RenRen isn’t as Convenient as Facebook or Twitter

This article is originally published in SocialMediaNZ as a guest post.

While businesses in the rest of the world are enjoying the convenience and openness of Facebook and Twitter, businesses in China are struggling to even set up a fan page on Renren. (Thanks to the great firewall, Facebook and Twitter are blocked in China.)

China’s social media landscape isn’t business friendly. When it only takes 5 minutes to set up a Facebook fanpage, it takes not only effort but also luck to create one on Renren.

The Chinese social networking site has a strict (and weird) application policy. Renren only accepts 100 applications per day and submission only starts at 0000 hours daily (GMT +8). If you intend to apply one, you practically have no time to waste when your clock strikes 12.

You need to input the details fast and hit the submit button before all 100 applications are taken. Even if your application went through, there is a fair chance that Renren would reject your application. It’s a hell load of work and processes to go through. Now you know why luck plays such an important role.

The restriction isn’t over. Renren only accepts applications from categories such as street dance, photography, Tibetan mastiff, and celebrities. Business related fanpages aren’t allowed. It simply shuts off the opportunity for businesses to create presence on Renren.

Well, at least that only applies to small businesses. Big corporations still stand a chance. We’re observing several big brands like General Electric, Mercedes, Pizza Hut, Dell, Nokia, Phillips, The Wall Street Journal with thousands of fans. Clearly Renren’s has double standards. The big and influential usually get their way. Only big corporations have the license to create fanpages.

If you’re a small business and wish to extend your reach to the Chinese market, try setting up a personal profile instead. A personal profile has a limit of 2,000 friends but we’re seeing several small start-ups enjoying initial success through this method. It’s not the most glamorous way to get things done but it somehow still places your business at the heart of the Chinese market.