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Google China Still Wants to Be Local, Launched Group-Buying Aggregator Service

By on September 13, 2011

I remembered that back in February, I had a conversation with some friends from Google discussing on what Google could do in China. We were talking about Group buying service, and I said that’s market Google China should look into, but instead of doing a Groupon liker, a group-buying aggregator site might be the best and easiest entry for Google China. And in a meeting with Marissa Mayer when she visited Shanghai with a group of young product managers, she also asked for advice on Google’s focus in China, I said one is Android market, the other is an aggregator service for Chinese group-buying.

Today, Google China really launched its group-buying aggregator service, called Shihui. Using Shihui, users can search for the deals on a couple of local group-buying sites by cities, categories, price etc. It’s not a complicated service, but it’s neat and convenient.

Baidu has its group-buying aggregator launched in June this year. According to a friend from Meituan management team, he said Baidu’s and 360′s aggregators are now the top 2 bringing them the traffic. Startups like Tuan800 seems doing ok too. As for aggregator’s business model, it’s simply the Ads model, i.e. group-buying sites need pay in order to be featured on aggregators.

Understanding the local trend is one of the keys for international web companies to succeed in China. I love Google China’s effort on Shihui, but maybe next time, they can get these sort of Local ideas executed earlier and faster.


You may also Read:

  1. Sina Launched Group-Buying Aggregator Service, With Weibo Integrated
  2. Facebook Pushes into Group Buying Market
  3. Group Buying Model In China
  4. Can We Really Trust Group-Buying Sites in China?
  5. China Group-buying Cooled Down In April, Guangzhou Hit Hardest Down 25%
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About Gang Lu

Gang Lu - Founder & Chief Editor of TechNode. Independent Asia/China Internet business observer and adviser, known speaker and tech blogger, open concept/technology evangelist and entrepreneur. Dr. Lu is also the co-founder of OpenWeb.Asia Workgroup and co-founder of kuukie.com. Dr. Lu got his BSc from EastChina Normal University and has MSc and PhD in wireless communications from the University of Sheffield, UK.