Ven Wong - Digital Marketing Specialist & Web Developer

If you're targeting the Chinese market, Google SEO won't get you far — Baidu is the dominant search engine in China, and it plays by its own rules. Here’s how to do Baidu SEO right in 2025:

1. Host Your Website in China or Nearby
– Use a server inside China or Hong Kong for fast load times
– Baidu favors CN-hosted websites
– Make sure your site loads quickly inside mainland China

2. Get an ICP License
– If hosting in China, you must have an ICP备案 (Internet Content Provider License)
– It’s a legal requirement for visibility on Baidu
– Apply via your hosting provider or Chinese partner

3. Use Simplified Chinese
– All content should be written in Simplified Chinese (简体中文)
– Avoid auto-translations — use native-level writing
– Tailor content to Chinese cultural and consumer expectations

4. Optimize for Baidu’s Technical Preferences
– Use meta keywords (yes, Baidu still looks at them!)
– Avoid JavaScript-heavy websites (BaiduBot doesn’t handle JS as well as Google)
– Stick to clean HTML structure
– Submit a Baidu XML sitemap via Baidu Webmaster Tools

5. Build Baidu-Friendly Backlinks
– Submit to Chinese directories
– Get links from .cn domains or trusted Chinese sites
– Use platforms like Zhihu, Sina Blog, Weibo to build brand authority

6. Mobile Optimization is a Must
– Over 90% of Chinese users are mobile-first
– Make sure your site is fast, responsive, and AMP-like
– Baidu has its own AMP-like framework: MIP (Mobile Instant Pages)

7. Focus on Content + Trust
– Baidu rewards fresh, original content
– Keep updating articles and blogs
– Add trust signals like business registration info, contact info, and reviews

8. Baidu Webmaster Tools = Essential
– Similar to Google Search Console
– Helps with indexing, link submission, crawl errors, and performance
– Submit new content manually for faster indexing

💡 Bonus Tips:
– Baidu prefers internal linking and doesn’t like broken links
– Avoid blocked resources like YouTube, Google Maps, Facebook—they don’t work in China
– Use .cn domain if possible