Over the past two years, the underlying logic of customer acquisition has been reshaped by two forces: short-video platforms like Douyin fragmenting user attention, and AI generative engines like Doubao, Qwen, and DeepSeek taking over information retrieval. For SMEs across China, this is both a challenge and a chance to reshuffle the deck. As a digital marketing service provider serving clients nationwide, Zhanjiang Huasu Technology has witnessed countless businesses go from 'having a website but no traffic' to 'having traffic but no conversions'. We've also seen many merchants leverage a combination of Douyin ads, AI agents, and website building to achieve growth in regional or even national markets.
This article is not about vague theories. Drawing on our own services—custom website development, Douyin ad placement, GEO optimization, AI agent setup, and full-service management—we'll break down how industry shifts affect customer acquisition and how businesses should adjust their approach. If you're struggling with high acquisition costs, poor lead quality, or a weak online presence, this article may offer actionable insights.
1. Industry Shift: From 'People Finding Information' to 'Information Finding People', and Now 'AI Giving Answers'
Let's look at an obvious change: Ten years ago, the core of online promotion was ranking high on Baidu's search results. If a user searched 'XX equipment manufacturer', whoever ranked first got the deal. Five years ago, Douyin emerged, and users made purchases after watching engaging content; the platform algorithm pushed products to interested viewers—this was 'information finding people'. Now, AI search is here: users no longer browse pages themselves; they directly ask DeepSeek 'which brand of construction machinery is reliable' and AI provides a synthesized answer—the brands mentioned in that answer are likely to be chosen.
What does this mean for SMEs nationwide? First, relying solely on Baidu bidding or SEO is becoming less effective because user entry points are fragmented. Second, content must not only be optimized for search engines but also for AI models, so that AI references your brand when generating answers. Third, the user decision path is shortening—from seeing content to inquiring or ordering can happen within minutes, so businesses need tools to quickly capture that traffic, or the money spent on ads is wasted.
In serving clients in Zhanjiang and across China, Huasu Tech often encounters this confusion: business owners know they need to promote, but they don't know where to allocate their budget. Some invest in Baidu ads but their websites load slowly or lack mobile optimization, losing most inquiries. Others post videos on Douyin without a content strategy, resulting in low views. Still others want to use AI tools but don't know where to start. The root of these problems is failing to design 'traffic acquisition, content engagement, and intelligent conversion' as an integrated system.
2. Douyin Promotion: More Than Just Ad Spend—Building Content Assets
When it comes to Douyin promotion, many businesses immediately think of DOU+ or information flow ads. But Huasu Tech wants to remind you that Douyin's underlying logic is content seeding plus algorithmic recommendation. If you only spend money on ads without nurturing content, traffic will come and go quickly. When we handle Douyin promotion for national clients, we first help them clarify product selling points and customer pain points, then plan a content matrix—like factory tours, customer cases, industry knowledge, and boss appearances. These contents build brand credibility while increasing account authority.
Ad placement requires strategy. We recommend clients split Douyin promotion into two goals: brand exposure—using information flow ads to reach potential customers and raise awareness; and performance-based acquisition—using short videos with embedded forms, auto-replies in DMs, and live stream lead capture to directly collect sales leads. When serving manufacturing factories and retail stores nationwide, we design different ad combinations based on budget and industry. For a mechanical parts factory, we focus on vertical industry audiences, create short videos with 'factory direct' selling points, and combine with search ads to intercept precise intent. For a local renovation store, we emphasize same-city traffic, using 'nearby people' and POI targeting to drive foot traffic.
But Douyin promotion isn't isolated. Many clients ask: 'Why do I still get few inquiries after running Douyin ads?' The answer often lies in the landing page—users click and land on a crude H5 page or a website that lacks trust, causing them to leave. This is where website building comes into play.
3. Website Building: Not Just a Facade, But a Conversion Hub and Foundation for AI Retrieval
Many SMEs think that having a Douyin account and an e-commerce store is enough, so a corporate website is optional. That's a big mistake. In the AI search era, the value of a website is amplified: first, AI models crawl the web, and websites are among the highest-authority sources; if your site isn't indexed by AI, you're invisible in AI answers. Second, when users click from Douyin or Baidu, the professionalism of your website determines whether they'll leave their contact info. Third, a website is a repository of brand assets—you can post detailed product specs, case studies, and technical documents that short videos can't carry.
Huasu Tech has been doing custom website building for 20 years. We don't just use templates; we design with conversion and SEO in mind based on your industry and brand. For example, we create clear navigation and internal linking structures that make it easier for search engines and AI crawlers to index. We optimize mobile experience since over 60% of traffic now comes from phones. We embed AI agents on the site so visitors get immediate responses. Recently, we built a 'custom website + search promotion + AI customer service' integrated solution for an engineering company in Zhanjiang. Within three months, their inquiries nearly doubled compared to the old site.
