COLUMBUS, OH--(Marketwire - September 13, 2010) - Internet ad revenue is surging in China as advertisers clamor to make their presence known online. Not only does China have more Internet users than any other country, but 81.4% of Chinese consumers (18-54) say surfing the Internet is a favorite way to spend free time, making it the #1 leisure activity, according to the Prosper China™ Q2 Survey of 18,089 respondents.
As opportunity abounds, advertisers must understand digital habits of Chinese consumers -- where they are going, what they are doing and what influences them to purchase.
When searching the Web, an overwhelming majority of 18-54-year-olds choose Baidu.com (76.0%) as their primary search engine. Chinese 18-34 (76.7%) and 35-54 (75.3%) agree.
Movies and maps top the lists of categories searched most often for Chinese 18-34 and 35-54.
| Top 3 Regularly Searched Categories: | ||
| 18-54 | 18-34 | 35-54 |
| Movies (52.2%) | Movies (60.6%) | Maps/Directions (49.9%) |
| Maps/Directions (49.5%) | Clothing/Shoes (52.5%) | Comparative Shopping (45.7%) |
| Clothing/Shoes (48.8%) | Online Entertainment (50.6%) | Travel (45.6%) |
56.3% of Chinese 18-54 regularly research products online before purchasing in store. Younger consumers are more likely than older consumers to do so: 58.6% of consumers 18-34 regularly research online compared to 54.3% of consumers 35-54. Additionally, 50.8% of those 18-34 regularly purchase products online; 42.5% of consumers 35-54 do the same.
Digital media's influence on Chinese shoppers' purchases varies. Overall, digital media is more effective when influencing automobile purchases compared to grocery purchases. Within the automobile category, Internet advertising and blogging are more influential on the older segment. In the grocery category, digital media has a stronger influence on consumers 18-34 compared to 35-54.
| Top 3 Digital Media Influences for Automobile Purchases: | |
| 18-34 | 35-54 |
| Internet Advertising (13.5%) | Internet Advertising (14.9%) |
| Blogging (12.6%) | Blogging (12.9%) |
| Web Radio (10.3%) | Instant Messaging (10.2%) |
| Grocery Purchases: | |
| 18-34 | 35-54 |
| Internet Advertising (10.3%) | Internet Advertising (8.8%) |
| Instant Messaging (10.3%) | Instant Messaging (8.8%) |
| Social Media (8.6%) | Social Media (7.5%) |
As a point of reference, traditional media tops the lists of all media influences. For example, in the automobile category, 35.0% of Chinese 35-54 are influenced by TV Broadcasts. For full complimentary report: http://www.formsite.com/prosper/pcreport091310
Chinese consumers don't just search and shop online -- they have fun.
| Top 3 Activities for Fun/Entertainment Online: | |
| 18-34 | 35-54 |
| IM/Chat (56.3%) | IM/Chat (52.3%) |
| Download Music/Videos (45.8%) | Download Music/Videos (40.1%) |
| Celebrity Gossip (40.7%) | Shopping (38.4%) |
| Top 3 Sites for Fun/Entertainment: | |
| 18-34 | 35-54 |
| QQ.com (28.7%) | QQ.com (29.6%) |
| Sina.com.cn (13.5%) | Sina.com.cn (21.2%) |
| Xunlei.com (12.3%) | 163.com (14.8%) |
These top entertainment websites, categorized as social media destinations, are also the most common places for Chinese consumers to gather news on the Internet.
| Top 3 Online News Sources: | |
| 18-34 | 35-54 |
| QQ.com (45.8%) | Sina.com.cn (43.3%) |
| Sina.com.cn (31.8%) | QQ.com (33.0%) |
| 163.com (16.9%) | 163.com (18.4%) |
About ProsperChina.com
ProsperChina.com is an information bank & online forum for firms marketing products & services to Chinese consumers. ProsperChina.com partners with leading marketing resource companies to provide marketers unique insights on Chinese consumers as well as share innovative ways to improve marketing effectiveness. Visit http://www.ProsperChina.com
About BIGresearch®
BIGresearch® is a consumer intelligence firm providing analysis of behavior in areas of products and services, retail, financial services, automotive, and media. The China Quarterly monitors the purchasing behavior and media consumption of more than 16,000 Chinese consumers, focusing on consumers between the ages of 18-54 years old. The China Quarterly is available through BIGresearch in report or database format. BIGresearch also conducts the monthly Consumer Intentions and Actions® Survey (CIA™) of 8,000+ respondents and the semi-annual Simultaneous Media® Survey (SIMM®) of 20,000+ respondents. More information is available at