When selling products on TikTok in China or any Chinese platform, language and cultural considerations play a pivotal role in making your communication effective. Here’s a comprehensive guide on language considerations for product descriptions and communication:
1. Use Standard Mandarin (Simplified Chinese):
- The official language of China is Mandarin, written in simplified Chinese characters. While there are various dialects across different regions, Mandarin is the most widely spoken and understood.
2. Localized Content:
- Rather than merely translating English content, it’s essential to localize the content, taking into account cultural nuances, slang, idioms, and region-specific terminology.
3. Professional Translation:
- Invest in professional translation services to ensure accuracy and appropriateness. Mistakes or misinterpretations can be damaging to your brand’s image.
4. Short and Clear Descriptions:
- TikTok and other social media platforms often involve quick scrolling. Your product descriptions should be concise and captivating to grab the viewer’s attention instantly.
5. Utilize Keywords:
- Integrate popular and relevant keywords. It helps in SEO optimization and ensures your product shows up during platform searches.
6. Use of Numbers:
- Some numbers are considered lucky in China, such as 8, while others like 4 (sounds like the word for “death”) are considered unlucky. Consider these cultural nuances in product pricing or quantities.
7. Interactive Language:
- Encourage engagement by using interactive language, asking questions, or encouraging viewers to participate in polls or share their opinions.
8. Emojis and Stickers:
- Emojis and digital stickers are popular in Chinese online communication. Use them to add flair and relatability to your messages, but ensure they are culturally relevant.
9. Addressing Cultural Festivals and Events:
- When creating content around holidays or festivals, make sure you’re well-versed with their significance. For instance, messages during Chinese New Year should resonate with the festival’s traditions and sentiments.
10. Customer Support Communication:
- Ensure that customer support can communicate efficiently in Mandarin. Quick and effective communication, especially post-sale, significantly enhances brand trust.
11. Test and Adapt:
- Continuously monitor the performance of your product descriptions and communication. Collect feedback and adapt your language strategy accordingly.
12. Multimedia Content:
- When using videos or graphics, ensure that any spoken language or text within them is also appropriately translated or localized.
13. Regional Variations:
- China is vast, and different regions may have different preferences or slang. While standard Mandarin will be understood by most, tailoring content to specific regions can sometimes be beneficial.
By prioritizing language considerations, you not only make your products more appealing to Chinese consumers but also demonstrate respect and understanding of their culture, fostering trust and brand loyalty.
PLTFRM is an international brand consulting agency that works with companies such as Red, Tiktok, Tmall, Baidu, and other well-known Chinese internet e-commerce platforms. We have been working with Chile Cherries for many years, reaching Chinese consumers in depth through different platforms and realizing that Chile Cherries exports in China account for 97% of the total exports in Asia. Contact us and we will help you find the best China e-commerce platform for you. Search pltfrm for a free consultation!
