LINE Marketing: The Ultimate Guide For Your Business

Do you know what LINE is? If you live in Japan, you’ve most likely heard of this app.

But did you know you can do more than just messaging friends, especially on the business side?

Keep on reading to learn more about how to do LINE marketing in Japan.

What is the LINE app used for in Japan?

LINE in Japan is a free messaging app and is the top platform in Japan. It is similar to WhatsApp, where you can text messages, send videos, and call people worldwide through wifi.

It has many features that make it more than a messaging app. It has a News feature that allows all the top and local news media, and it has a wallet feature similar to PayPay where you can pay through your phone.

Line Wallet

How popular is LINE in Japan?

According to Statista, LINE messenger market share is more than 227 billion Japanese yen in 2019. And it continues to grow as the top messaging and social media app in Asia, especially in Japan.

Benefits of marketing on LINE

Let’s take a look at the three key benefits when it comes to marketing on LINE.

a) Extensive user base

According to Digital Marketing for Asia, there are more than 95 million monthly users in Japan. With the right marketing strategy on LINE, you can reach this vast audience.

The sheer amount of users on LINE allows businesses to have an opportunity to connect with potential customers, build their brand awareness, and drive engagement.

Whether you are a local or international business looking to expand in Japan, LINE becomes an ideal platform to demonstrate your product or service.

b) Better localized content

Even though LINE is used in Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand, you can create localized content for your target audience.

LINE provides all the business tools to create and share content with their LINE audience. So, if your target audience is in Japan, you can create content and post to their Japanese audience. 

c) Engage with customers

With an official LINE account, businesses can use their chatbot features or have interactive campaigns for customers to engage in real-time.

These similar features enhance your customer service experience and build trust with your target audience.

How to make a LINE business account

If you are considering using LINE for your business, you need to create a LINE business account, also known as a LINE Business ID. Here are the steps:

1. Click “Create a LINE Official Account for free” on the LINE business account page.

2. Click “Back to Services” for the LINE Business page

3. Fill in the application form.

4. Click “confirm” once everything is inputted

Businesses using LINE offer three types of subscription plans: Communication (their free plan), Light, and Standard. Each varies in the amount of messages you can send.

LINE marketing strategies

LINE advertising offers 5 ways for you to market your business on LINE.

1. Create LINE ads and sponsored stickers.

LINE allows you to run ads through their LINE Ads feature to promote your brands, products, or other specific services you offer.

HAPiNS ad on LINE

Another great customization is to create sponsored LINE stickers that feature your brand. Many LINE users use stickers to show how they feel, so creating stickers for potential users to message others will increase your brand visibility. 

2. LINE flyer's media

This LINE marketing offers ways for stores and businesses to advertise their special deals for a specific store to be sent to users within a geographic region. 

So users who add the store to their favorites will become friends with the account, allowing them to ask for additional information. 

For this plan, you will need a store’s specific information, such as an address and the business house.

3. Chatbots customer support

This LINE tool will handle incoming inquiries and assist with frequently asked questions.

For more complex questions, you should let customers speak directly with someone for more personalized assistance.

4. Craft interactive campaigns.

Your campaigns on LINE can be polls, surveys, and quizzes. They create engagement with your followers and give you valuable insights into your product and customer service.

Think of this strategy as a LINE social media marketing to your followers.

You can offer incentives, discounts, or rewards to users participating in these interactive campaigns for better engagement.

5. Collaborate with cross-promotions and partnerships

Being on a platform like LINE allows you to have cross-promotional opportunities and partnerships with other businesses and brands.

This opportunity will expand your reach to a wider audience.

Additionally, there are influencer collaborations. Many influencers and celebrities on LINE have a significant presence where they can promote your products to their audience. Choosing someone whose values and common interests align with yours makes the endorsement authentic.

Building a presence on LINE

Now, it’s time to engage your audience. 

For one, you should tell your current audience that your business has a LINE account to add as a friend. From there, your customers have become part of your LINE followers.

There are a couple of things to help you build an online presence on LINE:

• Use the LINE Timeline: LINE’s Timeline feature allows you to create content about anything. You can even make announcements about your business’s behind-the-scenes.

• Offer exclusive deals: who doesn’t like a good deal? LINE is the best place to share promotions, discounts, or early access to incentivize users to follow your account.

• Run contests and giveaways: organizing a LINE-exclusive contest or giveaway is a great way to attract new customers and award long-term followers.

• Use LINE Ads: if your budget allows you to, consider using the LINE Ads feature to increase your brand awareness.

• Listen to user feedback: address any concerns and suggestions to show that you value your followers’ opinions based on their feedback and reviews.

LINE marketing can also help you increase your brand awareness the more time you spend using LINE advertising.

Frequently asked questions

Can you advertise on LINE in Japan?

Yes. LINE has a feature called LINE Ads, where advertisers can reach Japanese LINE users.

Is LINE still popular in Japan?

Yes. LINE is a popular messaging app in Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand.

Why do Japanese people use LINE so much?

At first, it was an emergency messenger service for employees during the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake. But it quickly became popular in Japan as a way to keep in touch with friends and family more easily.

In closing

Line marketing is a hidden social media platform that many foreign brands use. It is a powerful Japanese platform for connecting with a vast audience. With its features and tools, you can expand your reach and achieve your marketing goals.