Having a strong online presence is crucial for businesses looking to succeed on a global scale in today’s digital age, especially foreign businesses that have so much at stake in China’s market. Nevertheless, providing fast and reliable website access to users in China can be a major challenge due to the country’s unique online environment. In this blog post, we’ll explore these challenges in more detail, and introduce WebNIC’s upcoming China Acceleration solution, which could help businesses overcome them and succeed in the Chinese market.
The Great Firewall of China (GFW)
Firstly, let’s grasp some basic understanding on The Great Firewall of China, a system of internet censorship and surveillance, blocks access to many foreign websites and services, leading to slower website speeds and poor user experiences (UX) for businesses operating outside of China.
The government implements the Great Firewall policy, aka the Golden Shield Project, for several reasons. One of the primary objectives is to regulate and control the flow of information and ideas within the country. The government aims to prevent citizens from accessing content that it deems politically sensitive or inappropriate.
Furthermore, the GFW helps to protect Chinese citizens from cyberattacks and online scams, which can be prevalent on the internet. Also, the government sees the Great Firewall as a tool to promote and protect the country’s domestic technology industry by limiting competition from foreign companies.
Factors Behind Slower Website Access for Foreign Websites in China
Other than Great Firewall, which can cause delays in website loading times and blocks access to many foreign websites and services, which would result in increased website latency and poor user experiences. Another reason is the distance between China and other regions, which may result in increased latency and slower load times. When a user in China accesses a website hosted outside of the country, the data must travel a longer distance, which can lead to slower website speeds. Also, the Chinese internet infrastructure is different from other regions, with different protocols, routing, and other technical specifications. These differences can affect website performance and make it more difficult for businesses to provide fast and reliable website access to users in China.
How slow website speeds and poor user experience can negatively impact a business's online presence in China.
First and foremost, it can result in high bounce rates, with users quickly leaving the site due to frustration with the slow load times or difficulty in navigating the site. This can lead to a decline in website traffic and engagement, ultimately affecting the business’s bottom line. In some way, it could harm a business’s reputation in China. Users in China are accustomed to fast and efficient online experiences, and a slow or poorly designed website can make a business appear outdated, unprofessional, or untrustworthy. This could erode consumer confidence in the business and may result in lost sales or missed opportunities to engage with potential customers.
Moreover, slow website speeds and poor user experience can impact a business’s search engine optimization (SEO) efforts in China. Search engines like Baidu prioritize websites that load quickly and offer better user experience, so businesses with slow or poorly optimized websites may not rank as high in search results. This could make it more difficult for potential customers to find the business online, further reducing engagement, traffic and sales opportunities. Hence, WebNIC upcoming digital solution is designed to alleviate these problems.
WebNIC launching soon - China Acceleration
WebNIC’s China Acceleration solution is a cutting-edge digital solution that addresses the challenges businesses face in providing fast and reliable website access to users in China. The key feature of the solution is a network of servers located within China that optimizes website performance and speed for users in the region. Foreign businesses could reduce latency and improve website loading times for users in China, providing a smooth and seamless user experience that can improve engagement, traffic, SEO and eventually sales.
This upcoming solution is a SaaS-based solution designed to optimize the performance of websites for visitors from China. What sets this product apart from others is its Zero Commitment approach, No Technical Barrier policy, and exemption from the burdensome ICP requirement. On Average, China Acceleration provides a 100% faster experience during peak hours compared to periods without its usage.
China Acceleration in a nutshell
WebNIC’s China Acceleration solution offers a game-changing opportunity for businesses looking to tap into Chinese vast market. With its focus on fast and reliable website access for users in China, the solution can help businesses overcome the challenges of the Great Firewall and slow website speeds, enabling them to expand their online presence and grow their business in the region.
By unlocking fast and reliable website access, businesses gain a competitive advantage over their competitors and may increase market share thru directing Chinese’s web traffic to your websites or applications which are hosted outside of Mainland China which reduce website load times and provide a seamless user experience for visitors in China. So, wait no longer, don’t let slow website speeds hold back from tapping into the immense Chinese market.
Author: Chan Kang
Designer: Jackson