual glance, the app combines social media and e-commerce, powered by user-generated content.
Xiaohongshu users can share experiences and recommendations, create mini-blogs (“Notes”), upload videos or photos to the platform, and join events and group activities.
So, how do all these features blend?
Well, the app has three different feeds:
- Explore
- Follow
- Nearby
Users who log into the app will first see the posts on the Explore feed. Here, they’ll see posts they’re interested in based on their browsing history and previous interactions with the app.
The Follow feed, on the other hand, is a more personalized version of the Explore feed. Users see posts from the users they follow like they do on Instagram or Twitter.
The Nearby feed is a bit different. Here, users can check out recommendations and other posts from people who live in their area or city. They can sort posts by distance, making it especially helpful to those travelling or looking for cool places to shop, eat, or hang out.
These features allow Xiaohongshu users to build their community and explore interests and passions worldwide, which is why it has become a popular choice for brands looking to reach out to their target audiences.
The Key Features
Xiaohongshu’s user interface is similar to that of any other major social media platform. Its feed includes images, text, videos, live streams, hashtags, and descriptions.
The app also offers a trendy “browsing” feature that helps users discover products, stores, events, and services related to their interests. The platform also enables users to search for products using its highly effective search bar.
As far as text goes, the longer the post, the better. Xiaohongshu users are known for being quite detailed in their posts, and long-form content is viral on the platform, giving them more room to express their thoughts.
Lengthy posts are referred to as ‘notes’ and are particularly helpful to users who want more information on a product or service. Users can comment on them, share them, and even save them to their collections.
Users can add a hyperlink to a “note,” directing their followers to the brand’s app page or website. That smooths the transition from social media to e-commerce, which brands looking to drive sales through Xiaohongshu appreciate.
Finally, users can interact with the platform the same way they interact with other social media platforms. They can like, comment on, share posts, and follow users that they find interesting or have similar interests.
Xiaohongshu Vs. Instagram: Let’s Compare and Contrast
Xiaohongshu is China’s version of Instagram, but that’s not to say it’s a copy-and-paste of the world-famous platform. Xiaohongshu has many unique features that distinguish it from Instagram, making it an ideal choice for brands targeting Chinese audiences.
Let’s look at the similarities:
The interface is very similar to Instagram. Both have a feed-style layout, with images and videos in a grid formation. Users can add text descriptions, hashtags, and emojis to each post.
Users can like, comment, share, and follow other users. They can also share posts from other users to their feeds. Brands can post content either through the app or via a web browser.
Now for the differences:
Instagram emphasizes visuals and aesthetics, while Xiaohongshu focuses more on content. Unlike Instagram, lengthy reviews, personal stories, and other editorial content are highly encouraged.
Xiaohongshu allows brands to be more creative with their content by allowing them to post interactive quizzes, polls, coupons, and even live streams. This kind of engagement is tough to replicate on Instagram.
Also, Xiaohongshu is more focused on selling products. Instagram is more of a platform for people to show off their lifestyles. On Xiaohongshu, brands can create product pages and link product listings directly to the app. That makes it much easier for users to purchase items if they like what they see.
Xiaohongshu Usage Statistics and Trends in 2024
- Xiaohongshu is everything Instagram isn’t, and it’s growing fast. As of March 2023, there were over 174 million monthly active users on Xiaohongshu.
- The app is particularly popular with female Chinese users, with male users accounting for less than a third of the user base.
- After receiving massive funding in 2021, the app would be valued at $20 billion. That makes Xiaohongshu one of today’s most valuable social media platforms.
- In 2022, the app had over 400 million registered users in China and over 15,000 official brands.
- Female audiences between 18 and 30 dominate the app.
- Xiaohongshu isn’t only used in China. It’s consumed worldwide and has over 30 million monthly active users outside China, especially in Southeast Asia.
- 70% of the content posted on the platform is user-generated, making Xiaohongshu one of the most interactive social networks.
- Xiaohongshu conversion rate now rests at 8% — 2 to 3 times the average on other ecommerce platforms.
- Xiaohongshu makes up 15% of the Chinese online ecommerce market share, making it a serious player in the industry.
Demographics: Xiaohongshu is a female-first app that caters to young Chinese women between 18 and 35 years of age.
Although different sources have different opinions of the app, most agree it’s the perfect platform to target millennials and the Gen Z audience.
It’s also an excellent platform for lifestyle and fashion brands as they can show off their products more effectively, e.g., by creating content around the product or running campaigns with influencers.
Let’s talk numbers:
- Female users account for about 70 and 80% of the total users on Xiaohongshu. Other sources report that this number might even be higher, with one source suggesting it could be as high as 95%.
- Don’t get it wrong: while Xiaohongshu is predominantly a female platform, the number of males using this app has steadily risen.
In 2021, the number of notes on technology and auto rose at a monthly rate of 7.2% and 28.4%, respectively.
- In 2022, Xiaohongshu users generated about 360 million notes (posts), with many of the notes coming from entertainment (20.342 million), beauty (26.956 million), and food (33.686 million) categories.
- The three categories (entertainment, beauty and food) accounted for about 23% of total notes posted.
Food notes accounted for 9% of the market and were ranked first.
The food notes posted were mainly tutorials, food matching, and shop exploration.
- Beauty notes came second, accounting for 7% of the market, followed by entertainment.
The notes mainly included beauty tutorials, makeup sharing, recommendations, and product reviews.
- What’s more? 50% of these users are between 18 and 35 years old and living in Tier 1 and 2 cities.
- And it’s not just an online thing. In June 2018, the platform launched a brick-and-mortar store in Shanghai.
Taiwan has the highest number of Xiaohongshu users, followed by Malaysia and Hong Kong, with Singapore coming in fourth with 742,767 users.
