80% of Gen Z shoppers in China discover new products on XiaoHongShu. This social commerce platform has become a must-have for brands looking to reach Chinese consumers.
With over 200 million active users, XiaoHongShu (also known as “Red Note”) is more than just another shopping app—it’s a powerful mix of e-commerce and social influence. But selling here isn’t as simple as listing products. Brands need the right strategy to stand out.
At GMA, we’ve helped brands successfully navigate XiaoHongShu, from setting up stores to launching influencer campaigns. We know what works and what doesn’t in this fast-moving marketplace.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to sell on XiaoHongShu, from choosing the right store type to leveraging KOL marketing and paid ads. By the end, you’ll have a clear roadmap to turn Red Note into a profitable sales channel for your brand.
Contents
Key Takeaways
- XiaoHongShu reaches 200 million active users, with 80% of Chinese Gen Z using it to find products.
- The platform offers three store types: Personal (up to 100 products), Individual/Commercial (30-100 items), and Enterprise (unlimited listings with premium features).
- Sellers must provide business licenses, valid ID cards, and bank details for account verification, which typically takes 2-5 business days.
- Marketing success comes from mixing KOL partnerships (influencers with 10,000-100,000 followers), user-generated content, and paid ads through Bytedance’s platform.
- Commission rates range from 5-20% based on product type and store level, with payments processed through WeChat Pay and Alipay.
Understanding XiaoHongShu Store Types
XiaoHongShu offers three main store types to match your business goals and sales volume. Each store type comes with its own set of rules, fees, and perks that can help you reach Chinese shoppers through social commerce.
Personal Store Options
Personal stores on Red Note offer a simple entry point for small sellers and individual merchants. We’ve helped many clients start with basic store features, including product listings, payment processing through Alipay and WeChat Pay, and basic analytics tools.
Our marketing team finds these stores perfect for testing new products or starting a small business without major investment.
Personal stores need minimal documentation for setup, just an identity card and basic business information. We can list up to 100 products on these stores, which works great for fashion items and small consumer goods.
The platform’s user-generated content features help build trust through authentic reviews and social proof. Our clients often start here before upgrading to larger store types as their business grows.
Individual and Commercial Store Features
XiaoHongShu offers distinct store options for sellers at different business levels. We have helped many brands set up their stores on this social media platform through our direct experience with both individual and commercial accounts.
- Store verification requires a valid business license and proper documentation for commercial accounts
- Social proof plays a vital role through user reviews, ratings, and engagement metrics on product listings
- Live streaming features allow real-time product demonstrations and customer interaction
- Payment processing happens through integrated Chinese payment systems like WeChat Pay
- Product listing limits vary between 30-100 items based on seller performance and account type
- Quality control measures help prevent counterfeit products from entering the marketplace
- Cross-border selling needs special permits and customs documentation
- Marketing tools include in-platform ads and KOL collaboration options
- Analytics dashboard shows real-time sales data and customer behavior patterns
- Inventory management system connects with major logistics providers
- Customer service tools enable quick responses through built-in messaging
- Return policies must follow XiaoHongShu’s standard guidelines for consumer protection
- Commission rates range from 5-20% depending on product category and store type
Our next section explores the essential steps needed to launch your XiaoHongShu shop successfully.
Enterprise Store Benefits
Enterprise stores on Red Note offer top-tier benefits for large-scale sellers. We see major brands gain direct access to premium store features, advanced analytics tools, and priority customer support.
Our enterprise partners enjoy exclusive rights to create live streams, run flash sales, and tap into the platform’s vast user base of over 200 million active buyers.
Enterprise stores turn social proof into sales success – Leading E-commerce Expert
We get enhanced brand protection through verified status badges, custom shop designs, and direct integration with payment processors. These stores link smoothly with Tmall, JD.com, and other major e-commerce platforms.
Our enterprise clients use crowd-sourced data to shape their marketing plans. Let’s explore the essential steps for setting up a successful shop on this growing platform.
Essential Steps for Setting Up a XiaoHongShu Shop
Setting up a shop on XiaoHongShu needs proper planning and attention to detail. We’ll show you the basic steps to create your store on this popular Chinese social commerce platform, from picking the right store type to getting your account verified.
Sign Into Your Account
We start our XiaoHongShu selling journey by signing into xiaohongshu.com through our mobile phones. Our first step involves downloading the app from any app store and creating a new account with valid contact details.
