The digital marketing landscape in 2025 is completely different from that of five or even three years ago. In the past, enterprises focused on Baidu search results or invested in information flow ads to get decent inquiries. But now, the way users obtain information and choose suppliers has changed—more and more people are using Douyin search, Xiaohongshu search, or even directly asking AI assistants like Doubao, DeepSeek, and Qianwen. This change poses both challenges and opportunities for SMEs. The challenge is that old tactics are becoming ineffective, and those who don't adapt will be left behind by competitors; the opportunity is that new traffic entrances have just opened, and those who seize them first can reap the benefits.
As a digital marketing service provider serving SMEs and physical businesses nationwide, Yunxuan Network Technology has recently been in contact with many business owners. The most common concerns are highly consistent: with limited budgets, how to spend wisely to retain existing customers while exploring new markets? How to combine local business with the national market? Should we follow the trend of AI search? Are information flow ads still worth investing in as they become more expensive? There are no standard answers to these questions, but there is a methodology to share. In this article, we will discuss the trends and coping strategies behind keywords such as SME customer acquisition, omni-channel marketing, and information flow advertising, based on our service cases and accumulated experience.
1. AI Search Reconstructs Traffic Entrances, SME Customer Acquisition Must Change Thinking
First, let's look at an obvious trend: the penetration of AI search is far faster than expected. According to incomplete statistics, in 2025, more than 30% of netizens will consult AI assistants before making purchase decisions, and this proportion is rapidly rising. Users are no longer satisfied with flipping through ten pages of search results; they directly ask AI questions like "Which reliable construction machinery manufacturers are in Guangdong?" or "Which network promotion company in Zhanjiang provides good service?" The answers AI gives are often not links to a single website, but a summary of multiple sources, with source links attached.
This means that if enterprises do not invest in content that AI can crawl and cite, they will be "invisible" in future traffic entrances. In the past, you paid for Baidu keyword rankings, and users could see you; now, when users ask AI, if AI doesn't mention you, you're out. This change has a structural impact on SME customer acquisition, and it cannot be solved simply by optimizing keywords.
Yunxuan Network Technology began researching AI search algorithms as early as 2023 and officially launched GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) services in 2024. Simply put, GEO optimization targets mainstream AI platforms like Doubao, Qianwen, and DeepSeek by optimizing the content structure, semantic relevance, and authoritative source citations of enterprises, so that when AI answers related questions, it prioritizes recommending your enterprise. This is not black technology, but rather precise adaptation at the content level based on AI retrieval mechanisms.
We served a construction enterprise in Zhanjiang. The owner previously only did Baidu promotion, which worked well, but in the past two years, inquiries have noticeably declined. Later, we helped him with GEO optimization, restructuring the FAQ pages, case details, and qualification certificates on his official website, and produced a series of in-depth articles around long-tail keywords like "Guangdong engineering company" and "Zhanjiang engineering services." Three months later, Doubao and DeepSeek began frequently citing the enterprise's website content when answering related queries. Inquiries rebounded, and the quality of customers was significantly higher—many came through AI search, already familiar with the company's strengths, greatly improving communication efficiency.
This case shows that SME customer acquisition should not only focus on traditional search engines but also lay out content ecosystems for AI search. However, many enterprises lack professional teams to do this work; they can't write good content or understand the technology. In such cases, finding a service provider that understands GEO is more efficient than exploring on your own.
2. Omni-Channel Marketing Is Not Posting Ads on Multiple Platforms, But Systematic Layout
The term "omni-channel marketing" is overused, but few truly understand it. Many business owners think it means opening accounts on Douyin, Kuaishou, Xiaohongshu, Zhihu, and Baidu, posting content daily, or buying promotion tools on some platforms. As a result, they spend a lot of money and gain followers, but inquiries and sales do not increase significantly. Where is the problem? It lies in "scattered" and "chaotic."
The core of omni-channel marketing is not "more," but "systematic." You need to clarify the role of each platform: Baidu search handles precise traffic from active searches; Douyin and Kuaishou stimulate potential demand through content; Xiaohongshu and Zhihu build professional trust; local life platforms connect offline stores with nearby customers. These platforms are not isolated but cooperate with each other. For example, a user sees your product video on Douyin, becomes interested, then searches your brand name on Baidu, sees your official website and positive reviews, and finally makes a purchase with confidence. This is a complete decision chain; if any link is missing, customers may be lost.
