Jumping in unprepared is a common, and often costly, mistake. This checklist is designed to help you look inward, prompting critical questions across key areas to gauge whether your business is truly prepared to enter the Chinese market.

How will your business legally operate within China? Choosing the right market entry model is fundamental, impacting everything from your level of control and investment requirements to operational flexibility and regulatory pathways.

This guide provides an expert-level overview for brands operating stores on Tmall and Taobao. It goes into the daily operational routines, critical customer service practices and the key success factors and performance indicators.

Establishing a presence on Tmall, is a significant step towards accessing China's vast consumer market. Prospective sellers must look beyond the potential revenue and understand the financial commitments involved.

Long-term success isn't built on one-time transactions; it relies heavily on customer retention – encouraging shoppers to return again and again. In the unique and demanding Chinese market, one of the most critical factors influencing customer loyalty and retention is the quality of your customer service.

In the West, social media and e-commerce often operate in distinct spheres. You might discover a product on Instagram or Facebook, but completing the purchase usually requires clicking out to a separate online store. In China, however, these have effectively merged.

While building a strong brand presence through owned channels is essential, achieving significant visibility, reaching specific target audiences, and driving conversions necessitates a strategic investment in paid advertising.

Imagine a shopping experience that blends the entertainment of a live show, the interaction of a personal consultation, and the instant gratification of online purchasing – all rolled into one dynamic digital event. This is the reality of livestreaming e-commerce in China.

Chinese consumers heavily rely on recommendations, and influencers play a pivotal role in shaping purchasing decisions. However, the Chinese influencer landscape is nuanced, primarily divided between two key categories: KOLs and KOCs.

Often described as a blend of Instagram and Pinterest with a powerful e-commerce layer, RedNote (小红书 - Xiaohongshu) has carved out a distinct niche focused on lifestyle, product discovery, and authentic user experiences.

As the Chinese counterpart to TikTok, Douyin (抖音) boasts a massive user base, exceeding 730 million monthly active users. But Douyin is far more than just an entertainment platform; it has evolved into a powerful engine for brand discovery, engagement, and crucially, e-commerce sales.