Here’s a simple breakdown of the top 10 countries with the most active Xiaohongshu users:
| Country | The Number of Active Users | The Estimated Reach |
| 1. Taiwan | 3,063, 879 | 6, 127, 758 |
| 2. Malaysia | 2,529,932 | 5,059,863 |
| 3. Hong Kong | 1,271,774 | 2,543,547 |
| 4. Singapore | 729,125 | 1,485,534 |
| 5. Japan | 678,423 | 1,458,249 |
| 6. Canada | 712,626 | 1,425,252 |
| 7. Australia | 678,423 | 1,356,846 |
| 8. Macao | 245,292 | 490,584 |
| 9. Korea | 244,437 | 488,874 |
| 10. Vietnam | 234,668 | 469,335 |
Over 200 million users are actively using Xiaohongshu worldwide.
Active User Distribution by Age
- Nearly 33% of Xiaohongshu users are below the age of 24.
- Only 18% are above the age of 41.
- 5% are between 31 and 35 years old, while only 11.2% are between 36 and 40.
Source: Statista
You must have noticed the pattern:
The majority of Xiaohongshu users are young, and as we advance in age, the number decreases.
As of September 2023, 68% of Xiaohongshu users are female.
Its users are mainly middle to upper-class citizens with high spending power.
Number of Monthly Active Users of Xiaohongshu from 2020 to 2023
Xiaohongshu hit the 200 million MAUs mark in September 2023.
Here’s a simple breakdown of the monthly active users from 2020 to 2023:
- 2020: 121 million MAUs
- 2021: 159 million MAUs
- 2022: 163 million MAUs
- 2023 (September): 200 million MAUs
As you can see, the number of Xiaohongshu MAUs has increased since 2020, after falling slightly in March 2022 and picking up immediately after.
Between June 2023 and September 2023, the app gained nearly 10 million new users, making it one of the fastest-growing social media apps today.
The Most Popular Products on Xiaohongshu:
The three most popular products on Xiaohongshu are Skincare, Clothing, and Cosmetics:
Here are the top ten most popular products on Xiaohongshu:
- Skincare
- Clothing
- Cosmetics
- Electronics
- Home Items
- Jewellery
- F&B
- Body care
- Health supplement
- Mother and Baby
- Bag
- Shoes
- Sport
- Pet
Xiaohongshu’s User Trends
Here are some interesting stats on XiaoHongSgu user trends:
- 69% of Xiaohongshu users log into the app to look out for trendy products or make their purchase decisions.
- 81% of users are always willing to buy a product after viewing its content on the app.
- A Xiaohongshu user spends about U$567 on the app each month.
Xiaohongshu’s Consumer Cycle
The consumer cycle on the app can be summed up in three: Read => Like => Buy.
Consumers will first read a post, and if they like it, they will buy it.
The social commerce closed loop is efficient for conversion, turning online traffic into sales.
The fact that users can purchase a product directly after seeing it makes the app super-efficient in driving sales.
Here’s the typical consumer cycle on the app:
- A consumer reads a shopping note left by another user
- The user is convinced they should make a purchase
- Proceeds to buy it and then share their experience on the app via a post or comment. They’ll be detailed in their review, highlighting the critical points of their experiences.
- Other users read their posts or comments and decide if the product is the right fit for them.
Xiaohongshu eliminates the need for users to search for product reviews and recommendations on search engines or any other app. Instead, the app contains all the information they need to decide if a product is truly worth their hard-earned money.
Its focus is on user sharing their experiences, and word-of-mouth experiences make the app successful at what it does.
The Marketing Opportunities on Xiaohongshu
Xiaohongshu offers a wide range of marketing opportunities at a casual glance.
First, you can quickly tell it’s an excellent match for ecommerce brands in the beauty and fashion industry.
However, the potential is not limited to just those industries; there is also a lot of potential in the automotive industry, financial services, and more.
Xiaohongshu is also a shopping platform and information hub. Brands can use it to engage with customers, provide them with detailed product information, and even run short-term giveaways or contests that are guaranteed to boost brand engagement.
Before making any major purchase decision, users engage with other app users to discuss their thoughts about products in the comments section.
How Can Brands Leverage Xiaohongshu Marketing Options?
Now that you know what Xiaohongshu is all about and the various marketing opportunities it provides, let’s talk about how brands can leverage these options.
Open an Official Brand Page if You Haven’t Done So Already
If you haven’t done so, opening an official brand page is the first step in leveraging Xiaohongshu’s marketing opportunities.
Nearly 20,000 brands have opened official accounts on the platform, which shows its influence.
Having an official brand page will allow you to post images and videos, write notes, interact with followers, and, most importantly, set up your store on the platform.
So, why is this a great marketing strategy in the first place?
First, having an official brand account is the only credibility guarantee you can have on the platform. It’s how you win users’ trust and get them to interact with your brand.
Second, it helps you build relationships with users by answering their questions and engaging in conversations. Provided you do it right, you can share your content, capture their attention, and turn them into loyal customers.
Last but not least, it will help you reach a new audience and expand your customer base. The followers you get are your brand advocates. If they like your content, enjoy your products, and trust your brand, they’ll help you spread the word.
So, how do you achieve that?
Create video content
Videos are the new language of the internet. They have better interaction rates than text and images.
Make sure that your video content is fun, informative, and entertaining. You can make tutorials, product reviews, unboxing videos, and other types of content that will captivate your audience.
Post Consistently
It helps to create a content schedule for your brand. You don’t want to overload your followers with too much content, but you don’t want them to forget about your brand.
After you launch, make sure you post something every day/week. It could be a funny meme, an informative article, or even a simple update on your brand.
Engage with followers
Don’t just post content and leave it as is. Engage with your followers in the comments section. Ask questions about their experiences and respond to their comments. That will help build trust and strengthen your relationships with them.
Be sure to respond to comments quickly so they don’t feel ignored. You should also visit other brands’ pages and comment on their posts.
Optimize the Keywords in your note’s title.
Xiaohongshu’s algorithm works much like Google’s. It looks for keywords in the title of your notes, analyses your post engagement, and ranks it accordingly.
You should include the keyword in your post’s title and ensure that it accurately reflects its content.
