LINE is an instant messaging and voice and video calling application developed and managed by the Japanese subsidiary of the South Korean group NAVER CORPORATION. It is available on smartphones, tablets and computers.
LINE offers a wide range of features, including:
Free text messaging between LINE users
Free voice and video calls between LINE users
Paid voice and video calls to landlines and mobiles
Sending and receiving photos, videos, documents and audio files
Creating discussion groups
Access to exclusive content, such as stickers, games and apps
In Japan, LINE is the most popular messaging app. It is used by all age groups, from teenagers to seniors. Office workers are the largest user group, followed by housewives and students.
Launch and development
LINE was launched in Japan in June 2011. It quickly became a huge success, reaching 100 million users in less than two years.
Today, LINE has over 94 million monthly active users in Japan, which is approximately 70% of the Japanese population.
There are many reasons for LINE's success in Japan. The app is free, making it accessible to everyone. It also offers a wide range of features that meet the needs of Japanese users. Finally, LINE is very popular among young Japanese people, who use it to communicate with their friends and family.
In March 2021, South Korean company Naver Corporation, owner of LINE, announced the merger of LINE and Yahoo Japan, Japan's largest internet portal. The merger was completed in October 2023, creating a new company called LY Corporation.
The merger was driven by Naver's desire to strengthen its presence in Japan and expand its business in the country. Yahoo Japan has a large user base in Japan, which will allow LINE to reach a wider audience.
The merger was also driven by Naver's desire to expand its fintech business. Yahoo Japan has strong expertise in this field, which will enable Naver to offer new financial services to its users.
The merger of LINE and Yahoo Japan is a major event in the Japanese information technology industry. It will allow the two companies to combine their strengths and become a major player in the Japanese market.
Marketing solutions offered by LINE
LINE’s marketing solutions provide businesses with a multitude of options to communicate with their customers and prospects in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Depending on their needs and budget, businesses can choose the solution that best suits them. These solutions are suitable for all types of businesses, from small businesses to large multinationals.
1) LINE Official Accounts
Official accounts are an essential tool for businesses looking to connect with their customers on LINE. These accounts allow businesses to create a personalized profile, post messages, run campaigns, and collect data about their customers.
Benefits of official accounts:
Large Broadcast Network : LINE has over 94 million active users in Japan, making it the ideal channel to reach a wide audience.
Personalized Communication : Businesses can use Official Accounts to communicate with their customers in a personalized way, based on their interests and needs.
Targeted Marketing Campaigns : Businesses can use Official Accounts to run targeted marketing campaigns, based on data collected about their customers.
Data Analysis Tool : Official Accounts provide businesses with valuable data about their customers, allowing them to improve their marketing campaigns.
LINE Official Account Rates
Official accounts are free for businesses that want to get started. Paid plans start from 0 yen per month, with additional fees charged based on the number of messages sent.
Communication | Light | Standard | |
Monthly fixed costs | free | 5,000 ¥ | 15,000 ¥ |
Number of messages/month | Up to 200 | Up to 5,000 | Up to 30,000 |
Additional message cost. | - | - | 3¥/message |
LINE offers a range of additional features that enable businesses to communicate with their customers and prospects in a more effective and personalized way.
Messaging: Messaging is the most important feature of LINE Official Accounts. It allows businesses to send messages to their customers and prospects, either in a broadcast or targeted manner. Messages can include text, images, videos, links, and coupons.
Businesses can use messaging to:
Communicate the latest information about their products and services
Promote events and promotions
Answering customer questions
Collect customer data
Coupons: Coupons are a great way to motivate customers to use your products and services. LINE allows businesses to create personalized coupons, which can be sent to customers via messaging or displayed on the official account profile.
Coupons can offer discounts, gifts or other benefits. They can be used to:
Increase sales
Building customer loyalty
Promote new products or services
Loyalty Cards: Loyalty cards are another way to build customer loyalty. LINE allows businesses to create digital loyalty cards, which can be used to track customer purchases and award them with rewards.
Loyalty cards can be used for:
Retain existing customers
Attracting new customers
Improve customer satisfaction
2) LINE Promotion Sticker
LINE promotional stickers are a great way for businesses to increase their visibility and awareness among LINE users. These stickers, designed by the businesses themselves, can be used to promote their products, services, events or any other message.
The advantages of LINE promotional stickers:
Active Advertising: Promotional stickers are active advertising because users use them themselves in their chats with friends and family. This allows businesses to reach a wider audience and increase their visibility.
Personalized Approach: Promotional stickers can be customized to reflect the brand or image of the company. This allows businesses to create a stronger connection with users.
Target users: Promotional stickers can be targeted based on location, age, interests, or other criteria. This allows businesses to deliver their messages to users who are most likely to be interested.
How to create LINE promotional stickers?
Businesses can create their own LINE promotional stickers using the LINE Sticker Maker. This tool is easy to use and allows businesses to create high-quality stickers.
Pricing options
Businesses can choose between two pricing options for LINE promotional stickers:
Flat Rate Package: Businesses pay a flat rate for a certain number of stickers.
Pay-as-you-go fee: Businesses pay a commission on each sticker download.
3) LINE Ads: a powerful advertising solution for businesses
LINE Ads is a complete advertising solution that enables businesses to reach a large audience on LINE and its partner apps.
With LINE Ads, businesses can:
Achieve Massive Reach: LINE has over 94 million monthly active users in Japan. LINE Ads allows businesses to reach a massive audience by running their ads on the LINE app, as well as LINE’s partner apps, such as LINE NEWS, LINE VOOM, and LINE Shopping.
Target users precisely: LINE Ads offers a variety of targeting features that allow businesses to target their ads based on location, age, interests, and other factors. This allows businesses to reach people who are most likely to be interested in their products or services.
Optimize your advertising campaigns: LINE Ads provides businesses with comprehensive data and analytics on their advertising campaigns. This allows businesses to track the performance of their campaigns and make changes to improve their results.
4) LINE Ads Network: a monetization solution for publishers
LINE Ads Network is a monetization solution that allows publishers to monetize their apps by serving LINE ads.
Ads can be served to over 8,800 apps through LINE Ads. LINE Ads Network offers a variety of ad placements and targeting options, allowing publishers to find the solution that best suits their needs.
GO TO JAPAN is a marketing agency that offers comprehensive support forthe management of your social networks in Japan . Our agency has local expertise and in-depth knowledge of the online advertising market in Japan. It offers a turnkey solution that includes all the services necessary for the success of your communication campaigns on the Japanese market.
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