How to Create and Verify a Douyin Account for Overseas Companies

Why download Douyin for your business?

Everyone has heard of short-video app Tiktok, but how to engage with its mainland China sibling Douyin? The trend generator is made up of short-form videos that rise in the rankings by how engaging they are, and how topical they become.

To international businesses with their eye on the China market, creating a Douyin account presents a challenge, and a tantalising goal: how to use Douyin to grab the attention of the younger urban generation in China: the segment most likely to engage with your Chinese digital marketing efforts?

How Douyin Helps International Businesses Engage with Chinese Consumers

By creating and verifying a Douyin account, companies with China business can effectively broaden their reach, connect authentically with consumers and ultimately drive sales in the China market. But to access its over 600 million active monthly users, the first step is to set up an account…in Chinese.

Step 1: Downloading Douyin for international businesses

If you use an iPhone to engage with Chinese social media, make sure your operating system is up to date and download the latest version of Douyin in Chinese. If you have an Android phone, you download the app on Chinese app stores like Huawei app store, Xiaomi app store, or OnePlus app store. Once downloaded, launch the Douyin app in Chinese and tap the profile icon to “sign up”.

Step 2: Creating a Douyin account using your Chinese social media account

Next, choose your registration method. If you have China’s all-round app WeChat, you can sign up for Douyin with your WeChat ID. If not, you can try to use your phone number, even if it’s a foreign number. Enter your phone number, select your country code, and tap ‘send code’ to receive a verification code via SMS. Enter your verification code to validate your phone number. If the whole page is in Chinese, you may need to translate it using another app, but this shouldn’t present too great a problem.

Step 3: Basic engagement with Douyin for overseas companies

Before you get going engaging your users with the all-important storytelling and product promotion Douyin makes possible, you need to make sure Douyin knows you’re a business. Go to your profile settings to add details like your business name, logo, and description.

Step 4: Telling your business story on Douyin

Then you can try out different voices in your creative and engaging videos in an effort to tell your brand story, showcase new products or highlight your company values. Go further by encouraging your users to generate content too. Loyal customers are the best advocates.

Step 5: Explore Chinese live streaming on Douyin

A short-video post from any one of them using your product or service is worth far more than a PR post directly from you. Posts like this also enhance the attractiveness of engaging with your company, encouraging brand loyalty. Engage with users through comments and interactive features like live streams. Building a community can enhance brand loyalty and encourage repeat customers.

Step 6: Business certification for Douyin analytics and more

To go further with Douyin and access in-depth analytical info, you will need to first verify your account. Find the ‘business certification’ option in the app settings and follow the prompts. You may be required to fill out a form and upload company documents.

International businesses can create accounts by following the same registration steps, so they can also benefit from a verified profile to build credibility with users. The coveted checkbox will appear next to your user account name once your company is approved.

Step 7: Douyin for e-commerce

Once verification is completed, you can even launch your own digital Douyin shopping outlet. And in what can be a time sponge, you can transact business during live broadcasts via your Douyin store.

Step 8: Using Douyin to facilitate payments to your company

Some brands link their Douyin accounts to e-commerce platforms, allowing direct purchases through the app. Features like Douyin Shopping facilitate seamless transactions within the app. Beyond Douyin advertising, partnering with popular Douyin influencers (KOLs) can amplify brand reach.