I recently had an exclusive interview with 文昭(Wen Zhao) where he shared valuable insights on the journey of becoming an online influencer. I've summarized the key points from this interview from my perspective to make it easy for everyone to review. I hope these insights will be helpful in your growth on the Gan Jing World platform. I'd like to express my gratitude to 文昭 for his generous sharing. If you haven't watched the interview yet, you can find the link below. The interview is conducted in Chinese.

Here are some valuable points Wen Zhao mentioned, along with my own thoughts:

Success Is Not Guaranteed; Focus on Your Core Values: Wen Zhao emphasizes that success in the realm of online media is not guaranteed, and popularity can be temporary. He encourages content creators to maintain a calm and focused mindset. In the fluctuating world of online traffic and changing audience interests, it's crucial to stay true to your channel's core values and concentrate on creating meaningful content. Many content creators often begin with initial enthusiasm, but as challenges emerge, they may contemplate quitting. This usually occurs around the two-year mark from when they start their channel. Wen Zhao believes that what sustains content creators during challenging times is their inner faith. He suggests not obsessing over metrics like traffic and followers but staying true to your beliefs.

Avoid Comparisons and Anxiety: Wen Zhao advises against comparing yourself with others' highlights or success, as it can lead to anxiety and emotional imbalance. Recognize your unique qualities and strengths that have garnered your audience's trust and connection. It's essential to stay grounded in your identity and not get swayed by others' success. Comparing yourself to others or even to your best past self can be demotivating and counterproductive.

Discover Your Unique Talents: Wen Zhao believes that your unique qualities and talents aren't something you search for but something that emerges from your innate abilities. These qualities cannot be replicated through an industrial process. He suggests that if you're genuinely passionate about something, that passion can become your unique selling point. He emphasises the importance of recognizing your unique talents and building on them.

Continual Learning and Staying Current: Wen Zhao highlights the importance of continual learning. Being a successful content creator requires staying informed about current trends and not becoming disconnected from the times and society. Embrace new tools and technologies in video editing and AI. Failing to adapt and learn could lead to being replaced by those who are more diligent in keeping up with industry trends.

Embrace Trending Topics: Wen Zhao mentions that topics have a limited shelf life, and trends can change quickly. To maintain relevance, content creators must embrace current trends. He recommends incorporating elements of depth, conflict, and richness into your content. Create engaging stories with compelling characters, plotlines, and historical or cultural context to captivate diverse audiences.

Social Responsibility of Content Creators: Wen Zhao believes deep within himself that he has a sense of mission and wants to participate in this era, bringing kindness and beauty to others. He shared that when it comes to issues related to public safety, he always focuses on the essence of the matter rather than just considering its popularity. For instance, when the Wuhan pneumonia (COVID-19) outbreak first occurred, he produced an episode on the topic. At that time, the viewership was not very high, and he felt somewhat disappointed. However, as the Wuhan pneumonia began to spread globally due to the deliberate concealment by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), it was eventually referred to as the CCP virus. A friend from Beijing told him that they had modified their travel plans based on watching that particular episode, which allowed them to avoid the lockdown in Wuhan. This viewer's experience deepened their understanding of the situation within China. For Wen Zhao, such moments are the most heartwarming.

Self-Expression and Adaptation: Wen Zhao mentions that his content style has evolved over the years, incorporating elements of spontaneous speech. He believes that social media is a form of performance, and adapting to audience feedback is essential for professional content creators.

Platform Evolution: YouTube allowed ads to be inserted in 2012, but the platform's profitability started around 2015-2016, when numerous outstanding content creators emerged. In 2017, Wen Zhao received a letter from the CEO of YouTube, mentioning that there were approximately 5,000 channels with over one million subscribers. However, it's challenging to determine how many remain now, as YouTube itself is facing a decline.

I believe this is vital industry information. The growth trajectory of the Gan Jing World channel is undoubtedly closely related to the development curve of the platform itself. Gan Jing World is currently experiencing rapid growth, and for early bird Gan Jing Influencers as long as they can endure the loneliness at this stage, master video editing, excel in marketing and promotion, continuously improve based on feedback, and refine the quality of their content, the day when the Gan Jing World platform truly soars will also be the time when everyone reaps the rewards. I believe that day is not too far away.