1. Sina Weibo Hamid Sirhan, Strategist, FreshNetworks 9th September 2011 @FreshNetworks A step-by-step guide to setting up a Sina Weibo account for your brand

2. Go to www.weibo.com

3. Click on the create new account button Click this button to create a new account. You will then be taken to the account creation screen.

4. Create your account This is the account creation screen. Don’t worry. It’s as simple a process as on Twitter.

5. Create your account Here’s a zoomed in view. You can probably guess what the fields are, but just in case…

6. Enter your e-mail address Enter your e-mail address here. You’ll see some autocompleted Hosts should you need a prompt.

7. Check your password strength Don’t forget to make sure it’s secure. This bar here will tell you how secure your password is. The range is from ‘弱’ (weak) to ‘中’ (medium) to ‘强’ (strong).

8. Choose your username Now enter your desired username. If it’s free you’ll see a green tick. If not, you’ll see a message in red with some suggestions of free names.

9. Choose your username When selecting your username you can use either English or Chinese script. If your brand has an established Chinese name it may be worth registering accounts with both your English and Chinese brand names.

10. Choose your gender Choose your gender here. It’s mandatory so up to you for your brand. We would recommend something in line with your brand type or the gender of the brand manager.

11. Choose your location Here you can select your country. It should automatically select ‘海外’ (overseas) and ‘英国’ (England/Britain) if you are based in the UK.

12. Captcha verification Now’s the time to verify you’re not a bot with a quick captcha. Don’t worry, it will be in English! Enter the text you see to the right of the input box.

13. Submit your details When you’re sure you’re ready to proceed, click this green button and you’ll create your account.

14. The confirmation screen You’ll now be told you’ve received a confirmation e-mail. If you’d like, click the green button to take you to your mailbox if it’s a common one, or to your domain if it’s custom. info@freshnetworks.com

15. Verify your e-mail address Once you receive your confirmation e-mail, click the text link to verify your account. info@freshnetworks.com

16. Your account is now ready Your brand will now have a Sina Weibo Account – Enjoy!