Promote Your Posts on Other Social Platforms
Promote your content on social media platforms like WeChat, Weibo, and Douyin. That will help you reach more people and extend your brand’s influence beyond the Xiaohongshu.
Create Special Promotions or Giveaways
People love free stuff! Try hosting giveaways or promotions to give your followers a chance to win something.
Working with Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) and Key Opinion Consumers (KOCs)
If you’ve ever researched influencer marketing in China, you know that one of the most effective ways to promote your brand is by working with KOLs and KOCs. T
Chinese like referring to influencers as KOLs and KOCs (KOL stands for Key Opinion Leaders, and KOCs stands for Key Opinion Consumers).
Since Chinese users don’t trust random information they find online, they tend to look for KOLs or KOCs to validate their claims.
KOLs are revered influencers with big, loyal followings. They are industry experts specializing in specific topics and have a knack for compelling content. They’re reliable, knowledgeable, and trustworthy.
KOCs are everyday users on Xiaohongshu who have gained notoriety and followers due to their honest reviews. They usually specialize in a particular product category or type of content. KOCs aren’t as influential as KOLs, but their opinions and voices still carry weight– since they’re real customer experiences, people tend to trust them more.
By partnering with KOLs or KOCs, you can leverage their influence to reach new audiences and promote your brand on Xiaohongshu. It’s also an effective way to get people talking about your products or services.
While KOLs are viewed as mini-celebrities, KOCs are more relatable and easier to contact. Finding influencers who fit your brand’s values can be tricky. However, knowing where to look or how to contact them could pay off big time.
Paid Advertising
Xiaohongshu supports paid advertising. However, unlike Instagram, its targeting options aren’t as advanced. For example, when targeting users based on their interests, you can only choose from 20 interest groups.
Plus, they only support two ad formats:
- Pop-up Ads: These ads appear when users launch the Xiaohongshu app. They can be dynamic or static images with accompanying text.
- Integrated Ads: These ads appear in the app’s discovery section alongside organic content, but they have small advertising marks.
Suffice it to say Xiaohongshu’s advertising options are pretty limited. However, they’re still an effective way to reach various audiences and promote your brand on the Little Red Book.
A Rising Opportunity for Gaming Apps
The Xiaohongshu is home to a rapidly growing gaming community.
According to hi-com Asia, gaming is the fastest-growing topic in the app. Notes in the gaming category increased by 31.9% month-on-month in the second half of 2021.
This presents an excellent opportunity for gaming app developers to reach new audiences and increase user engagement. As gamers always look for new ways to engage, they could be the perfect target market for your product or service.
And since most of the top games are produced by Chinese publishers (Tencent, NetEase, etc.), it’s easy to see why Xiaohongshu is an attractive option for gaming app developers.
So, what type of games dominate the Xiaohongshu?
Since most Xiaohongshu users are female, it is no surprise that most games on the platform are geared towards female gamers.
The most popular genres in The Xiaohongshu are games on couples and other role-playing games. These games are story-based and feature various characters, making them particularly attractive to female gamers.
Since the Xiaohongshu allows users to interact with each other while playing these games, it can also be used as a platform for building relationships between players—something that appeals to many female gamers.
Setting Up Your Xiaohongshu Account
Before diving into the exciting world of Xiaohongshu marketing, you must establish your brand’s presence on the platform. Setting up an account is relatively straightforward, but there are a few essential steps to ensure you make a memorable first impression.
- Choose the Right Account Type: Xiaohongshu offers two types of brand accounts: business accounts and personal accounts. Business accounts are ideal for foreign brands promoting their products and connecting with potential customers directly.
- Optimize Your Profile: Your profile is your brand’s virtual storefront, so make it enticing! Choose an eye-catching profile picture and write a compelling bio highlighting your brand’s unique selling points. Don’t forget to include a link to your website or online store to drive traffic and sales.
- Understand Your Audience: Take the time to research your target audience on Xiaohongshu. Understand their preferences, interests, and pain points. This knowledge will help you craft content that resonates with them and builds a genuine connection.
Creating Engaging Content for Xiaohongshu
Now that your Xiaohongshu account is up and running, it’s time to create content that captures the hearts and minds of your audience. Keep in mind that authenticity is critical to Xiaohongshu. Users value genuine experiences and reviews, so focus on providing value and building trust with your content.
- Product Reviews and Recommendations: Share honest product reviews and recommendations that showcase the benefits of your offerings. Authenticity is crucial here – avoid overly promotional language and focus on real-life experiences.
- Storytelling with User-Generated Content: Encourage your customers to share their experiences with your products through user-generated content. Reposting their stories adds a personal touch and creates a sense of community around your brand.
- Incorporate Visual Appeal: Xiaohongshu is a visually-driven platform, so ensure your content is aesthetically pleasing. High-quality images and videos will capture attention and encourage users to explore further.
- Leverage Trending Topics: Follow trending topics and hashtags on Xiaohongshu. Aligning your content with popular trends increases your chances of reaching a broader audience.
Engaging with the Xiaohongshu Community
Xiaohongshu is not just a platform for brands to broadcast their messages; it’s a thriving community where interaction and engagement are highly valued. Here are some tips for fostering a strong bond with the Xiaohongshu community:
- Respond to Comments and Messages: Respond promptly to user comments and messages. Engage in conversations, answer queries, and show appreciation for positive feedback.
- Collaborate with Influencers: Influencers hold significant sway over their followers on Xiaohongshu. Partnering with relevant influencers can expose your brand to a larger audience and enhance your credibility.
- Host Giveaways and Contests: Everyone loves a good giveaway! Organize exciting contests and giveaways to incentivize users to engage with your brand and increase your reach.
- Stay Consistent: Regularly update your Xiaohongshu account with fresh and relevant content. Consistency builds trust and keeps your audience coming back for more.
Harnessing the Power of Xiaohongshu KOLs (Key Opinion Leaders)
In the world of Xiaohongshu, Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) hold immense influence over their followers. These influencers have built a loyal fan base through authentic content and engaging storytelling. Collaborating with the right KOL can significantly boost your brand’s visibility and credibility. When choosing a KOL, focus on relevance and authenticity. Look for influencers whose values align with your brand and whose audience matches your target demographic.
