The Marketing Samurai, Author at Info Cubic Japan Blog

B2B vs B2C: Web Design Differences

Is your company’s website aware of the distinction between B2B vs B2C website design? And is it strategically built and operated?

A B2B business website’s goal is to acquire leads and inquiries; as such, it has a significantly different structure than a B2C business website.

At Info Cubic Japan, we collaborate with various B2B businesses in the manufacturing and IT sectors. Therefore, the crucial components of a global B2B site’s fundamental design, which are commonly absent, are valued by many B2B organizations.

As a result, we’d like to discuss the differences between B2B vs B2C website design, particularly for digital marketers and global site managers in the B2B business. Continue reading “B2B vs B2C: Web Design Differences” →

Marketing in Japan: A Digital Overview

Japan is the third-largest market in the world, representing about 10% of the world’s economy. As of March 2021, Japanese stocks have become the best-performing share market in Asia, according to Bloomberg. The country recently surpassed Taiwan as Asia’s top market for the year. The time couldn’t be any more perfect for a company to establish their efforts for digital marketing in Japan.

With 126.3 million people, Japan is lucrative for any local and international businesses looking to expand. However, many foreign companies find the challenges of marketing here to be quite intimidating. For one, there are certain complexities in traditional Japanese marketing and advertising that require solid local knowledge.

If you’re looking to gain exposure and traction in the Land of the Rising Sun— you’d better study effective market entry thoroughly. It is essential to formulate a localized marketing plan focusing on brand identity, public relations, digital or online media, and your brand value.

This article will discuss an overview of the Japanese marketing scene and effective digital marketing strategies to help you start.

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Guide to Marketing Using Manga

In most places across the globe, comics are considered as something merely for children. However, in Japan, manga can be a brand’s key to penetrate the market. Manga are comics or graphic novels corresponding to a style developed in Japan.

Rather than being for children, manga can be for anyone. Manga is consumed by readers of any age, from elementary school students to senior citizens. In fact, a survey by Shinfield, a Japanese firm specializing in manga marketing, found that 69.7% of respondents aged 40 and up still read manga. One of manga’s greatest strengths is that it appeals to readers, whether young or old.

For a long time, manga has been a staple reading material in Japan, appealing to nearly all social classes and age groups. Even though the market for manga in Japan has been steadily declining and domestic sales of printed copies have been falling since 2002, the market has slowly started to rise once more in 2013 due to an abundance of newfound digital manga apps and services for mobile devices. In 2019, digital sales for manga rose 29.5%, totaling 259.3 billion yen (about US$2.37 billion).

Continue reading “Guide to Marketing Using Manga” →

Social Media Marketing Trends in Asia

In Asia, everyday life is becoming increasingly digital. As such, the region covers a formidable chunk of the global social media landscape. Eastern Asia has the highest social media penetration rate in the world at 71%. North America comes in second with 69%.

However, Asia’s social media landscape is different compared to the West. In most Asian countries, native platforms dominate the online scene instead of giants like Facebook and Twitter, who are then forced to compete in the market. With the large and diversified culture present, a variety of different strategies are needed to achieve success within each country in the region. It may seem a daunting task, but this can be made significantly easier by laying the groundwork through social listening in its major social channels.

This article will discuss Asia’s social media environment, the biggest social media marketing trends, opportunities, major channels, and success stories.

Continue reading “Social Media Marketing Trends in Asia” →

Line Marketing in Japan

Since its introduction in 2011, LINE has grown to become the most popular messaging app in various Asian countries, such as Thailand, Indonesia, Korea, and Japan. Especially in Japan, LINE has become so ingrained into the culture that it is also the most popular social networking service (SNS) that functions as a multi-functional, lifestyle platform. Within the app is a multitude of features users can enjoy, spanning from games, group video, hardware digital assistants, and even taxi and delivery services.

LINE is a strong marketing tool for businesses looking to advertise to the Japanese market. With its 84 million monthly active users (MAUs) in the country, it can reach a wider range of users compared to other SNS platforms. Additionally, the app has shown steady and consistent increase in its user base over the years. Paired with the right strategies, brands can drive the right kind of traffic that converts to more sales and leads.

With this, digital marketers should heavily invest in advertising on LINE if they are looking to penetrate a huge part of the Japanese digital sphere.

