Is seeking votes via social media a marketing ploy?

A screenshot of various types of online votes on China's Twitter-like Sina Weibo. [Photo/Weibo]

People use polling software to profit

The viral activities of soliciting votes online have prompted underground businesses of polling software, according to media reports.

A simply search of "Wechat voting" on Baidu, China's largest search engine, bring up more than three million entries, with "polling software" and "professional polling teams among the most searched topics.

Because official polls usually only allow one vote from one IP address, polling tools could help fake the addresses. After paying 30 yuan ($4) for each 100 votes, people could gain more votes, said China News Service.