KOLs can help you reach a wider audience, introduce your products, and even provide valuable insights into the preferences of Chinese consumers. Their content can range from product reviews and unboxings to lifestyle vlogs and travel diaries. Be open to creative collaborations and let the KOL’s personality shine through to connect with their audience on a deeper level.
Running Xiaohongshu Marketing Campaigns
Consider running dedicated marketing campaigns to maximize your brand’s impact on Xiaohongshu. Campaigns allow you to focus your efforts on a specific goal: introducing a new product, boosting sales, or increasing brand awareness. Here are some campaign ideas to get you started:
- Product Launch Campaign: Build excitement around the launch of a new product by teasing its features and benefits before the official release date. Engage your audience with sneak peeks, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive offers for early adopters.
- Holiday and Seasonal Campaigns: Embrace the festive spirit and create campaigns around significant holidays or seasons. Offer special promotions, limited-edition products, and holiday-themed content to captivate your audience during these occasions.
- User-Generated Content Campaign: Encourage followers to create and share content about your brand or products. Host a UGC contest or challenge to showcase your audience’s creativity and reward the best submissions.
- In-App Challenges: Xiaohongshu occasionally hosts in-app challenges that users can participate in. Align your brand with relevant challenges to gain visibility and increase engagement.
Analyzing Performance and Refining Your Strategy
As with any marketing effort, measuring the performance of your Xiaohongshu campaigns and content is essential. Xiaohongshu provides analytics tools for business accounts, allowing you to track metrics such as post views, likes, comments, and follower growth. Pay attention to what resonates most with your audience and use that insight to refine your future strategy.
Keep an eye on the performance of different content types, posting times, and collaborations with influencers. Use A/B testing to compare the effectiveness of various approaches and continuously optimize your content to improve engagement.
Staying Compliant with Xiaohongshu’s Guidelines
Xiaohongshu has specific guidelines and regulations that brands and influencers must adhere to. These rules are in place to maintain the platform’s authenticity and integrity. Familiarize yourself with the procedures to avoid potential issues and ensure a positive experience for your brand and audience.
Some essential guidelines to follow include:
- Disclosure of Sponsored Content: If you collaborate with KOLs or influencers, make sure they disclose any sponsored content or partnerships to maintain transparency.
- Authenticity: Avoid misleading or deceptive practices, and always provide honest reviews and recommendations.
- Intellectual Property: Respect the intellectual property rights of others and only use content you have the right to share.
Leveraging Xiaohongshu’s Search and Discovery Features
One of Xiaohongshu’s key aspects is its robust search and discovery features, which play a vital role in helping users find relevant content and products. Optimizing your content for Xiaohongshu’s search algorithms is essential to enhancing your brand’s visibility.
Focus on Keywords: Research and use relevant keywords that resonate with your target audience. Understand the terms they use to search for products and incorporate those keywords into your posts, captions, and hashtags. However, be sure to use keywords naturally and avoid keyword stuffing.
Hashtags: Xiaohongshu uses hashtags to categorize and organize content. Utilize popular and trending hashtags related to your brand and content to increase your reach and discoverability.
Geo-Tagging: If your brand has a physical presence in China, consider using geo-tags to target users in specific regions or cities. This can be beneficial for promoting local events, store openings, or region-specific offers.
Collaborating with Other Brands
Collaborations with other brands can effectively broaden your audience’s reach, tap into new markets, and create a buzz around your products. Look for brands that share a similar target audience and brand values. By combining forces, you can create unique and engaging content that appeals to your fan base.
User-Focused Content
Xiaohongshu is all about user-generated content and authentic reviews. Encourage your customers to share their experiences and feedback with your products. User-generated content adds a personal touch to your brand and acts as social proof, influencing potential customers’ purchasing decisions.
Leverage User Reviews: Highlight positive customer reviews on your Xiaohongshu profile. These reviews can serve as powerful testimonials that build trust and credibility for your brand.
Incorporate User Stories: Create content around user stories and experiences with your products. Showcase how your products have positively impacted their lives, and let these stories speak to potential customers.
Gamification and Interactive Content
Gamification is a fantastic way to engage your audience and keep them coming back for more. Consider hosting interactive quizzes, polls, and challenges that encourage user participation and reward them for their involvement.
Exclusive Offers: Create exclusive offers or discounts for Xiaohongshu users to drive engagement and encourage repeat visits. Limited-time promotions can create a sense of urgency and prompt users to take action.
Host Live Events: Live events are a fantastic way to interact directly with your audience in real time. Consider hosting live Q&A sessions, product launches, or behind-the-scenes tours to foster community and excitement around your brand.
Measure and Analyze Performance
To continually improve your Xiaohongshu marketing efforts, analyze your performance metrics regularly. Xiaohongshu’s analytics tools provide valuable insights into your audience’s behaviour and preferences. Track key performance indicators (KPIs) such as engagement, click-through rates (CTR), and follower growth.
Use this data to identify successful content types, posting schedules, and collaborations. Adjust your strategy based on what works best for your brand on the platform.
Stay Updated with Trends
Social media and e-commerce are constantly evolving, and staying up-to-date with the latest trends is essential for success. Follow Xiaohongshu influencers, other brands, and industry experts to keep a pulse on emerging trends and content styles.
Cultural Sensitivity and Localisation
Cultural sensitivity and localization are of utmost importance when marketing to a foreign audience. Understand the cultural nuances and preferences of the Chinese market, and tailor your content to align with the local culture. This approach will help you build stronger connections with your audience and avoid unintended misunderstandings.
Patience and Consistency
Building a solid presence on Xiaohongshu takes time and dedication. Be patient with your progress and remain consistent with your content creation and engagement efforts. As you consistently deliver valuable and engaging content, you will gradually build a loyal following and increase brand loyalty.
