WeChat Channels is poised to hit an impressive milestone in 2023 – it's expected to sell up to $14 billion (100 billion RMB) worth of goods and to narrow the gap with short video competitors ByteDance (which owns Douyin and Tiktok) and Kuaishou.
With 813 million active users, surpassing Douyin's 680 million, WeChat Channels, better known as Weixin in China, targets a relatively untapped segment in the short video platform sphere: the affluent and high-income consumer base.
High-income customer base
Launched in 2020 and led by CEO Pony Ma, Channels has quickly become a significant revenue generator, raking in $140 million (1 billion RMB) in sales in Q4 2022. Channels enables brands like Dior and Louis Vuitton to connect directly with millions of consumers through features like livestreaming and e-commerce, significantly boosting their online presence and sales. With its low ad load and high user engagement, Channels presents a unique, lucrative platform for luxury brands to expand their digital footprint.
Tencent's president, Martin Lau, said the platform could secure its competitive edge through its “pretty significant high-income and affluent customer base.” By capitalizing on WeChat's ubiquity and trust among users, Tencent is uniquely positioned to attract the highly affluent segment, a demographic that usually doesn't engage as actively in purchases on short video platforms like TikTok or Kuaishou, which are popular with brands pursuing discount strategies.
Tencent’s e-commerce play
Tencent's foray into e-commerce via WeChat Channels is a strategic move to compete with established players like ByteDance and Kuaishou. By expanding its livestreaming capabilities and broadening product categories, Tencent is building a robust infrastructure to support its e-commerce aspirations. This includes leveraging WeChat Pay to streamline transactions, ensuring a smooth and secure shopping experience for users.
Compared to other short video platforms, Channels distinguishes itself through its integration with WeChat, allowing brands with official accounts to link effortlessly to Channels for enhanced content sharing, including video embedding and Mini Program connectivity. Users can publicly share photos and videos, with content categorized into “following,” “friends,” and “hot” sections, navigable via search tools akin to Weibo or Xiaohongshu. This, coupled with an AI-driven recommendation engine, introduces brand offerings to new consumers.
