Creating a Chinese website
China is the single largest new Internet market we’re likely to see emerge in our lifetime, so why are so many companies so slow to gain an early advantage? The answer seems to be the perennial, “…we’re aware that there are questions we should be asking, but we don’t know what they are….” So, let’s start on just a few of the basics….
“Will the Chinese user feel comfortable using my site?”
Not only do you need to make a great job of translation, but are you adapting your Chinese website to fit the culture too?
Ensure that a Chinese person finding your site shouldn’t have to think about credibility, usability, language, and most important of all, trust – it needs to speak their language in every way.
“I have Chinese pages in my website already, surely that will do?”
If your site is hosted outside of the Chinese mainland, no. The GFW (Great Firewall of China) was set up to filter information that the Chinese Government deems unsuitable for the public – and this isn’t just pornography, it also includes news, services and products that could be sensitive or contradictory to the Chinese Governments view – take advice from your provider from the start.
“Hosting in China is the answer to making sure my site can be accessed in China then?”
Yes. Though take steps to use trusted IP addresses, if your site is on a shared server and another site on the server is banned, yours probably will be too due to the IP address being barred.
Last of all on the hosting issue, you’ll need an ICP Licence (without which your site won’t go live). Your service partner should be able to arrange this for you, and dependent on your official status (whether you have a legal entity in China or not) can guide you safely on this issue.
“So now I have my Chinese website live, my Chinese clients can use their credit card to buy what I have to offer?”
Just a couple of years ago, a Chinese person might be tempted to use their debit card, but it was exceptionally rare for a Chinese person to have a credit card. Recently the use of credit cards has become more widespread, indeed, dual currency credit cards are now becoming popular. Be prepared to work with agencies (Alibaba etc) or your provider to find the best solution for both the user and your company.
But where will the money be paid to you, and in which currency? Again, talk to someone (we’re pretty good 
about how you can receive payment without the need for a Chinese bank account.
Now that you’re good to go, yes, you might want to consider how the Chinese public or businesses will find you, so Chinese SEO and Chinese PPC might be important too. Why not drop us a line or call to look at the many options?
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