Celebrate Milestones and Engage in Celebrations
Celebrate your milestones on Xiaohongshu, whether reaching a certain number of followers or achieving a successful campaign. Engaging with Chinese festivals and celebrations is also a great way to connect with your audience and show appreciation for their support.
Customer Service and Engagement
Excellent customer service is critical to maintaining a positive reputation for Xiaohongshu. Respond promptly to customer inquiries and address any issues or concerns with a helpful and empathetic approach.
Stay True to Your Brand Values
Throughout your Xiaohongshu marketing journey, always stay true to your brand’s values and identity. Authenticity is highly valued on the platform, and users are likelier to connect with brands that share genuine stories and experiences.
Harnessing the Power of Analytics
Xiaohongshu provides valuable analytics tools for business accounts. These tools enable you to gain insights into your audience’s behaviour and measure the success of your marketing efforts. Leverage these analytics to fine-tune your strategy and improve your content’s performance.
Audience Demographics: Analyze your audience demographics to understand who your content resonates with the most. This data will help you tailor your content to meet their interests and preferences better.
Engagement Metrics: Track engagement metrics such as likes, comments, and shares to identify which content performs best. Use this information to create similar content that captivates your audience.
Content Performance: Measure the performance of individual posts to see which topics and formats generate the most engagement. Adjust your content strategy based on what works best.
Follower Growth: Keep an eye on your follower growth rate to assess the effectiveness of your marketing efforts. Consistent growth indicates that you are connecting with your target audience effectively.
Advertising on Xiaohongshu
In addition to organic content, Xiaohongshu offers advertising options to help you reach a wider audience and accelerate your brand’s growth. Xiaohongshu’s advertising platform allows you to promote your posts and products to targeted users based on their interests and behaviours.
Sponsored Posts: You can promote your organic posts as sponsored content to increase their visibility. Sponsored posts appear in users’ feeds and can reach users who do not follow your account.
Product Listings: If you are an e-commerce brand, Xiaohongshu’s product listing ads allow you to showcase your products directly on the platform, making it easier for users to discover and purchase your items.
KOL Collaborations: Partnering with influential KOLs for sponsored content can help you reach their extensive and engaged follower base and significantly amplify your brand’s visibility and credibility.
Challenges and How to Overcome Them
While Xiaohongshu offers incredible opportunities, you may encounter a few challenges. The good news is that you can overcome these hurdles and thrive on the platform with the right strategies.
Language Barriers: The language barrier might be challenging for a foreign brand. However, using professional translation services or hiring local talent to create content in Chinese can bridge this gap and make your brand more accessible to the Chinese audience.
Understanding the Chinese Market: The Chinese market has unique cultural norms and consumer behaviors. Study the preferences and values of Chinese consumers to create content that resonates with them.
Navigating Regulations: As a foreign brand, you need to know the regulations and guidelines specific to the Chinese market. Familiarize yourself with e-commerce and social media regulations to ensure compliance and avoid legal issues.
Local Competition: The Chinese market is highly competitive, with many local brands vying for consumer attention. Differentiate your brand by highlighting your unique selling points and emphasizing your international appeal.
Building Trust and Credibility: Trust is crucial in Xiaohongshu. Focus on building credibility by delivering authentic content, engaging with your audience, and leveraging user-generated content to showcase positive customer experiences.
Measuring ROI: Measuring the return on investment (ROI) for your Xiaohongshu marketing efforts can be challenging. However, by tracking relevant metrics and using data analytics, you can gain valuable insights into the impact of your campaigns.
Patience and Adaptability
Success on Xiaohongshu, like any social media platform, doesn’t happen overnight. It requires patience, perseverance, and a willingness to adapt and evolve your strategy based on user feedback and data.
Monitoring and Staying Informed
Stay informed about updates and changes to Xiaohongshu’s algorithms, guidelines, and features. Regularly monitor your content’s performance and stay updated with industry trends to remain ahead of the curve.
Celebrating Milestones
Celebrate your achievements and milestones on Xiaohongshu, whether reaching a significant number of followers or successfully running a viral campaign. Acknowledge and appreciate your audience for being part of your journey.
Seeking Local Expertise
Consider collaborating with local marketing agencies or hiring Chinese marketing experts to guide your Xiaohongshu strategy. Their insights and expertise can be invaluable in navigating the nuances of the Chinese market.
Connecting Beyond Xiaohongshu
Xiaohongshu can be essential to your overall marketing strategy in China but don’t rely solely on one platform. Integrate your Xiaohongshu presence with other social media channels, your website, and offline marketing efforts for a comprehensive brand presence.
Embracing Chinese Culture and Festivals
As a foreign brand looking to connect with Chinese consumers on Xiaohongshu, embracing Chinese culture and participating in major festivals can be a powerful way to resonate with your audience. Chinese consumers are deeply attached to their cultural heritage and place significant importance on traditional festivals.
Chinese New Year: Celebrate the most significant festival in China, Chinese New Year (also known as the Spring Festival). Create festive-themed content, share blessings for the New Year, and offer special promotions to delight your audience during this joyous occasion.
Mid-Autumn Festival: Marked by mooncakes and family reunions, the Mid-Autumn Festival is another excellent opportunity to engage with your audience. Consider launching limited-edition products or promotions that align with the festival’s traditions.
Dragon Boat Festival: This festival is synonymous with dragon boat races and zongzi (sticky rice dumplings). Get creative and craft content around these themes to pique your audience’s interest.
Double 11 (Singles’ Day): Double 11, also known as Singles’ Day, is the world’s largest shopping festival. Offer exclusive discounts, collaborate with influencers, and create a buzz around your brand to seize this massive sales opportunity.
Double 12 (Online Shopping Festival): Double 12 is another online shopping extravaganza following Singles’ Day. Participate in this festival with exciting promotions and interactive content to keep the shopping spree going.
Honest and Transparent Marketing
In the world of Xiaohongshu, transparency and honesty are valued above all else. Consumers appreciate brands that are open about their products, pricing, and practices. Avoid making exaggerated claims or false promises in your marketing.
