RedNote: The Next Big Thing in Affiliate Marketing

Hey there, affiliate marketing pros! There is a new social media star rising — Chinese Xiaohongshu, but probably you know it as RedNote. After a tumult in early 2025, TikTok faced a brief ban with a subsequent reversal, but then solidified its presence in the US market. However, its stability hasn’t stopped other platforms like the China-owned giant RedNote from eyeing expansion into Western GEOs. Our team at Yep Ads is here to provide pointers for this major opportunity for affiliate marketers.

What sets RedNote apart

While TikTok’s future in the US is now solid, it continues to prioritize entertainment content including viral trends and challenges. RedNote, however, is a specialized discovery and shopping platform with a carefully designed interface. The period of uncertainty over TikTok’s fate in early 2025 led to a 99X+ increase in RedNote searches. The brief ban of TikTok on January 18, 2025 led to a massive surge in user interest towards RedNote. Despite TikTok’s quick recovery, the Chinese app managed to seize the opportunity and gained more than 3 million new US users while becoming the top free download in the Apple Store.

RedNote started out as far back as 2013 and offered mainly product reviews and recommendations back then. Over the years, the platform has developed into a visual-first search engine that now combines TikTok, Pinterest, and Instagram features. Today RedNote stands out from other social media platforms as it centers around shopping and product discovery.

RedNote is not just another TikTok copycat — it is more like a business-oriented version of Instagram which delivers a polished experience. Why polished, you ask? Its authenticity: authentic user reviews combined with genuine real-life experiences, no artificial product advertisements or forced “link in bio” recommendations.

Who’s already on RedNote?

Your understanding of the audience is essential before venturing out on a new traffic source. The majority of RedNote users are female (70%), while most of its users were born after 1995. These users demonstrate high engagement while being product-wise and trusting peer recommendations above traditional advertising.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

• Gender: female-to-male ratio of 7:3. In China, women heavily favor RedNote, making up 79.1% of all users.
• Age: the largest age group on the app is 18–24 (roughly 40%). Those aged 25–34 make up 35% of users, 15% are 35–44, and 10% are 45 or older.
• Geography: users are mainly concentrated in China (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen). Though today RedNote is recognized as a global platform with a large portion of users from Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand, and Australia.
• Content: image-based posts, short videos, and text-based notes with lifestyle content, product reviews, and personal experiences.

Why choose RedNote?

The brief period of uncertainty over TikTok’s future in the USA has prompted many users to migrate to new platforms, where RedNote has achieved the number one position on the US iOS App Store’s free apps list. The growing popularity of this phenomenon stems from these specific factors:

A thriving user base

The platform maintains a substantial user base (300+ million) and strong community engagement. Social commerce experienced a boom at the same time RedNote gained popularity according to Business Insider’s analysis.

The “TikTok Refugees”

The looming possibility of a TikTok ban in the US in January 2025 has caused millions of users to seek alternative platforms (RedNote along with Lemon8, Byte, and Clapper) to restore their digital presence and as a backup for their social currency. RedNote serves as the preferred platform for TikTok creators who left the app because it provides them with a space to share content and generate revenue. People show a strong desire to discover platforms that provide familiar experiences with innovative elements.

Unique features

RedNote combines short video content with live streaming and lifestyle material to create a platform that unites TikTok with Instagram and Pinterest features. The dual nature of this platform provides entertainment value while enabling e-commerce features which gives it an exclusive advantage. 

Opportunities for creators and brands

RedNote attracts both everyday users, creators, and brands. Through RedNote, creators can connect with highly engaged audiences who are passionate about lifestyle content. Businesses can enhance their marketing strategies by reaching an audience that demonstrates both high activity rates and receptive to product-oriented content.

Monetizing on RedNote: how to make it work

Ads that work on Instagram or TikTok will not help your campaigns on RedNote, since users here are very much into authenticity and will see your “salesy” content a mile away. To generate posts that attract the audience, you need to focus on being niche and staying truthful (UGC creators provide the perfect gateway).

