What Marketers Need to Know About WeChat Videos

Written by 90 Seconds
Last updated: December 9, 2024

WeChat is more than a messaging app; it’s a super-app that integrates social networking, e-commerce, and payment functionalities, making it a powerhouse for brands. With over 1.3 billion monthly active users, WeChat offers unique opportunities to engage audiences through video content. To maximize the potential of WeChat videos, marketers need to understand its cultural nuances, technical requirements, and audience preferences.

Here are tips on creating compelling videos that resonate with WeChat users.

To connect with WeChat’s audience, cultural resonance is key. Incorporate trending topics, seasonal events, and cultural moments to make your videos relatable. For example:

  • Festivals and Holidays: Use themes related to Chinese New Year or Singles’ Day to tap into heightened consumer activity.
  • Localized Audio: Use popular Chinese songs or voiceovers that align with regional dialects and preferences.
  • Community Insights: Highlight social issues or trends that matter to your audience, such as sustainability or wellness.

WeChat users appreciate content that feels personalized and in tune with their local context, making cultural alignment a critical factor.

WeChat users prefer professional, polished content, particularly when it aligns with their aspirations or interests. The following styles perform exceptionally well:

  • Mini-Documentaries: Showcase your brand story, products, or initiatives with an emotional, narrative-driven approach.
  • How-To Videos: Tutorials on lifestyle improvements, product usage, or cooking are highly engaging.
  • Aspirational Themes: Content that aligns with luxury, innovation, or self-improvement resonates strongly.
  • Lifestyle Content: Highlight everyday moments with a polished, relatable lens to connect with users emotionally.

Injecting subtle humor or light-hearted elements into otherwise professional content can further enhance relatability.

Optimize Video Duration

WeChat videos work best when concise and impactful:

  • WeChat Moments Ads: Keep these videos between 6–15 seconds to capture attention quickly while scrolling through Moments.
  • WeChat Channels and Mini-Programs: For organic content, aim for 15–60 seconds to balance brevity with storytelling.

Short videos allow you to create a high volume of content, test audience reactions, and refine your strategy quickly.

Vertical Videos Preferred by WeChat

WeChat favors vertical videos, particularly for mobile-first platforms like WeChat Channels and Moments Ads. This preference aligns with the way users naturally hold their phones. Here’s why vertical videos are advantageous on WeChat:

  • Enhanced User Experience: Vertical videos use the entire screen in a natural orientation, offering an immersive experience without requiring users to rotate their devices.
  • Higher Engagement: Videos designed in a 9:16 aspect ratio perform better in terms of impressions and interactions since they fit seamlessly into the app’s interface.
  • Optimized for WeChat Channels and Moments Ads: WeChat Channels, which support organic video sharing, and Moments Ads, which display promotional content in a user’s feed, are both optimized for vertical formats.
  • Cultural and Behavioral Norms: Chinese users are highly mobile-oriented, and vertical video consumption aligns with their preference for quick, on-the-go interactions.

To maximize engagement, create 9:16 vertical videos for WeChat, ensuring they are visually captivating and formatted to fill the screen entirely. Horizontal or square formats can still work but may not utilize the screen space as effectively.

WeChat-Specific Technical Guidelines

To ensure optimal viewing and engagement, adhere to WeChat’s video specifications:

  • Resolution: 720p or higher is ideal.
  • Aspect Ratio: Use 9:16, 16:9 and 1:1 for square videos to cater to different placements on WeChat.
  • File Size: Keep videos under 10 MB to minimize loading times.
  • Interactive Elements: Add QR codes to your videos to encourage direct user interaction, such as linking to Mini-Programs, e-commerce pages, or official accounts.

Best Practices for Maximizing Reach

Leverage WeChat’s multifaceted ecosystem to amplify your videos:

  • Moments Ads: Use short, impactful videos targeted at specific demographics for maximum visibility.
  • WeChat Channels: Share organic video content to reach a wider audience while fostering user interaction.
  • Mini-Programs: Integrate videos into interactive Mini-Programs to enhance user engagement and conversions.
  • Encourage Sharing: Craft videos with shareable hooks, like emotional storytelling or trending topics, to encourage users to share them within their groups and contacts.

Additionally, use WeChat’s advanced analytics tools to track engagement and refine your strategy over time.

Crafting Winning WeChat Videos to Boost Your Brand

WeChat videos offer a dynamic way to engage audiences in China’s digital ecosystem. By aligning your content with cultural trends, optimizing video duration, and adhering to technical specifications, you can effectively connect with users and amplify your brand’s reach. Whether through Moments Ads, Channels, or Mini-Programs, a thoughtful WeChat video strategy can unlock tremendous marketing potential.

Ready to create impactful WeChat videos? Integrate these tips into your next campaign and watch your brand resonate with millions of users.

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