Avoid Misleading Advertisements: Ensure your marketing materials accurately represent your products or services. Be clear about their features, benefits, and limitations.
Customer Reviews and Feedback: Encourage customers to leave honest reviews and feedback on your Xiaohongshu profile. Address negative feedback professionally and strive to improve your offerings based on user suggestions.
Social Responsibility: Showcase your brand’s commitment to social responsibility and sustainable practices. Chinese consumers are increasingly conscious of brands’ ethical stances, and aligning with their values can strengthen your brand’s reputation.
Showcasing Behind-the-Scenes
Giving your audience a behind-the-scenes glimpse into your brand can build a sense of intimacy and authenticity. Share how your products are made, introduce your team, and take your audience on a virtual tour of your workspace or production facilities.
Incorporate Chinese Influencers in Content Creation: Collaborating with Chinese influencers is about reaching their audience and gaining insights into local trends and preferences. Allow influencers to take your audience behind the scenes and share their experiences with your brand.
Leveraging Xiaohongshu’s E-Commerce Capabilities
Xiaohongshu is not just a social media platform but also a powerful e-commerce platform. Brands can sell products directly on the platform, making it convenient for users to purchase without leaving the app. As a foreign brand, leveraging Xiaohongshu’s e-commerce capabilities can significantly expand your reach and boost sales.
Product Listings and E-Commerce Posts: Create eye-catching product listings with detailed descriptions, high-quality images, and links to your online store. Consider using Xiaohongshu’s e-commerce posts to offer exclusive discounts and promotions for users who purchase through the platform.
Cross-Border E-Commerce: Xiaohongshu offers cross-border e-commerce options for foreign brands looking to sell to Chinese consumers—partner with trusted logistics providers to ensure smooth and reliable delivery to your Chinese customers.
In-App Purchases: Explore Xiaohongshu’s in-app purchasing options, where users can make quick and seamless purchases within the platform. Providing a hassle-free shopping experience can significantly impact your conversion rates.
Optimizing for Mobile Users
In China, mobile usage is widespread, and Xiaohongshu is no exception. As you create content for the platform, remember that most of your audience will be accessing it via mobile devices. Optimize your content for mobile users with these tips:
Mobile-Friendly Layout: Your content should be mobile-friendly, ensuring it looks great and is easy to navigate on smaller screens.
Short and Snappy Content: Keep your captions and content concise and engaging to cater to users who prefer quick and digestible information on their mobile devices.
Vertical Videos and Images: Use vertical videos and images to optimize the viewing experience on mobile phones, as these formats are more natural for mobile users.
CTAs for Mobile Users: If you’re directing users to your website or online store, ensure that the Call-to-Action (CTA) buttons are easy to tap on mobile screens.
Leveraging Xiaohongshu’s Beauty Filters
Beauty filters are a popular feature on Xiaohongshu, allowing users to enhance their photos before sharing them. Brands can also leverage beauty filters in their content to create visually appealing and aspirational posts.
Subtle Enhancement: Use beauty filters subtly to enhance the overall look of your images without making them appear overly edited.
Highlighting Products: Beauty filters can help accentuate product details and make them more visually appealing.
Authenticity is Key: While beauty filters can enhance the aesthetics of your content, remember to maintain authenticity and not overly alter your brand’s identity.
Collaborating with Beauty and Fashion Influencers
Beauty and fashion are among the most popular niches in Xiaohongshu. Collaborating with beauty and fashion influencers can have incredibly impactful effects on your brand, as these influencers have dedicated and engaged fan bases.
Influencer Marketing Campaigns: Collaborate with influencers for dedicated marketing campaigns, such as product reviews, try-on hauls, and styling tips.
Beauty and Makeup Tutorials: Partner with beauty influencers to create tutorials featuring your products, showcasing their usage and benefits.
Fashion Lookbooks: Fashion influencers can create lookbooks with your clothing and accessories, inspiring their followers to incorporate your products into their style.
Influencer Takeovers: Allow influencers to take over your Xiaohongshu account for a day, allowing them to share their unique perspective and connect with your audience directly.
Measuring and Adjusting Your Strategy
As you execute your Xiaohongshu marketing efforts, it’s crucial to monitor your performance and adjust your strategy based on the data you collect.
Track Key Metrics: Keep a close eye on engagement metrics, follower growth, click-through rates, and conversion rates to assess the effectiveness of your content and campaigns.
A/B Testing: Conduct A/B testing with different content formats, posting times, and captions to identify what resonates best with your audience.
Learn from Competitors: Monitor your competitors on Xiaohongshu to understand what works well in your industry and identify potential gaps in the market.
Adapt and Evolve: Use the insights you gather to continuously improve your Xiaohongshu marketing strategy and adapt to changing trends and consumer preferences.
Collaboration with Chinese Influencers and Celebrities
Collaborating with local influencers and celebrities can be a game-changer for your Xiaohongshu marketing efforts. Chinese influencers and celebrities have significant influence over their followers, and partnering with them can considerably boost your brand’s exposure and credibility.
KOL and Celebrity Partnerships: Identify key opinion leaders (KOLs) and celebrities in your niche or industry with a substantial following on Xiaohongshu. Reach out to them for potential collaborations, such as sponsored posts, product endorsements, or joint campaigns.
Brand Ambassadors: Consider appointing a local ambassador who resonates with your target audience and embodies your brand values. A brand ambassador can create consistent and authentic content, helping build brand loyalty and trust among followers.
Influencer Takeovers: Allow influencers and celebrities to take over your Xiaohongshu account for a day or a special event. Their unique content and personal touch can attract new followers and strengthen your relationship with your existing audience.
Event Collaborations: Collaborate with influencers or celebrities for product launch events, pop-up shops, or other offline experiences. Their presence can draw in a larger crowd and generate buzz around your brand.
Stay Compliant with Local Regulations
As a foreign brand operating on Xiaohongshu, it’s essential to be aware of and comply with local regulations and laws. China has specific regulations governing e-commerce, advertising, and social media. Failure to adhere to these rules could lead to legal consequences and damage your brand’s reputation.
