A Baidu account is the first step to successful SEO in China. Despite the ongoing Covid-pandemic, the Chinese online economy is booming. As a part of this, Baidu is the search engine of choice for consumers and businesses in China.
This Baidu register tutorial by China Gravy, the China SEO Agency of choice, shows you how to open your own account on Baidu.
With your Baidu account, you can use tools like Baidu Analytics (Tongji) and the Baidu Webmaster Tool (Ziyuan). Besides, you can implement Baidu SEO strategies to improve your rankings.
Regular Baidu Account vs. Baidu PPC Account
First, let’s look at the differences between the two Baidu account types:
The Standard Baidu Account
Having an account on Baidu is the first step to implementing SEO strategies on China’s largest search engine.
With this standard account on Baidu, you can access the Baidu Webmaster Tool. Baidu Ziyuan is similar to the Google Search Console. There, you can submit your website’s sitemaps and URLs for indexing, and analyze your site’s performance.
Besides, you can use Baidu Analytics with a standard Baidu account. Baidu Tongji is similar to Google Analytics. It allows you to evaluate and analyze detailed statistics like your website’s traffic, traffic sources, or conversions to sales.
Once registered, you can access your “normal” Baidu account online at the Baidu website. Alternatively, you can download the Baidu app from the Google Store or Apple Store.
The Baidu PPC Account
On the other hand, a Baidu PPC account gives you access to more tools. For example, the Jimuyu page builder, Baidu Tuiguang (like Google Ads), display ads, and more.
A Baidu ads account is very powerful. It allows you to create PPC ads with selected keywords and budgets, choose your target audience, and analyze the results. But for the setup of a Baidu PPC account, you need the help of an agency. Regardless of whether your company is in China or abroad.
At present, Baidu is working on adapting the process. In the future, a Baidu PPC account registration shall also be possible without an agency. In the meantime, a Baidu PPC expert like China Gravy can help you with this process.
More Power with the Baidu PPC Account
Likewise, you can also access Tongji via the Baidu PPC account. There, you have more functions compared to the standard account. Plus, you can access analytics data about your Baidu ad campaigns. Besides, you can access Jimuyu through your Baidu PPC account, but not the standard Baidu account. Jimuyu is a quick and easy way to build landing pages for your Baidu PPC campaigns.
Read this article to learn more about Baidu’s audience and how to start successful SEO on the top Chinese search engine.
Once registered, you can access your Baidu PPC account online here.
How to Get a Baidu Account
Creating a Baidu account can be challenging if you don’t speak Chinese and are not located in mainland China. But it’s doable.
Principally, it’s possible to register a Baidu account in two ways. With a Chinese phone number (preferred) as well as an international phone number (limited).
The process may seem a bit complicated. But don’t worry. We are here for you every step along the way!
1. With a Chinese Phone Number
If you have a Chinese phone number, you can start the registration process here. This allows you to activate your Baidu registration via email*.
Keep in mind that you can only register one Baidu account per Chinese phone number. This may sound unimportant, but can be challenging. That’s because most smartphones in China come with the Baidu App pre-installed and thus a Baidu account.
So, you will need a designated company smartphone. You cannot just use a friend’s or partner’s private smartphone to set up your Baidu business account.
2. With an International Phone Number
Are you an international business owner or entrepreneur? Do you want to promote your products and services in China? Then, you will likely do so through Baidu and other state-of-the-art platforms in the Middle Kingdom.
Foreign business owners can register a “normal” Baidu account with an international phone number. In fact, there is an official process for Baidu registration outside of China for 156 countries** and their respective country codes.
Keep in mind that this process is in Chinese, and system errors are common. For example, most of the time the verification code does not arrive so this method most probably won’t work. But you can try it! If you are lucky and you receive the verification code, the next step is the email registration (which we recommend)*.
3. Through a Baidu PPC Account
Registering a Baidu account without a Chinese phone number is challenging. Therefore, international companies typically opt for the Baidu PPC account, which you can register without a Chinese phone number. However, you do need a business license and a Chinese website.
The Baidu experts at China Gravy are happy to help you with this registration process! Take the first step today and take advantage of our free consultation! Plus, the Baidu PPC account has even more options in Baidu Tongji compared to the regular Baidu account. The options in Baidu Ziyuan are the same though.
Baidu Login with a Chinese Email Address
Unfortunately, you cannot register a Baidu account only with your email address. However, you can change the Baidu login process from mobile phone to email. You can do so after you received the initial verification code on your phone.
