Under the digital influence: The China online scene
21st September 2007
More than 90 AmCham-China members and guests gathered at The Renaissance Beijing yesterday to hear two panels of experts discuss China’s online scene, celebrate the launch of the chamber’s new webpage and attend a networking party.
Matt Roberts of About.com moderated the first panel - Decoding China’s Internet Scene - and asked what trends will shape the Internet in China. Siliconhutong.com’s David Wolf, CEO of Wolf Group Asia, cited growing access to wireless and the ensuing mobility this provides as the guiding trend for the next five to ten years. Andrew Lih, a new media academic who is authoring a book about online collaboration, stressed the importance of avoiding situations where content might get your site shut down. “Anyone who can stay ahead of ICP issues will win out in the end,” he said. Micah Truman, CEO of Wanmo Performance Advertising, said e-commerce is the trend to watch: “It’s about to go absolutely nuts.”
Jeremy Goldkorn of The Standards Group and danwei.org moderated the second panel on the business of blogging, kicking off the discussion by asking the speakers why they blog.
China-briefing.com’s Chris Devonshire-Ellis, senior partner of Dezan Shira & Associates, said his blogs serve as marketing and research tools that fit in with a media mix that includes magazines and books.
On the risks involved in blogging, Will Moss of PR site imagethief.com said he worries about offending current and potential clients, even though he never writes about the former. Despite this, he said the benefits of blogging - an increased profile and potential to attract clients - outweighed the risks. Chinalawblog.com’s Dan Harris, founding member of law firm Harris & Moure, answered that his company is small enough that even if his blog offended half the world, there would still be another half full of potential clients. “The greatest risk is to my marriage because I spend so much time online,” he joked.
Both panels included lively 30-minute Q&A sessions. The event wrapped up with the launch of the new AmCham-China Daily page. The chamber’s Website Coordinator Christine Baker cut the ribbon as attendees toasted the site with sparkling wine. All present then enjoyed appetizers, beverages and fellowship for several hours. Check out the gallery of photos from the event.
Thanks go to the event’s wine sponsor, ASC Fine Wines