Stay Updated on Changes: Keep yourself informed about any updates or changes to the regulations related to e-commerce, influencer marketing, and social media in China.
Work with Local Experts: Partner with local experts or legal consultants who understand the intricacies of Chinese regulations to ensure your marketing efforts align with the law.
Handling Negative Feedback and Crisis Management
In the age of social media, negative feedback and crises can arise unexpectedly. How you respond to these situations can significantly impact your brand’s reputation.
Address Negative Feedback: Respond professionally and empathetically when faced with negative feedback or criticism. Address the issue, offer solutions, and demonstrate your commitment to customer satisfaction.
Crisis Communication: In a crisis, be transparent with your audience and provide timely updates. If a mistake is made, you should apologise and take steps to rectify the situation.
Avoid Deleting Negative Comments: Deleting negative comments can be seen as a sign of trying to hide something. Instead, respond openly and constructively to show that you value feedback and are actively working to improve.
Community Management and Engagement
Community management is a crucial aspect of Xiaohongshu marketing. Engaging with your audience, fostering discussions, and responding to comments can strengthen your brand’s relationship with its followers.
Encourage Conversations: Pose questions and prompts in captions to encourage users to leave comments and engage with your content.
Reply Promptly: Respond to user comments and messages as quickly as possible. Timely responses show that you value your audience and their opinions.
Appreciate User-Generated Content: Appreciate user-generated content by reposting and crediting the creators. This encourages others to share their experiences with your brand.
Moderate Content: Monitor user-generated content and ensure it aligns with your brand’s values and guidelines. Remove any inappropriate or spammy content to maintain a positive and safe community.
Incorporating Influencer Challenges
Influencer challenges are a popular trend on Xiaohongshu, where influencers create content around a specific theme or topic and invite their followers to participate.
Create a Challenge: Partner with influencers to create engaging challenges around your brand or products. Depending on your brand’s personality, challenges can be fun, creative, or educational.
Hashtags and Participation: Use unique hashtags for the challenge and encourage users to participate and share their content using the hashtag.
Reward Participation: Consider offering rewards or prizes for the best entries in the challenge to incentivize more participation.
Track and Measure Results
As you implement your Xiaohongshu marketing strategy, tracking and measuring the results to assess your performance and make data-driven decisions is crucial.
Set Clear Goals: Define clear goals and objectives for your Xiaohongshu marketing efforts. Whether it’s increasing brand awareness, driving sales, or growing your follower base, having specific goals will guide your strategy.
Track Key Metrics: Use Xiaohongshu’s analytics tools or third-party platforms to track key metrics such as engagement rates, click-through rates, conversion rates, and follower growth.
Analyze Performance: Regularly analyze your content’s performance to identify what works well and needs improvement. Use this data to optimize your future content and campaigns.
Comparison with Competitors: Benchmark your performance against competitors in your industry to understand your position and identify areas where you can outperform them.
Experiment and Innovate
The world of social media is ever-evolving, and what works today may not work tomorrow. To stay ahead, embrace a culture of experimentation and innovation.
Try New Content Formats: Experiment with different content formats, such as short videos, tutorials, infographics, or interactive posts.
Stay on Top of Trends: Keep a close eye on emerging trends and popular content on Xiaohongshu. Being an early adopter of trends can give your brand an edge.
Embrace User Feedback: Listen to user feedback and take suggestions into account. Implementing user-driven improvements can enhance your audience’s experience.
Celebrate Success and Learn from Failure
Celebrate your achievements and successes on Xiaohongshu, whether big or small. Acknowledge your audience’s role in your success and thank them for their support.
On the flip side, don’t be disheartened by failures or setbacks. Treat them as learning opportunities and use them to refine your strategy and approach.
Building Long-Term Relationships
To establish a strong and lasting presence on Xiaohongshu, focus on building long-term relationships with your audience.
Consistency: Stay consistent in your content creation and engagement efforts. Regularly update your profile with fresh and relevant content.
Value-Driven Content: Provide your audience with informative, entertaining, and inspiring content that aligns with their interests.
Personalization: Tailor your content to meet the needs and preferences of your target audience. Show that you understand their desires and challenges.
Listening to Feedback: Actively listen to user feedback and suggestions. Incorporate their feedback into your future content and strategies.
Continuous Improvement: Never stop learning and improving. Keep an eye on industry trends and stay updated on the latest Xiaohongshu features and best practices.
Stay Engaged with Trending Topics
On Xiaohongshu, trends come and go quickly. Engaging with trending topics and hashtags is a great way to join conversations and gain visibility. Monitor the Discover page and popular hashtags to identify trends relevant to your brand. Incorporate these trends into your content and use the corresponding hashtags to reach a wider audience.
Collaborate with Micro-Influencers
While big-name KOLs can have a massive reach, collaborating with micro-influencers can be equally impactful. Micro-influencers have smaller but highly engaged and niche-specific audiences. Their followers often trust their recommendations, making micro-influencer collaborations an excellent way to connect with a highly targeted and loyal audience.
Localize Your Content
Localizing your content is essential when marketing to a foreign audience. Chinese consumers appreciate brands that try to understand and embrace their culture. Consider translating your content into Chinese, using culturally relevant references, and adapting your messaging to suit the preferences of your Chinese audience.
Monitor User Sentiment
Monitor user sentiment and conversations about your brand on Xiaohongshu. By keeping track of what users say, you can promptly address any concerns or issues. Engaging with users and responding to their feedback shows that you value their opinions and are committed to providing an exceptional experience.
Offer Exclusive Deals and Promotions
Xiaohongshu users love exclusivity, so offering special deals and promotions exclusive to Xiaohongshu can create excitement and drive engagement. Limited-time offers, flash sales and exclusive discounts can incentivize users to take action and make purchases.
