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” →

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” →

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?” →

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” →

Instagram in Japan

Instagram has had an incredible impact in the social media game for a while now, and I think the trend will continue for many years more.

This app’s popularity is huge all over the world and Asia is the fastest growing region at the moment.

It is without a doubt currently one of the most recognizable apps with nearly 1 billion monthly active users, granting it to be positioned as one of the most impactful and valuable brands worth almost 41.5 billion dollars according to BrandZ Top 100 ranking!

The Facebook-owned photo-sharing platform also almost doubled in value in 2020, rising 95 percent year-on-year to become the fastest-rising brand on the list.

Continue reading “Instagram in Japan” →

Omnichannel Marketing in Japan

The late but rapid rise of e-commerce has caused many to predict the slow decline of traditional bricks and mortar stores across Japan.

This rise of ecommerce is set to continue, with JapanConsuming, an online publication devoted to the Japanese retail industry, predicting that the percentage of retail sales will rise from 9% to 23% by 2023.

Continue reading “Omnichannel Marketing in Japan” →

Digital Marketing in Russia

Russia has been a nation of power and potential all throughout history, and it continues to be so in the digital age. The landscape extends to over 17 million square kilometers, making it the largest country in the world. It is geographically located between North Asia and Europe, the Pacific and the Arctic, and spans 11 time zones. As of February 2020, the country hosts nearly 145.9 million residents, which also makes it one of the biggest markets all over the globe.

Despite experiencing a dip in its economy over the past few years, recent reports show that its rates are back on a healthier track. According to the World Bank, Russia’s GDP has risen to a rate of 2.3% from 1.6%, which is considered to be its best growth rate since 2012. In 2017, its lowest inflation rate was recorded at only 2.7%, and it is expected to remain below 4% in the future.

Russia still maintains a significant international role in today’s digital age. Although experiencing various setbacks over the years, such as the 2017 recession and its ever-changing political climate, it is still regarded as a technological hub and a major producer of skilled IT professionals. Currently, a massive development program is underway, aiming to digitalize the entire country to develop entrepreneurial energy, new technologies, and more skilled professionals.

Factoring in Russia’s tech-savvy residents and flourishing e-commerce market, the future of digital marketing in the country undoubtedly offers promising opportunities.

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

Continue reading “Digital Marketing in Russia” →