Ten years ago, when a business wanted to do online promotion, the first instinct was to buy Baidu ads, build a website, and publish press releases. This approach still works today, but it is no longer sufficient. Customers no longer rely solely on search engines to find suppliers. They may discover your product video on Douyin, see your case studies on Xiaohongshu, search your official account on WeChat, or even ask AI platforms like Doubao, Qwen, or DeepSeek for recommendations. Every one of these entry points represents an opportunity to acquire customers and shape brand perception.
As a digital marketing service provider serving SMEs across China, Huasu Technology (referred to as 'Huasu Tech') sees this shift every day. Our clients come from all over the country—engineering firms in Zhanjiang, manufacturing plants in the Yangtze River Delta, and retail stores in the Pearl River Delta. Their industries and scales differ, but they face similar problems: they spend money on ads, build websites, but still see few inquiries. Why? Why do customers always compare prices? Why do the same channels work for competitors but not for them?
The answers lie in the fundamental change in customer acquisition logic. The traffic dividend of single channels has peaked. Enterprises must adopt an 'omnichannel synergy' mindset. This doesn't mean being active on every platform, but rather combining search, content, AI entry points, and local channels into a system that complements and amplifies each other. Huasu Tech helps clients build such systems.
From 'Finding Customers' to 'Being Found': The New Rules of Customer Acquisition
Traditional B2B customer acquisition is about 'finding customers'—buying keywords, placing ads, making cold calls, attending trade shows. The problem is that traffic is getting more expensive, competition is fiercer, and attention spans are shrinking. Your ads may be ignored as spam, your calls marked as nuisance, your flyers thrown away.
Today's customers, especially B2B buyers, conduct extensive research before making decisions. They search for company reputations, compare case studies, and verify information across multiple platforms. This means your business must leave positive, professional, and consistent information everywhere customers look. This is the logic of 'being found': instead of interrupting customers, you ensure that when they have a need, they can find you online and trust you.
To achieve 'being found,' three layers must work together. First, infrastructure: a website that reflects your brand, loads quickly, and has clear content—the cornerstone of trust. Second, search coverage: through SEO, your website ranks high for relevant keywords on Baidu, Google, etc.—the most direct traffic source. Third, content matrix: consistently publish professional content on short-video platforms, industry media, Q&A sites, and more to build brand authority.
Huasu Tech summarizes this as the 'Four-Step Omnichannel Marketing Method': Build, Optimize, Promote, Convert. Build your digital storefront, optimize it for discoverability, promote it to reach potential customers, and convert traffic into inquiries using AI agents, online chat, etc. Each step is interconnected, forming a closed loop.
Baidu Promotion Remains a Key Channel, But the Playbook Has Changed
Among various promotion channels, Baidu promotion remains a primary choice for many SMEs. The reasons are clear: Baidu still holds a leading share in China's search market, users have deep-rooted search habits, and Baidu ads have high purchase intent—someone searching for 'engineering company' has a need, someone searching for 'custom furniture' is looking for suppliers. This high-intent traffic is irreplaceable by short-video or social platforms.
But the playbook for Baidu promotion has changed. In the past, higher bids guaranteed better positions. Now, Baidu emphasizes ad quality, including creative relevance, landing page experience, and historical conversion data. This means you can't just throw money at it; you must optimize landing pages so visitors see valuable content and are willing to leave their contact information.
In serving our clients, Huasu Tech emphasizes 'ad-to-landing-page alignment.' The websites we build are not just company introductions but structured around user search intent. For example, for an engineering firm, when users search for 'factory construction company,' the landing page should highlight qualifications, case studies, construction processes, and customer testimonials—not generic corporate culture. We also set up multiple conversion points, such as online chat buttons, free quote forms, and direct phone numbers, so visitors can initiate inquiries at any time.
Moreover, Baidu promotion is not just search ads; it includes information feed ads. Feed ads appear as native content when users browse news or watch videos, effectively reaching potential customers and waking latent needs. Huasu Tech develops a combination strategy of search ads + feed ads based on industry characteristics, covering both high-intent traffic and potential customers.
Omnichannel Marketing Is Not 'Doing Everything' but 'Systemic Synergy'
Many companies hear 'omnichannel marketing' and think, 'Do we need to be on Douyin, Xiaohongshu, Baijiahao, and press releases all at once?' No. The core of omnichannel marketing is not channel quantity but system synergy. Each channel has a role: search engines catch active demand, short-video platforms handle brand exposure and younger audiences, industry media build professional trust, and local platforms drive foot traffic.
When crafting omnichannel plans, Huasu Tech starts with diagnostics: Who are your customers? Where do they hang out? How do they make decisions? Then we select the most effective channel mix. For a manufacturing plant targeting the national market, we suggest a foundation of website SEO + Baidu promotion, supplemented by industry media articles and short-video product showcases, forming a 'search + content + exposure' triad. For a local retail store, we focus more on optimizing local life platforms (like Meituan, Gaode) and Douyin's local content to drive foot traffic.