This article will discuss in detail the scale of the dominance of LINE in Japan, its various features, and the best ways for brands to optimize them in their digital marketing strategies.

Continue reading “Line Marketing in Japan” →

Digital Marketing in Germany

Online Marketing is an aspect of marketing which continues to grow unabated. Especially in recent years, the immense growth defies any projection making books and journals written just 2-3 years ago appear outdated. The ever-changing digital landscape might make it difficult to keep up to date at all times, especially for marketers. Universities using relatively obsolete material to teach their students result in companies having to invest considerable amounts of company resources to train them just as they come out of university.

In this case, it is useful to gain a certain overview of the different characteristics of the digital landscape in specific countries. Germany is of particular importance, due to the sheer size of its market and influence. In order to develop a fitting marketing strategy, it is crucial to understand the intricacies of the culture present in the country. The varied digital landscape present in Germany offers diverse opportunities which allow companies to develop a competitive advantage in their respective industries.

Continue reading “Digital Marketing in Germany” →

Digital Marketing in New Zealand

New Zealand is a country that, at the mere mention of its name, inspires images of vast landscapes, Hollywood-level sceneries, and diversity. The country is especially known for its deeply ingrained Māori roots, making it one of the most culturally rich countries in the modern world. Majority of its 4.80 million population speak English, which is the dominant official language. Other official languages are Māori and NZ Sign Language.

The country is developed and ranks highly at the global scale in terms of quality of life, health, education, protection of civil liberties, and economic freedom. Digital is also a growing industry, but certain global trends have yet to penetrate the New Zealand market. However, marketers should still pay attention to trends on the global scene and be quick to implement them in their strategies to stay ahead of the game.

With the country’s 93% internet penetration rate, commitment to digitalization, the dominance of Google, and wide use of social media, the digital marketing industry presents a rich site for both local and international businesses to thrive.

This article will discuss New Zealand’s digital marketing environment, its biggest channels, industry challenges, and opportunities, as well as the best possible ways on how to reach the Kiwi audience.

Continue reading “Digital Marketing in New Zealand” →

Digital Marketing in Australia

Australia is the smallest continent and one of the largest countries in the world. It comprises the Australian continent, Tasmania, and other smaller islands. The nation is also known for its wealthy underpopulated demographic, fantastic natural wonders, and most notable for being geographically isolated from the rest of the globe.

The English-speaking nation is a highly developed, high-income country and is the world’s 14th largest economy. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the nation has the world’s 21st-highest per capita income. Furthermore, it is considered as a melting pot of various cultures as 22% of its population are immigrants, making it the 9th largest immigrant population in the world. More representations of its progressiveness are shown through having the third-highest human development index and high rank in terms of quality of life, health, education, economic freedom, civil liberties, and political rights.

The digital side of the business industry in Australia is thriving as businesses spend more on digital media ads than ever before, and this is expected to continue increasing over the coming years. With the booming e-commerce industry and fast adoption of smart technologies, the digital landscape in the country presents space for more growth and promising opportunities for marketers.

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What’s Christmas and New Year’s Eve to the Japanese?

As another year goes by, people residing in Japan are once again faced with the two largest annual events – Christmas and New Year — which are celebrated in an entirely different way by the average Japanese family.

This article will discuss how the Japanese view Christmas and New Year, as well as the traditions they usually follow during these holidays.

Have Yourself a Merry Japanese Christmas

In Japan, Christmas is the season for friends and couples to enjoy parties, make plans to meet up for dinner, and celebrate as much as they can. On the other hand, New Year is the time when all members of the family gather together, visit the temple, and welcome the first day of January with food and drinks.

Continue reading “What’s Christmas and New Year’s Eve to the Japanese?” →

The Best Tools and Resources to Master Japan’s Market for Non-Japanese Speakers

The third-largest economy in the world, Japan, is a fascinating country rich in history and culture. It leads in the development of cutting-edge technology while honoring its traditions. Japan continues to be the high-tech powerhouse economy of Asia, with a gross domestic product (GDP) of 49187.80 US dollars in 2019. Based on the report by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the country’s GDP only grew at an annualized rate of 0.7 percent from August 2019- August 2020partly because of the Coronavirus 2019. This data means that Japan continues to expand and grow in a number of impressive statistics in spite of the pandemic.

Continue reading “The Best Tools and Resources to Master Japan’s Market for Non-Japanese Speakers” →