Create Entertaining and Informative Content
Balance entertainment and information in your content strategy. Users on Xiaohongshu enjoy content that is both engaging and informative. Mix lifestyle content, product information, and educational posts to keep your audience entertained while showcasing the value of your products or services.
Invest in Influencer Relationships
Building solid relationships with influencers goes beyond one-off collaborations. Invest time and effort in nurturing relationships with influencers who align with your brand values. Cultivating long-term partnerships can lead to more authentic and compelling content that resonates with their followers.
Be Consistent with Posting
Consistency is vital on Xiaohongshu. Post high-quality content regularly to keep your audience engaged and interested in your brand. Create a content calendar and stick to a consistent posting schedule to maintain a steady presence on the platform.
Encourage User Interaction
Encourage user interaction by asking questions, hosting polls, and creating interactive content. Engaging your audience in conversations and involving them in your content creation process can foster a sense of community and loyalty.
Utilize Xiaohongshu’s Shopper Insights
Xiaohongshu offers shopper insights into business accounts, which provide valuable data about your audience’s shopping behaviours. Utilize this data to understand what products or categories are popular among your audience and tailor your offerings accordingly.
Leverage Collaborative Brand Content
Collaborative brand content involves partnering with other brands to create joint campaigns or content. These collaborations can introduce your brand to new audiences and provide a fresh perspective on your products.
Stay Adaptable to Platform Changes
Social media platforms are constantly evolving, and Xiaohongshu is no exception. Stay adaptable to changes in algorithms, guidelines, and user behaviour. Continuously analyze your content’s performance and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Incorporate Storytelling
Storytelling is a powerful tool to connect emotionally with your audience. Share compelling stories about your brand’s journey, the inspiration behind your products, or the positive impact your brand has had on customers’ lives.
Offer Educational Content
Educational content can position your brand as an authority in your industry. Create informative posts, tutorials, and how-to guides that provide value to your audience and showcase your expertise.
Run Contests and Giveaways
Contests and giveaways are a great way to increase engagement and attract new followers. Host creative and exciting contests that encourage users to participate and share your brand with their networks.
Utilize Influencer Authentication
Xiaohongshu has introduced an influencer authentication program to verify influencers’ authenticity and content. Working with verified influencers can provide your audience an extra layer of assurance and enhance your brand’s credibility.
Keep an Eye on Competitors
Monitor your competitors on Xiaohongshu regularly to stay informed about their strategies and performance. Understanding what works well for your competitors can provide valuable insights for your marketing efforts.
Measure Offline Impact
While Xiaohongshu is a digital platform, its influence can extend to offline actions. Monitor how your Xiaohongshu marketing efforts impact offline activities such as store visits, event attendance, or word-of-mouth recommendations.
Offer Exceptional Customer Service
Excellent customer service can set your brand apart from the competition. Respond to customer inquiries promptly and go the extra mile to resolve any issues or concerns they may have.
Use Xiaohongshu’s Influencer Seeding Program
Xiaohongshu offers an influencer seeding program where brands can send products to influencers for them to review and share their experiences. Leveraging this program can generate authentic reviews and drive interest in your products.
Explore Live Streaming
Live streaming is gaining popularity on Xiaohongshu, and brands can use it to engage with their audience in real time. Host live Q&A sessions, product demonstrations, or behind-the-scenes tours to create interactive experiences.
Stay Compliant with Copyright Laws
Respect copyright laws when using images or videos in your content. Ensure you have the right to use any media you incorporate into your posts.
Diversify Your Content Mix
A diverse content mix can keep your audience excited about your brand. To provide variety, mix your content with images, videos, infographics, and carousel posts.
Celebrate Chinese Culture and Heritage
Show appreciation for Chinese culture and heritage through your content. Celebrate traditional Chinese festivals, showcase local customs, and respect your Chinese audience’s cultural values.
Testimonial Videos
Consider creating testimonial videos where satisfied customers share their experiences with your brand. Testimonial videos can be powerful social proof and build trust with potential customers.
Leverage User-Generated Content in Ads
Use your advertisements’ user-generated content (UGC) to add authenticity and credibility. Highlight UGC, which showcases happy customers using your products or sharing positive reviews.
Prioritize Customer Feedback and Iteration
Always listen to your customers’ feedback and suggestions. Use this feedback to continually improve your products, services, and content strategy.
The Marketing Challenges You’re Likely to Face
While the Xiaohongshu provides an excellent opportunity for marketers to reach new audiences, it also presents some unique challenges.
The app has a much smaller user base than other Chinese social media apps such as Douyin and WeChat. Therefore, reaching a large enough audience with your marketing campaigns can be difficult.
Furthermore, the app’s focus on female users makes it difficult for marketers to target male audiences. As such, you’ll need to find creative ways to engage this demographic to tap into Xiaohongshu’s user base.
Here are some other challenges you’ll face:
- It doesn’t support third-party links, which makes it challenging to drive traffic from the app to your website or other platforms.
- The platform is mainly Chinese-based, so you’ll need to find creative ways to communicate with international audiences.
- It doesn’t allow you to directly mention competing apps (such as WeChat or Douyin) in your promotional material, so you must be mindful of the content you post.
- Conversion attribution and measurement are still challenging, as most analytics platforms do not support tracking conversions from Xiaohongshu.
- Words like Number 1, luxury, and expensive are not allowed in the app’s content guidelines because they can mislead users.
- To open a brand account, you need to complete a registration process and have your account verified. You’ll also be required to submit documents such as your business license, certificate of incorporation, etc.
- Finally, there isn’t an English version of the app, so you’ll need to translate your content into Chinese to be effective.
The Final Takeaway
Xiaohongshu may be a great platform for marketing, but it requires a lot of preparation and strategizing to make the most out of it. Before launching your campaigns, it helps to ensure you understand the app’s guidelines, target audience, and technical challenges.
Get creative with your content by using interactive elements such as GIFs, images, polls, quizzes, and more — these will help keep users engaged and make your campaigns stand out. Xiaohongshu is also an excellent platform for influencer marketing, so consider partnering with the KOLs and KOCs that best fit your brand.