Special mention must go to GEO (Generative Engine Optimization), a new service that has emerged in recent years. It targets AI platforms like Doubao, Qwen, and DeepSeek. More and more users are using AI search—for example, asking 'recommend a reliable website building company.' AI will generate a list of names. If your company is not on that list, you've lost a potential customer. GEO aims to adjust content structure, keyword layout, and semantic relevance so AI prioritizes your business in its answers.
Huasu Tech has integrated GEO optimization into our service matrix to help clients secure a position in the AI search era. We analyze industry-specific AI search habits, optimize website content, encyclopedia entries, and Q&A posts to ensure AI accurately captures and recommends our clients' information. This is not about gaming the system but optimizing based on content quality, ultimately benefiting customers by providing more precise recommendations.
AI Agents: Customer Acquisition That Never Sleeps
Another notable trend is the application of AI agents in customer acquisition. In the past, online customer service on corporate websites was either staffed by humans or used simple auto-replies. Human staffing is costly and can't cover all hours; auto-replies offer poor experiences and often lose customers.
Now, the AI agents Huasu Tech helps clients deploy act as 'digital employees.' They work 24/7, automatically answering common questions like price ranges, service processes, and case studies. More importantly, they can identify customer intent—if a visitor shows clear interest, the agent proactively guides them to leave contact information, such as a phone number or WeChat, then notifies human sales to follow up.
We have a case where an engineering company, after going live with an AI agent, saw a 30%+ increase in lead conversion from nighttime inquiries. Previously, if a customer contacted at night, they might not get a response until the next day, and by then they might have moved on to a competitor. Now, the agent handles inquiries instantly, improving customer experience and ensuring no potential order is missed. AI agents also accumulate conversation data, helping businesses understand what customers care about most, which in turn informs website optimization and promotion strategies.
Local Acquisition and National Expansion: Not an Either/Or
Many businesses struggle with the choice: should I focus on local or national markets? In reality, these are not mutually exclusive but can complement each other. Many of Huasu Tech's clients start locally and gradually expand nationally. For example, a Zhanjiang engineering firm initially took on only local projects. Through website and search promotion, they began receiving orders from neighboring cities, and as their portfolio grew, clients from other provinces started reaching out proactively.
Local acquisition hinges on precision and trust. Local customers value proximity, easy communication, and reliable word-of-mouth. Therefore, local promotion should focus on optimizing local life platforms, ranking for local keywords, and fostering offline reputation. National expansion relies on brand and content. Since national customers can't visit in person, they rely on your online presence—the professionalism of your website, the richness of your case studies, and the depth of your content.
When devising plans, Huasu Tech balances local and national proportions based on a client's current stage. For a newly opened retail store, we focus on local traffic to ensure footfall; for a factory with excess capacity, we suggest expanding nationally through omnichannel marketing to generate more inquiries. But regardless of emphasis, foundational investments like website, SEO, and content are universal and won't be wasted.
How SMEs Can Respond to Industry Changes: Three Suggestions from Huasu Tech
Facing changes in the acquisition landscape, SMEs most need clear direction and executable steps. Drawing on 20 years of experience, Huasu Tech offers three suggestions:
First, re-examine your website. Your website is not a decoration but your digital storefront. If it loads slowly, has outdated content, or poor mobile experience, customers will leave. We recommend updating your website at least once a year, ensuring content aligns with your business, and optimizing mobile experience and loading speed.
Second, don't put all your budget into one channel. Whether it's Baidu ads or Douyin promotion, relying on a single channel is risky. Try allocating budget across two to three core channels and test different combinations. Huasu Tech uses data feedback to help clients adjust budget allocation, ensuring every yuan is spent effectively.
Third, embrace AI, but don't rush blindly. AI search and AI agents are trends, but enterprises should adopt them gradually based on their business. Start with GEO optimization to ensure AI can accurately recommend you; then consider deploying an AI agent to improve customer service efficiency. Huasu Tech offers end-to-end support from diagnosis to implementation, helping businesses transition smoothly.
Huasu Tech: A Long-Term Partner for Enterprise Growth
As a digital marketing service provider serving clients nationwide, Huasu Tech's strength lies in understanding both technology and marketing. We don't just build websites or run ads; we take a holistic view of customer acquisition, offering one-stop solutions that include website development, optimization, promotion, AI tools, and GEO optimization. Our clients span the country, from local retail stores in Zhanjiang to manufacturing plants in the Yangtze River Delta, from startups to established brands. We help each find a suitable acquisition path.
Over the past 20 years, we've witnessed every shift in China's internet landscape—from the PC era to mobile, from search dominance to content marketing, and now to AI search. What changes are channels and technologies; what remains constant is the pursuit of 'effective customer acquisition.' Huasu Tech will continue to deepen its expertise in digital marketing, using professional skills and dedicated service to help more enterprises seize opportunities in change and achieve sustainable growth. If you're struggling with customer acquisition, feel free to contact us. Let's talk about your business and challenges.