Website building should also connect with Douyin promotion and GEO optimization. For instance, keywords mentioned in Douyin videos are synchronized into the website's titles and content, so when users search, the site ranks higher. We also structure website articles and FAQ pages in a way that AI crawlers can easily parse, making it possible for Doubao, Qwen, and others to cite our content when answering related questions. This is the essence of GEO—not just for Baidu SEO but also for AI search readiness.
4. AI Agents: The 'Automatic Order Taker' That Turns Traffic into Inquiries
Once traffic comes in, the critical step is conversion. But many businesses can't respond 24/7, especially to nighttime or holiday inquiries, leading to lost customers. Huasu Tech's AI agent service is designed to solve this. We help businesses build a dedicated AI digital assistant that can be placed on websites, in Douyin DMs, and in WeChat customer service. It automatically answers questions about products, prices, delivery times, and after-sales, guiding users to leave their contact info.
An AI agent is not a simple chatbot; it needs to be trained on your own knowledge base. We organize product manuals, FAQs, and sales scripts into structured data, feed it to the AI model, and ensure it gives professional, accurate answers. When serving a manufacturing factory, we built an AI agent that not only handled overseas inquiries at night but also recommended suitable product models and sent quotes automatically, increasing lead conversion by over 30%. For SMEs nationwide, an AI agent is like a tireless sales assistant—reducing labor costs while improving response speed and customer experience.
Moreover, AI agents can work with GEO optimization. When users ask questions on AI search platforms, the Q&A content generated by your AI agent can be indexed by search engines, becoming part of your brand. We recommend clients treat AI agents as the 'last mile' in the acquisition loop, integrating with Douyin promotion, website building, and GEO optimization to form a complete chain: content drives traffic, website handles engagement, and AI captures inquiries.
5. GEO: Making Your Business 'Visible' in AI Answers
GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) is about optimizing for generative search engines, aiming to have your information appear in AI-generated answers. With growing user bases on platforms like Doubao, Qwen, and DeepSeek, more customers will directly ask AI to 'recommend a reliable supplier of XX'. The AI answer often includes only a few brands; if yours isn't among them, you miss that traffic entry point.
Huasu Tech's GEO service starts from content strategy, structured data, and knowledge graphs to improve your visibility on AI platforms. We analyze target customers' questioning habits, create Q&A content that aligns with AI crawling logic, optimize your website's technical architecture so AI crawlers can easily find key info, and distribute brand mentions across industry forums, encyclopedias, and authoritative media to increase the likelihood of being cited by AI models. This approach overlaps with traditional SEO but focuses more on semantic understanding and multi-source integration—a worthwhile investment for SMEs nationwide to capture 'future traffic'.
We advise clients not to pit GEO against SEO; they complement each other. Baidu SEO remains the foundation for precise search traffic, while GEO captures the incremental AI search opportunity. When budgets are tight, start with website building and basic SEO, then gradually add GEO and AI agents to build a combined strategy.
6. Huasu Tech's Full-Service Approach: From Strategy to Execution, Helping National Businesses Adapt
All this boils down to a key message: industry changes are not threats but opportunities. SMEs across China can build competitiveness in their niches by mastering new tools and methods. Zhanjiang Huasu Tech, as a digital marketing service provider serving clients nationwide, adds value by simplifying the complex—from initial website building to Douyin promotion, SEO, GEO, and AI agent setup, we offer one-stop solutions so businesses don't have to figure it out alone or face technical barriers.
Our services cover the whole of China. No matter where you are, if you need digital marketing support, you can reach out. Our team is based in Xuwen, Zhanjiang, but our business has long extended to clients in manufacturing, engineering, retail, and services across the country. We've worked with local engineering firms in Zhanjiang, factories in the Pearl River Delta, and trading companies in the Yangtze River Delta—each case has yielded reusable experience.
Recently, we ran a nationwide brand exposure project for a manufacturing factory, combining Douyin ads, website building, and GEO optimization, which boosted both foreign trade and domestic inquiries. Another case involved a local retail store, where we used short-video traffic and local life platform promotion to double foot traffic. These examples show that regardless of client size or industry, the right methods can significantly improve acquisition efficiency.
7. Three Actionable Recommendations
Based on our hands-on experience, here are three suggestions for business owners reading this:
- Re-evaluate your website. If it loads slowly, lacks mobile optimization, or has no AI customer service, upgrade it soon. A website is the foundation of acquisition; if it's weak, no amount of ad spend will save you.
- Treat Douyin promotion as a system. Don't just spend on ads; nurture content. Don't only track views; track DMs and lead forms. Don't separate it from your website; direct traffic to your conversion hub.
- Embrace AI tools early. Whether it's GEO optimization or AI agents, they're changing the rules of the game. The earlier you start, the more you benefit.
Zhanjiang Huasu Tech is ready to be your technology partner. If you have questions about website building, Douyin promotion, AI agent setup, or GEO optimization, feel free to contact us. We'll provide practical solutions based on your industry and budget. Remember, customer acquisition isn't a one-time deal—it's a continuous optimization process. Choosing a service provider that understands technology, marketing, and your industry can save you many detours.
(This article was originally written by Zhanjiang Huasu Technology Co., Ltd. Feel free to share with attribution.)