When doing omni-channel brand promotion, Yunxuan Network Technology always adheres to the trinity of "content + channels + technology." In terms of content, we produce materials suitable for different platforms based on the enterprise's industry and customer profile, such as short video scripts, graphic notes, and in-depth Q&A. In terms of channels, we select the most cost-effective platform combinations without blindly expanding. In terms of technology, we use data monitoring tools to track exposure, clicks, lead generation, and conversion on each channel, continuously optimizing strategies. This systematic approach is the correct way to do omni-channel marketing.
We served a manufacturing factory that mainly exported parts. Previously, they only did Alibaba International Station, but competition was fierce and costs were high. Later, we helped them plan an omni-channel marketing plan: Baidu search promotion covered domestic distributors, Google Ads covered overseas customers, LinkedIn and YouTube provided brand endorsement, and information flow ads on Douyin and Toutiao targeted specific audiences. Within six months, the factory's foreign trade inquiries increased by 40%, and domestic inquiries also steadily improved. The owner said, "I used to think omni-channel marketing was just burning money, but now I realize I just didn't know how to calculate the returns."
3. Refined Information Flow Advertising Is Key to Low-Cost Customer Acquisition for SMEs
Information flow advertising is nothing new, but many SMEs still fail to do it well—either budgets are exhausted without results, or there is exposure but no conversion. The reason is simple: information flow advertising is not just "paying for traffic." It tests audience targeting, creative materials, landing page experience, and conversion path design.
First, audience targeting. Information flow platforms have massive user data, and theoretically, you can precisely target "25-40 years old, manufacturing industry, with purchasing decision power," but only if you know how to set it up. Many business owners directly choose "system intelligent recommendation," resulting in wasted money on broad traffic that isn't the target customer. When we help clients run information flow ads, we always start with audience profile analysis, combining the enterprise's historical transaction data, website visitor data, and even sales team feedback to build a dedicated audience package, then continuously test and optimize.
Second, creative materials. The creative material of information flow ads determines whether users are willing to stop and look at your ad. Users are increasingly immune to ads; the cliché "click to claim discount" is ignored. Good materials need storytelling, conflict, or practical value. For example, when we helped a commercial store do short video traffic generation, we didn't shoot a hard sell but a video of "a day in the life of the boss," showing the store's busyness and product variety, with the caption "Zhanjiang same-city delivery to your door." The video got high views, and many comments asked for the address and price. That's the power of content.
Finally, the landing page. Many enterprises link their information flow ads directly to the homepage, which is a big mistake. Users click on an ad with specific intent; they need to see a landing page consistent with the ad content, with clear selling points, trust endorsements, and calls to action. When we create landing pages, we ensure "one screen, one theme": the first screen shows core selling points, the second screen displays customer cases, and the third screen presents promotional activities and contact information, reducing the user's thinking cost.
Budget allocation for information flow ads also matters. For SMEs, we recommend not investing heavily at the start but testing with a small budget, such as 300-500 yuan per day, running for a week to see which materials and audience packages perform best, then gradually increasing the budget. This "small steps, fast running" approach controls risk while ensuring results.
4. From Local Customer Acquisition to National Promotion: How to Run Both in Parallel?
Many SME owners have a misconception: if they are a local business, there is no need for national promotion. Actually, that's not true. Even physical stores serving local customers can attract consumers from surrounding cities through online promotion, or even tourists. And enterprises targeting the national market cannot ignore the deep cultivation of the local market.
Yunxuan Network Technology is headquartered in Zhanjiang but serves clients nationwide. We help local engineering companies and commercial stores in Zhanjiang with local customer acquisition, and also help manufacturing enterprises in the Pearl River Delta, Yangtze River Delta, and across the country with omni-channel promotion. We deeply understand that local acquisition and national promotion are not mutually exclusive but can be synergistic.
For example, local acquisition can use Baidu Maps and Amap listings, Meituan and Dianping operations, and Douyin same-city accounts to attract customers within a 3-5 kilometer radius to the store. National promotion requires search engines, industry B2B platforms, and social media ads to expand brand influence and obtain remote inquiries. The tools and methods differ, but the underlying logic is the same: precisely reach target customers, deliver valuable information, and promote conversion.
