Taking a cue from Facebook, WeChat testing ads in timeline

WeChat is testing out adverts, according to numerous screenshots floating around the web today. The adverts are in the WeChat Moments section of the app, which is a bit like the Facebook timeline.

The first ever ad inside WeChat Moments seems to be a test by Tencent itself. It shows a Moments post by WeChat’s own official account showing up labelled as a “promoted” post in random people’s timelines. This was first spotted by the iGeek blog and then verified by numerous people posting their own screenshots on Weibo. The ad looks like this:

Screenshot from Weibo user 江南小鲜肉.

This does not affect WeChat’s messaging area.

This could be the start of a Facebook-esque social ad strategy for WeChat, which allows brands to pay to promote their own posts and get new followers. As with many new WeChat features, this is initially targeted at users based in China.

Tencent, the maker of WeChat, wasn’t immediately available for comment. (Update: A Tencent representative confirms the ads are real, saying: “The product is at a testing stage. We will provide further information when it’s available.”)

(Update 2: I’ve just seen the same ad in my own WeChat Moments timeline. In English, the ad shows up as a “sponsored” post, rather than “promoted” as I translated earlier. Screenshot added below.)

See: Check out this smart hotel room controlled entirely by WeChat