(Source: https://pltfrm.com.cn)
Introduction
Too many overseas brands are still flying blind, celebrating vanity metrics while bleeding cash. These five hard truths – backed by real client data – reveal what actually works today.
1. 60–70% of Reported Conversions Are Not Incremental
1.1 The Harsh Reality of Cookie-Based Attribution Most Tmall and JD conversions would happen anyway via search or navigation. Real lift from brand ads is often <40%.
2. WeChat Private Traffic Is Now 5–15× More Effective Than Any Public Platform
2.1 Numbers Don’t Lie Average 30-day ROAS: Tmall search 2.5×, Douyin feed 4.2×, WeChat member reactivation 19–38×.
3. KOL One-Off Posts Are the Least Effective Format in 2025
3.1 New Winner: Long-Term Content Seeding + Private Domain Transfer Brands paying for single RED notes or Douyin videos see <1% transfer rate to sales. Integrated seeding → add friend → nurture flows deliver >25% transfer.
4. AI Creative + Smart Bidding Alone Can Improve Effectiveness 150–300%
4.1 Zero Extra Budget Required Same spend, 2–3× better results simply by switching to giant platform AI tools and value-based bidding.
5. The 80/20 Rule Has Become 90/10
5.1 Top 10% of Creatives + Audiences Drive 90% of Results Ruthless testing and rapid scaling of winners is now non-negotiable.
Case Study: Canadian Functional Beverage – From Break-Even to 730% Profit Margin A Canadian energy drink brand was breaking even on Tmall in 2024 with 2.1× ROAS. PLTFRM took over in January 2025, killed 88% of underperforming keywords and KOL posts, shifted budget entirely to Douyin AI creative + WeChat private domain, and implemented daily incrementality monitoring. Nine months later: profit margin 730%, 162,000 active members, zero dependency on platform subsidies.
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!