After registration, Baidu normally sends a verification code with every login as a security measure. You will receive this code on your phone number or email address.
In theory, you don’t need the option to log in to your Baidu account via email, but we recommend it. Mainly because emails normally don’t change or expire. Plus, it’s easier to share access via email if several people are using a Baidu account for a business*.
So, to log in to Baidu via email, you need a Chinese email address. Baidu does not allow Gmail, AOL, or other international mail services. The experts at China Gravy find the best solution to create a Chinese email address to be through QQ Mail.
1. Download the QQ App
This process is a bit complicated, but bear with us, we are there with you every step along the way.
To download the QQ App (Chinese) on your phone, go to im.qq.com and click the blue button (立即下载) to start the APK download. Important: If you use the QQ App from your Google Store or Apple Store, you can’t register your email. That’s because the app version is not current enough.
Next, install the APK file on your phone. Then, open the QQ App and click on 新用户 (new user). Select one of 226 international countries***. Enter your phone number, and complete the puzzle to verify that you are a human. Afterward, you will receive the verification code via SMS to your phone. This step verifies your QQ account.
Now, select your new username and password. With this, your QQ account setup is complete. As a next step, you have to download and install the QQ Mail app.
2. Download the QQ Mail App
You can download the QQ Mail app (Chinese only) in your Google Play or Apple Store or online at mail.qq.com. QQ is an IM service similar to WeChat, both owned by Tencent.
Open the QQ Mail app. Select the first option “Mail QQ邮箱 mail.qq.com” (it may look like a logo, but it is clickable). Next, click on the blue button and enter the same username and password, which you chose for the QQ App.
To connect both accounts, login to your QQ App and run it in the background.
Now, all you have to do is change the Baidu account settings. With this, you will be able to login with your new Chinese email address (instead of your phone number).
3. Changing the Baidu Settings
Finally, change the settings in your Baidu account to login with your email address instead of your phone number.
To do so, go to the settings of your Baidu account (either on your phone or online). There, you click on 绑定邮箱 (connect email). Enter the email address, which you just created. Please see the screenshot below.
Next, you click on 登录方式 (login method), as you can see on the second screenshot. There, you activate the right toggle bar 帐号密码登录 (password login).
Congratulations, you can now access your Baidu account with your Chinese QQ email address (YOUR-QQ-NUMBER@qq.com). Simply click on 用户名登录 (username login) and enter your username and password.
Important: Keep in mind that an email registration alone is not enough to access a Baidu account.
If you don’t speak Chinese, you can use a translation service like Google Translate to get through the setup process. Or you can contact the China marketing experts at China Gravy to help you with everything around Baidu.
The Takeaway
A few minutes ago, you were wondering how to register on Baidu. You are now familiar with how to set up a Baidu account for your business. Both with a Chinese and international phone number plus email login as a second step.
Do you want to use tools like Baidu Tongji and Baidu Webmaster? Then you need to register either a standard Baidu account or a Baidu PPC account. Both accounts work independently from each other. Principally, the Baidu PPC account offers more options and tools.
Registering a Baidu PPC account is more successful for international businesses. That’s because registering a regular Baidu account only allows limited international phone numbers. That’s why opening a Baidu PPC account is the preferred method for Western companies to start Baidu SEO and PPC.
You don’t have a Chinese phone number? Your international phone number is not from one of those countries, for which Baidu offers registration? No problem! Your Baidu SEO agency China Gravy has got you covered! Speak to our experts to register your Baidu PPC account today!
Footnotes
Why Change Baidu Login to Email
* Theoretically, you could skip the email registration, but we don’t recommend that. Here’s why. An email account is normally “forever” whereas people are more likely to change their phone numbers, especially in China.
Baidu Account Registration with International Phone Numbers A-M
** Baidu account registration with foreign phone numbers from the following 156 countries (A-M). Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Ascension, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Côte D’Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Macau, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Martinique, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands Antilles, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Northern Mariana Islands, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Russia, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, SãoTomé and Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, USA, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
QQ Mail Registration with International Phone Numbers
*** QQ Mail registration on your QQ App with foreign phone numbers from the same 156 countries above plus the following. Antarctica, Aruba, Austria, Belgium, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, British Virgin Islands, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Christmas Island, Cocos [Keeling] Islands, Comoros, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mayotte, Micronesia, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Caledonia, Niue, Norway, Palau, Pitcairn Islands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Timor-Leste, Tokelau, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, U.S. Virgin Islands, United Kingdom, Vanuatu, Vatican City, Wallis and Futuna.