WeChat is the Chinese app that I mention often when speaking about being successful in this market. I teach in-person and online training programs to help tourism professionals learn WeChat. Chinese use this app and conduct business inside this app every day.
Have you heard the statistic that over 1 BILLION people use WeChat? But maybe you think it’s just another social media tool, and you will have another staff person learn it. Or you will just continue to reach out to operators using email and the phone, like everyone else stuck in 1999.
It’s your day to realize that if you want to be successful attracting Chinese visitors to your destination, you need to learn – and use- WeChat. Listen to my friend Jennifer, owner of Apple Express USA :
3 Ways to Use Wechat
- When you meet tour operators at tradeshows, WeChat is the best way to connect. In fact, some tour operators are telling me that they don’t even use business cards anymore. They use the QR code option built into WeChat to scan people’s profile information. It’s easy too!
- When you want to promote your attraction or destination in a ‘non-salesy’ way, sharing photos and information on WeChat is a great way to do it. You will find that the tour operators will comment too!
- When you want to have a quick conversation with someone on WeChat, audio message works great. It’s basically an instant messaging system. If someone wants to know your pricing or hours of operation? Just leave a quick voice message.
Why WeChat will become more popular in the U.S
As the China visitor market slowly rebounds we will see how WeChat is used. Younger visitors and those FIT visitors will want to have the option to use WeChat Pay. This is just another type of mobile payment system, and your business should be ready to accept mobile payments.
Students from China attending U.S. universities will naturally create an interest in learning this platform from other students. Student tour operators would do well to learn this app- it’s where all your clients are!
This platform is always evolving and travel is an area that will benefit from the growth. Understanding its capabilities and the expanding reach is important for U.S. based tourism businesses like you!
Want to learn WeChat?
If this is a tool you are ready to learn, I have a perfect solution! I created and online course WC-Ready that will walk you through the process of learning how to set up an account, how to connect with others and how to build your business through WeChat. The course is only $97 and you have lifetime access.
Are you attending Active America China, an RTO summit, Go West, Travel South or IPW?
Then you will most likely be meeting with Chinese tour operators and knowing how to use WeChat will put you ahead of your competition. Click here to sign up and get WeChat ready today!
Or if you are looking for a more comprehensive educational program to become China-ready, I have another opportunity: The China Sales Mission Program. You will have online workshops you can attend from your desk, 1:1 time with me to develop your product, access to the WEChat ready course and lessons in Chinese culture and business practices.
We will learn how to be successful in this market and then go as a group on sales calls in Chinatown and Flushing, NYC. Click here for more information on the program. Only 6 participants will be accepted into the program. Get your 2020 off to a big success!