We have a client that makes environmental protection equipment, headquartered in Zhanjiang, but with customers nationwide. Initially, they only did local promotion, and orders mainly came from referrals. Later, we helped them build a marketing-oriented official website, did Baidu search promotion covering national keywords, and ran information flow ads on Toutiao and Douyin targeting business owners in the environmental industry. After six months, their customers came from Hunan, Jiangxi, Fujian, and other provinces, with out-of-province orders accounting for over 60%. That's the value of national promotion.
Of course, national promotion is not achieved overnight; it requires continuous investment and optimization. Many business owners like to ask, "When will we see results?" We usually answer honestly: search promotion generally takes 1-3 months to show results; information flow ads may be faster but require constant testing; omni-channel marketing is a snowball process, and the longer you do it, the better the results. The key is to find the right method and persist.
5. Enterprise Website Construction Is the Cornerstone of Omni-Channel Marketing
Whether you do SEO, GEO, or information flow ads, you ultimately need a place to carry traffic—your enterprise website. Many business owners think the website is just a "face project" and that any template will do. But in reality, the website is the "base camp" of your omni-channel marketing, and its quality directly affects conversion rates.
First, website loading speed is important. Research shows that if a webpage takes more than 3 seconds to load, over half of users will leave. When building websites, we optimize images, code, and server configuration to ensure fast loading on mobile devices. Second, the website structure should be clear, with a straightforward navigation bar, detailed product and service pages, and preferably real cases and customer reviews. Third, the website must be mobile-friendly, as over 70% of traffic now comes from mobile phones.
More importantly, the underlying architecture of the website should facilitate AI search indexing. When building websites, we follow search engine indexing rules while also considering the semantic understanding needs of AI platforms. For example, we set clear H1 tags for each product page, describe product features and advantages in natural language, and include FAQ structured data. This way, when users ask AI "Which company's products offer good value for money?" AI is more likely to cite your website content as the answer.
Yunxuan Network Technology's custom website development service is not just about making a good-looking page but creating a 24/7 online salesperson from a marketing perspective. We communicate deeply with clients to understand their target customers and concerns, then incorporate this information into the website's content and structure. We also deploy AI agents, i.e., intelligent customer service, on the website, which can automatically answer common visitor questions, collect contact information from potential customers, and even receive visitors at night.
Speaking of AI agents, this is a service we have been focusing on in the past two years. Many business owners are busy during the day and don't have time to check the website at night, resulting in missed nighttime inquiries. The AI agents we deploy for enterprises are online 24/7, not only answering routine questions like "Where is your company?" and "What products do you have?" but also proactively initiating conversations based on visitor browsing behavior, such as "Hello, are you interested in product X? I can introduce it to you." If a visitor leaves a phone number or WeChat, the AI agent immediately notifies the enterprise's sales team. We have statistics showing that clients with AI agents see an average increase in lead conversion rate of over 30%.
6. How Should SMEs Choose the Right Service Provider for Customer Acquisition?
Facing a mixed bag of network promotion companies in the market, SME owners often don't know where to start when choosing a service provider. Here are a few suggestions:
First, check whether the service provider has real industry experience. It's best to find a company that has served clients in the same or similar business model, so they better understand your customer base and industry pain points. Second, check whether the service provider offers full-chain services. Website building, promotion, optimization, and AI tools should ideally be solved by one company; otherwise, you may end up with a poorly built website and wasted promotion budget. Third, check whether the service provider has a habit of data transparency. Reputable service providers will regularly provide data reports so you can clearly see how much money was spent and how much exposure, clicks, and inquiries were generated, rather than just giving you a verbal "good results" promise.
The reason Yunxuan Network Technology has earned a reputation score of 9.8 is that we always stand from the customer's perspective and let results speak. We don't make unrealistic promises like "guaranteed top ranking," but we use professional methods and continuous service to help clients gradually improve customer acquisition results. Our team includes technical developers, marketing strategy consultants, and content editors, providing one-stop solutions for enterprises.
Finally, I want to say that digital marketing has no shortcuts, but it does have methods. Rather than fumbling around on your own, it's better to find a professional partner. If you are struggling with SME customer acquisition, omni-channel marketing, or information flow advertising, feel free to talk to Yunxuan Network Technology. We will give you a practical plan based on your industry and budget.