The platform asks for basic information like phone numbers, email addresses, and QR code verification to ensure secure online transactions.
Our account setup needs proper verification through credit cards or other payment methods to start selling on Red Note. The process takes about 10-15 minutes to complete, with clear prompts guiding us through each step.
We must fill in all required fields accurately to avoid delays in account approval.
Choose Your Shop Type
XiaoHongShu offers three main store types to match different business needs. Our personal stores suit small sellers who want to start their online retail journey. Individual and commercial stores fit medium-sized businesses with steady sales volumes.
Enterprise stores serve large companies that need advanced features and broader reach.
Each store type on Red Note comes with specific perks and rules. Personal stores need basic identity proof and let us sell up to 30 items per month. Commercial stores ask for business licenses but allow unlimited product listings.
Enterprise stores give us premium tools like touchpoint analytics and crowd-sourced data. The right store type depends on our sales goals, product range, and target audience on the platform.
Provide Business and Shop Information
We need to fill out key business details to set up our shop on Red Note. Our shop name must match our business license, and we’ll need to upload clear photos of our products. The platform asks for basic contact info, bank account details, and tax registration numbers for proper verification.
Our shop’s success depends on accurate product descriptions and high-quality images that follow Red Note’s guidelines. We must list our items under the right categories and include clear pricing details.
The platform’s user-friendly interface makes this process simple, letting us add product specs, shipping info, and return policies with ease.
Verify Your Account Details
After submitting your business details, our next crucial step focuses on account verification. XiaoHongShu requires strict identity checks to maintain platform integrity and prevent false advertising.
Our team must upload clear photos of business licenses and valid ID cards to the platform. The system matches these documents with our submitted information through a quick verification process.
Most approvals happen within 48 hours, though some cases might take up to five business days. Our store can’t start selling until we complete this step, so accurate document submission remains vital for quick approval.
Effective Marketing Tactics for XiaoHongShu Shops
Marketing success on XiaoHongShu needs a mix of smart promotion methods and brand building. We’ll show you proven tactics to boost your sales through KOL partnerships, content creation, and paid ads on the platform.
Partnering with Influencers / KOL
We partner with Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) on XiaoHongShu to boost our brand reach and sales. These influencers create authentic content that speaks to their followers through photos, videos, and livestreams.
Our partnerships with KOLs help us tap into ready-made audiences who trust their recommendations.
Building strong ties with XiaoHongShu influencers needs clear goals and careful planning. We focus on micro-influencers with 10,000 to 100,000 followers for better engagement rates and cost-effective results.
Our team picks KOLs who match our brand values and target market on the platform. Through word-of-mouth marketing, these partnerships create natural buzz around our products and drive traffic to our XiaoHongShu shop.
Utilizing User-Generated Content
User-generated content drives success on XiaoHongShu. Our customers create authentic posts about their shopping experiences, which builds trust with other buyers. XiaoHongShu’s crowd-source model helps us gather real feedback and honest product reviews from our target demographic.
Our marketing efforts thrive on authentic content from real users on RedNote. The platform’s integrated marketing features let us share customer photos, videos, and reviews across different sections.
These genuine posts create a strong brand image and boost our search results naturally. Many consumers trust other consumers’ opinions more than traditional advertising campaigns.
Using XiaoHongShu Ads
Moving beyond organic content, we need to tap into XiaoHongShu’s paid advertising system. Our marketing efforts on Red Note must include strategic ad placements to reach more shoppers.
XiaoHongShu ads offer precise targeting options that match products with interested buyers. We can set up display ads that show up in users’ feeds or place them in search results.
Paid promotions through XiaoHongShu work best with clear goals and budgets. We start by picking the right ad format – feed ads, search ads, or KOL partnership posts. Our team tracks metrics like click rates and sales to adjust campaigns for better results.
Bytedance’s ad platform makes it simple to manage spending and reach the right audience segments.
GMA, your Marketing Agency in China
Success on XiaoHongShu needs smart planning and steady action. We see many brands grow fast on this platform through good content and strong connections with users. Our team helps brands start small and expand their reach on XiaoHongShu through clear steps and proven methods.
Smart sellers mix social posts with shop features to build trust and boost sales. XiaoHongShu offers great chances for brands to reach Chinese shoppers who love finding new products.
Contact us todat get started!