QS Search

What QS Search does

QS Search Limited is a privately held, Hong Kong-based integrated China media agency founded in 2014. The firm provides tailor-made China media strategies, media planning, and buying services that connect global brands with Chinese netizens across all major Chinese digital platforms, including search engines (Baidu, 360.cn/SO.COM, Sogou, SM.CN), social media (WeChat Official Accounts, WeChat Mini Programs, Xiaohongshu, Douyin, Bilibili), e-commerce (Tmall, PinDuoDuo, JD.com), and display/video networks. The firm holds Exclusive Advertising Reseller status for 360.cn (Qihoo 360) and claims to have served 500+ brands from 23 countries across 77+ industries since inception.

Name

QS Search

Legal name

QS Search Limited

Website

https://so360.hk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

QS Search Limited is a Hong Kong-based integrated China media agency that provides digital marketing strategy, media planning, buying, and e-commerce operations to help global brands reach Chinese consumers across search, social, and e-commerce platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Marketing Services

NAICS

Media Buying Agencies (541830), Advertising Agencies (541810), Media Buying Agencies (54183)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Advertising (7310)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAFACAA

Search Engine Marketing (SEM) / Paid Search (PPC)

Business & Public Services/Marketing, Advertising & PR Services/Digital Marketing & Performance Advertising (SEM, Social, Programmatic)

SECONDARYBPAFABAC

Paid Search (SEM) Media Buying

Business & Public Services/Marketing, Advertising & PR Services/Media Planning & Buying

SECONDARYMPAAABAC

Search Engine Marketing (SEM) Media Buying

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Advertising, Marketing & PR Services/Media Planning & Buying Agencies

Keywords

• Digital media agency
• China marketing services
• Search engine marketing
• Social media management
• E-commerce operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Causeway Bay

HQ country

Hong Kong SAR China

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Digital Advertising Services: Revenue generated from media planning and buying services across Chinese digital platforms including search engine marketing, display ads, video ads, and social media advertising. Services span multiple platforms including 360.cn, Baidu, WeChat, Xiaohongshu, Douyin, Bilibili, and e-commerce platforms.
2. Strategic Consulting Services: Consulting services providing tailor-made China media strategies for global brands entering the Chinese market
3. E-Commerce Operations: Operating stores on leading Chinese e-commerce platforms including Tmall, PinDuoDuo, JD.com, and custom WeChat Mini-Program stores for international brands
4. Advertising Audit and Risk Assessment: Compliance services assessing advertising materials against China Advertising Laws, providing legal advice for advertising in China

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

QS Search Limited is an integrated China media agency based in Hong Kong that delivers digital marketing services to help global brands reach Chinese consumers. The firm provides tailor-made China media strategies, media planning, and media buying across Chinese platforms including Baidu, 360.cn (SO.COM), Sogou, SM.CN, WeChat, Xiaohongshu, Douyin, and Bilibili, as well as e-commerce store operations on Tmall, JD.com, PinDuoDuo, and WeChat Mini-Programs. As the Exclusive Advertising Reseller of 360.cn, the company also offers advertising compliance audit and risk assessment services aligned with China Advertising Law.

