This post is the third part of the five-week-long Flow WeChat Marketing Special series in which every week we introduce and explain the practical use of selected WeChat features.
Leveraging location based WeChat features
WeChat location based functions can use the mobile network, the Global Positioning System and the wifi network to identify users location.
Leveraging WeChat followers’ location information can be beneficial for online and offline businesses as well. Brick-and-mortar stores, restaurants or event venues can increase foot-traffic by providing directions to WeChat users based on their geographical position. Online businesses can provide relevant location specific information and services based on the user location. WeChat official accounts can send out customized messages to their followers based on their location.
WeChat users can choose if they want to share their location information when following a WeChat account. If the location sharing is switched off by default, service accounts can ask for permission to access their location data whenever they need it.
There are many great examples of businesses using this simple WeChat feature. A perfect day out can be planned just by communicating with WeChat service accounts that are using WeChat location features.
By following MoJi Weather China‘s (墨迹天气）Wechat service account, users can receive weather and air quality information for their City. Users can also get weather updates for other cities just by texting a city’s name to the account.
ChuMenWenWen (出门问问） is a service to find places of interest close to your location. Their WeChat service account cleverly combines the benefits of WeChat location features and the ability of sending message based responses. Users can send messages saying what they would like to do and ChuMenWenWen sends back the options based on their location. Once the users have selected the option they liked the most, ChuMenWenWen can generate the route to the location right within WeChat. Furthermore, the service also uses voice recognition, but this requires a fairly good pronunciation from the users.
