Chapter 85– Fang Hong's Creative Idea
Chapter 85– Fang Hong's Creative Idea
As everyone's gaze landed on him, Fang Hong turned to Yuan Jie, shook his head, and firmly stated, "I don't agree with this plan."
The room fell into a brief silence. Yuan Jie, confident in the effectiveness of his proposal, was taken aback. He furrowed his brows and asked, "Why? Facebook has already proven that this strategy works. All we need to do is replicate and adapt it to our platform."
Fang Hong's tone grew serious. "Copying a strategy should never be done thoughtlessly. We need to consider national conditions and cultural differences between the East and the West. While this idea might boost user engagement, the costs could be substantial. Compared to Western culture, ours is more conservative. This approach may seem entertaining on the surface, but if aggressively promoted, it could have negative consequences."
Xu Jingren, intrigued, asked, "What kind of consequences?"
Fang Hong scanned the room before explaining, "It will likely spark controversy. Our primary target is university campuses. If the platform openly promotes this initiative, influential figures within academic circles might criticize it as being too frivolous. Universities uphold values of intellectual and moral integrity. If our platform is seen as conflicting with these ideals, Quandong Weibo could develop a negative reputation."
He paused momentarily before adding, "That's not to say we can't do it—we just can't push it as an official platform initiative. Instead, we can subtly encourage popular university figures, such as well-known campus personalities, to engage on Weibo. For example, look at how the top students from Xinda University interact on social media."
The team nodded in understanding. They grasped Fang Hong's point—official endorsement could backfire, but indirect encouragement could achieve the same results without the backlash.
At this moment, Fang Hong smirked. "Instead of taking the controversial route, let's think bigger and take the right path."
Curious, Xu Jingren leaned forward. "Boss, do you have a new idea?"
Fang Hong nodded and began outlining his thoughts. "We can create a promotional event that aligns with the academic and cultural atmosphere of universities while being widely accepted by mainstream audiences. For instance, we can launch a 'Micro-Fiction Contest'—a competition that elevates our brand's image."
The Micro-Fiction Contest
The room fell silent as everyone processed the idea.
Fang Hong continued, "A micro-fiction contest allows people to express creativity within 256 characters. Whether it's humor, horror, sci-fi, romance, or suspense, it can all be condensed into short, engaging stories. Participants will post their entries directly on Quandong Weibo."
He thought for a moment before crafting a promotional slogan: "'Tiny Fiction @ Big World.' Just 256 characters can create a fleeting romance, reveal profound emotions, or depict the struggles of life. Share your micro-fiction on Weibo and let the world see through your eyes."
Lou Gaoyuan grinned. "Boss, you have both business acumen and literary talent. This idea is brilliant!"
Sun Xin playfully nudged Yuan Jie. "See? That's creativity. The boss thinks beyond just copying trends—he elevates them."
Yuan Jie shrugged with a good-natured smile.
Fang Hong then instructed, "Have the development team set up a dedicated page for online submissions. All submitted content should be directly posted on Weibo, and accounts participating must be linked to a verified mobile number."
He outlined three key rules for the contest:
1. Content Requirements: Submissions must be original micro-fiction, positive in nature, and comply with national laws and regulations. Anyone, regardless of location, can participate.
2. Award Limitations: Each participant can only win one prize. If multiple entries are shortlisted, only the best one will be considered.
3. Eligibility Period: Submissions must be unpublished works, posted within two months from the launch of the contest.
Turning to the team, Fang Hong concluded, "Let the planning department refine the details."
Xu Jingren, now fully engaged, asked, "Do you have a proposed structure for the contest?"
Fang Hong nodded. "The contest will have three evaluation stages—preliminary screening, semi-finals, and final judging. The main goal is to maximize user engagement while maintaining fairness."
The team listened intently as he elaborated:
Preliminary Screening: All Weibo users can participate. Entries will be shortlisted based on shares, likes, and engagement within different regions.
Semi-Finals: A panel of literary experts will review and narrow the selection to 100 outstanding stories.
Final Judging: Users will vote for the top 10 stories, after which a panel of expert judges will determine the first, second, and third prize winners. The award ceremony will be conducted offline.
The team nodded in agreement. The structure was clear, and the idea was compelling.
Prize Structure
Sun Xin raised a question. "How will the prizes be set?"
Fang Hong responded with a confident smile. "The rewards need to be attractive enough to drive high participation. We'll allocate a total prize pool of 500,000 yuan ($70,000 USD)."
He then broke down the distribution:
First Prize (1 winner): 100,000 yuan ($14,000 USD)
Second Prize (5 winners): 30,000 yuan ($4,200 USD) each
Third Prize (10 winners): 10,000 yuan ($1,400 USD) each
Outstanding Achievement Awards (34 winners): High-end smartphones or equivalent rewards
The room buzzed with excitement. The first prize alone was equivalent to the cost of a small home in some areas. For most university students, this was a life-changing sum. More importantly, the competition offered not just financial gain but also recognition and prestige.
Sequoia Capital's Investment Offer
As the team finalized the contest plan, Xu Jingren's assistant entered the room and handed him a phone. "Mr. Xu, you have a call."
Xu Jingren stepped aside and answered. Moments later, he muted the call and turned to Fang Hong, whispering, "An investment manager from Sequoia Capital just called. They're highly interested in Quandong Weibo and are proposing an investment."
The room grew quiet, sensing the significance of this development.
Without hesitation, Fang Hong firmly responded, "Decline it. I'll handle financing personally. For now, reject any venture capital tied to foreign interests."
Xu Jingren nodded and relayed the rejection.
Fang Hong wasn't against external investment, but allowing foreign venture capitalists in too early could result in a loss of control. Right now, Quandong Weibo was still growing, and investors often demanded too much equity for too little funding. For now, it was best to keep control in-house.
Once the company reached a stronger position, negotiations with investors could be done on their terms.
Conclusion
With the Micro-Fiction Contest set in motion and the investment decision handled, the team continued refining their strategies. Quandong Weibo was no longer a small startup—it was evolving into a serious internet platform with national influence.
As the meeting wrapped up, Fang Hong felt confident. He had set the stage for the next big step in the company's journey.
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[End of Chapter 85]