Guide to sign up WeChat official account

WeChat, developed by Tencent tech was released in the year of 2011 is currently China’s main messaging and social media platform. It provides a wide range of functions from social interaction to payment. The mobile app is available in ios and android system and the app it’s needed in order to activate the web version, just like Whatapps. Here’s a simple guide in WeChat service account registration for both China and international users! 

Type of WeChat registration accounts available 

Individual accounts vary from the business ones in terms of features and account verification since both accounts are registered for different purposes. 

WeChat Account	China’s citizen	Non-China’s citizen
Individual	Each of China’s citizens can register up to 2 personal accounts	One personal account for each valid local number.
Service (business)	Local China business license allows subscriptions of complete featured service accounts	Non China businesses can register with Overseas China accounts in WeChat at mp.weixin.qq.com, but with limited features.

China versus overseas service account 

Recently, WeChat officials announced that all WeChat service accounts (including overseas service accounts) are now accessible to all China mainland’s users! However, there are certain limitations to overseas service accounts and is summarized in the table below. 

	China service account	Overseas service account
Customer service	Can access to text,links,videos, images, articles,music, coupons and mini program cards. Verification needed.	Can access to text and links only. Verification needed.
Broadcast service	Text, images, articles, videos, voice chat and coupons	Articles only.
Advanced features	Access to all advanced features like WeChat pay, stores, cards after account verification.	Limited advanced features and vary by countries. Verification needed.

Hence, non-China’s citizens without a China business license need to take into account whether an overseas service account is sufficient to achieve the desired goal on the WeChat platform. Otherwise, a third party agent may be needed to register a China service account for non-China citizens with a service charge.

Steps on overseas service account registration

Step 1: Open the web browser and search for https://mp.weixin.qq.com/?lang=en_US&token= Click “register now” for the first timer. 

Step 2: Choose service account. International users can only select this. 

Step 3: Enter a valid email address to create a user account. Note that email address can only be used once for one official account registration. Then, proceed with email verification and set up the user account password. 

Step 4: Enter the desired organisation details with the company’s name and local business registration number. Details such as full name, passport number and valid local phone number are also needed to set up the account administrator. 

Take note: The registered company owns the official WeChat account, not the administrator. Account administrator can add in desired operators after account registration so admin will not  have to give login credentials every time. Only admin can add or remove operators. However, the company’s owner can remove the admin anytime without his or her cooperation by re-verifying the account by giving the email address and password the owner set up initially. It works the same for China or non-china citizens.  

Step 5: Set up the account profile. Pick a name for the account with short introduction to the account. After that, select the desired operating area. Users will now have a registered account! 

Step 6: Verification. Overseas service account verification annual fee is USD99. 

Steps on China official account registration

Take note before registration: As a China business license holder, there are 2 types of official accounts to be chosen to register which are subscription accounts and service accounts. 

The differences between the two are shown as below. 

	Service account (服务号）	Subscription account （订阅号）
Broadcast visibility	Exhibit in personal contacts with push notification	Exhibit in subscription folder without push notification
Broadcast messaging	Four times per month	Once everyday
Customer service messages	Exhibit in personal contacts with push notification	Exhibit in subscription folder without push notification
Advanced features	All advanced features after verification includes WeChat Pay, Store, Cards and loT additional applications.	Access to all except WeChat Pay, Stores, loT, NLP, silent OAuth, template messages, parametric QR codes, URL shortener, user-location sharing and limited JavaScript interfaces

Once a decision is made on which account to register, please proceed as the following. 

Step 1: Open the web browser and search for https://mp.weixin.qq.com/?lang=en_US&token= Click “register now” for the first timer. 

Step 2: Choose the desired account type.

Step 3: Enter a valid email address to create a user account. Note that email address can only be used once for one official account registration. Then, proceed with email verification and set up the user account password. 

Step 4: Choose China mainland as the user’s region. 

Step 5: Enter the company’s details. Select the appropriate company’s type and provide account administrator information such as a valid China national identification number and a valid China’s mobile phone number. The admin will need to scan QR code to link to his or her personal WeChat account. One personal account can bind with 5 WeChat official accounts. 

Step 6: Authentication. There are 3 methods available to authenticate the business. However, WeChat verification is the only option that provides users with access to all advanced features and gold badge. An annual fee of RMB300 is required for it. 

Step 7: Set up the account profile. Pick a name for the account with short introduction to the account. 

The account name can only be changed via the WeChat verification again (pay another RMB300) once it is set. The company’s logo and introduction can be edited 5 times per month. 

Step 8: Verification. Users will need to complete the verification process within 30 days after the account registration. 

Now, it is done! 

After Wechat official account verification:

How to add operators?

Operators can login the account without the aid of the account administrator. Operators need to have a personal WeChat account with a bank card linked to the personal account, follow the newly registered official account and the admin will need to scan the QR code for the operators. 

Select settings > security center> first row > click “Details” 

The system will now redirect users and then select operator management. Click the green option to add operators. Up to 5 permanent operators can be added and 20 short term operators (1 month expiration). 

Now, select the desired operator among the account followers in the pop-out window. 

Then “Invite to bind” and the admin will need to scan the QR code to verify the selected user as the account’s operator. 

After that, the user’s personal account will receive a template message from WeChat to accept the invitation to be the official account operator. 

Now you are good to go! Enjoy using the WeChat official account!