Product overview

QS Search Limited is an integrated China media agency based in Hong Kong that provides digital marketing services to help global brands reach Chinese customers. The company offers a comprehensive suite of services including Search Engine Marketing (SEM), Display and Video Advertising, E-Commerce Operations (Tmall, JD, PinDuoDuo, WeChat Mini-Programs), Social Media Management (WeChat, Xiaohongshu), and Advertising Audit & Risk Assessment. In 2021, they established a dedicated Tech Marketing Solutions team for IT clients. As the Exclusive Advertising Reseller of 360.cn, QS Search leverages partnerships with major Chinese platforms including Baidu, 360/SO.COM, Sogou, SM.CN, Douyin, Bilibili, Zhihu, WeChat, and Xiaohongshu to deliver integrated digital marketing solutions across the China market.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Search Engine Marketing (SEM) Digital marketing service that drives rapid and accurate traffic to clients' websites through search engine advertising on Chinese platforms including Baidu, 360 (SO.COM), Sogou, and SM.CN, designed for global brands seeking conversions and sales in China.
• Display Ad and Video Ad Advertising service that secures wide, stable traffic through display and video formats across platforms including 360 Display Ad Network, Sogou, Zhihu, Bilibili, Huawei Mobile, Baidu, Ocean Engine (Toutiao/Douyin), and Mi Ads.
• E-Commerce Operation Operating stores on leading Chinese e-commerce platforms including Tmall, PinDuoDuo, and JD.com, and customizing WeChat Mini-Program Stores to drive direct sales for international brands entering China.
• Social Media Management Managing brand presence on Chinese social media platforms including WeChat Official Account, WeChat Mini Programs, and Xiaohongshu enterprise accounts, providing content generation and account management services for brands in the China market.
• Advertising Audit and Risk Assessment (AARA) Compliance service that assesses advertising materials against China Advertising Laws, scanning text, photo, and video creatives as well as websites to prevent violations and provide legal advice for advertising in China.
• Tech Marketing Solutions Specialized marketing team established in 2021 serving IT clients seeking to expand their go-to-market readiness in Hong Kong, providing integrated marketing solutions including brand building, demand generation campaigns, content marketing, and customer prospecting.

Quantifiable outcome

• 500+ brands served from 23 countries successfully entered the Chinese market
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• 360.cn (Qihoo 360)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2014QS Search is the Exclusive Advertising Reseller of 360.cn, providing access to SO.COM search advertising network with 450 million daily active users and 700 million daily searches. This exclusive partnership enables QS Search to offer premium search inventory on China's 2nd largest PC search engine.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• GroupM: World's largest media investment group operating WPP's media agencies (Mindshare, MediaCom, Wavemaker, Essence) with extensive China operations. Competes with QS Search for foreign-brand China media budgets at the upper end of the market.
• Publicis Groupe: Global advertising holding company with significant China presence through Publicis Worldwide, Leo Burnett, Saatchi & Saatchi, and Starcom. Competes for the same foreign-brand China-entry client base as QS Search.
• Mindshare: Global media agency network within GroupM/WPP operating in China with full-service planning, buying, and digital execution capabilities. Direct competitor for the largest foreign-brand media accounts.
• Dentsu: Global advertising holding company with substantial China operations through Dentsu Creative, Carat, and iProspect. Competes for foreign-brand China digital mandates with full-service scale.
• Ogilvy: Global creative and advertising network with significant China presence offering integrated digital, creative, and media services to multinational brands. Represents the global incumbent alternative for clients considering QS Search.

Direct peers

• Linc Global: Digital marketing and e-commerce enablement agency focused on helping international brands enter and scale in China, covering Tmall, JD.com, and Chinese social platforms. Comparable agency model combining media buying with e-commerce operations services.
• Dragon Trail Interactive: China-focused digital marketing agency that helps international brands build presence on Chinese digital platforms including WeChat, Weibo, Douyin, and Xiaohongshu. Most direct head-to-head competitor to QS Search in the cross-border China media agency space.
• Azoya: China e-commerce enablement company providing cross-border brands with storefront operations, marketing, and platform integration on Tmall, JD.com, and other Chinese marketplaces. Closely comparable service mix in e-commerce operations and digital marketing.
• Webcertain: UK-headquartered digital marketing agency specializing in cross-border campaigns for brands entering China and other Asian markets. Operates in the same niche of helping foreign brands navigate local platforms and language barriers.

Emerging players

• iClick Interactive: China-based digital marketing technology platform offering programmatic advertising, cross-border marketing solutions, and enterprise SaaS tools for brands operating in Asia. Adjacent competitor combining technology platform with media services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/qssearch

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about QS Search