Content that actually matters

• Go deep: when posting product reviews, provide a deep analysis that shows honesty and thorough assessment. Use specific details that standard ad content typically skips. Your audience will receive exclusive information that other sources lack.
• Tell real stories: show genuine experiences by presenting authentic unedited stories (UGC, once again). It’s not just about product display, you need to show how smoothly the item integrates into everyday life.
• Solve real problems: promote tutorials that address genuine problems which users need solutions for. Deliver friendly guidance with how-to posts, rather than promotional messages.

Niche down

Trying to please all equals pleasing none. You will gain the most traction by choosing one specific field that deeply engages your target audience. Here are some hot niches to explore:

• Beauty and skincare: go beyond just trendy products and dig into innovation. Your audience is looking for what’s new, what works, and what’s real.
• Fashion with a global twist: add global influences into your fashion content. Show styles from around the world, making your content feel fresh and exciting.
• Home decor: Share how home decor reflects personal style or creates unique atmospheres. It’s not just about how it looks, but the vibe it creates. People love a good story.
• Tech reviews: don’t just share the specs — talk about how the tech fits into real life and how it improves everyday tasks. People want to know how it works for them, not just its features.
• Travel gear: cater to the true explorers — gear that can keep up with their adventures, whether it’s trekking through mountains or backpacking across cities.

Potential challenges

RedNote’s success depends on its capability to evolve and thrive against other social media platforms in the market. To succeed in such an environment, affiliate marketers must adopt strategic thinking while being flexible in the face of potential difficulties.

Language and Localization

The majority of RedNote content is in Chinese, which can still pose challenges for international expansion, even though the platform has fully functional translation features that are still being refined. While these tools help bridge the language gap, creators from different nations may still find it difficult to navigate and engage seamlessly.

Possible solution: One of the best ways to overcome this is by creating bilingual content. Modern AI tools can enhance translation accuracy, making it easier to adapt content for both Chinese and global audiences. Additionally, visual storytelling remains a powerful way to communicate universally, reducing reliance on text-based language.

The impact is clear: Duolingo recently saw a 36% spike in US app store downloads while their stock value rose by 7%.Recognizing the demand for cross-language learning, they’ve developed targeted content for “TikTok refugees,” including educational videos that teach essential Mandarin phrases.

Technical and regulatory hurdles

• RedNote is owned by a Chinese company, which creates understandable privacy-related concerns for users. Users and affiliates must stay updated about local regulations and verify their content meets all requirements.
• The platform faces similar censorship risks in the Western markets as other Chinese-owned platforms because it restricts content that deals with sensitive political matters.
• Handling international payments is complex for creators outside of China. Check the payment process for your region on the platform because you should also note any logistical challenges.

10 tips for promoting on RedNote

1. Stay flexible: adapt quickly to changes as the platform evolves and attracts more Western users.
2. Polish your profile: make a strong first impression with a professional, sharp profile.
3. Stay informed: follow top creators and trends to keep your content fresh and relevant.
4. Consistency is key: stick to a content plan to build trust and reliability with your audience.
5. Connect with brands: build relationships with brands in your niche to unlock collaboration opportunities.
6. Add real value: focus on content that genuinely helps or informs your followers.
7. Be transparent: show both the pros and cons of the products you’re reviewing to build trust.
8. Respond and connect: engage with your audience and make them feel heard by responding to comments.
9. Create a community: foster a space where your followers can interact and share experiences.
10. Time your posts: post when your audience is most active to boost engagement and visibility.

The bottom line

Building genuine trust stands as the key to success on RedNote rather than using aggressive promotional approaches. Your wisest move will be producing content that helps viewers to make better shopping and lifestyle decisions — this will bring the biggest following and conversion rates.

Our team believes RedNote will gain significant potential in 2025, despite the current localization difficulties. The combination of social elements and e-commerce features in RedNote creates an enticing market for affiliate marketers who dedicate time and creative effort to it. Interested in diving deeper? Yep Ads is dedicated to assisting marketers as they explore this developing platform. Contact us right away to explore the best ways to boost your affiliate marketing strategy on social media.