ICQ, a dating app, has brought together a considerable number of netizens who enjoy making friends, and has also provided them with a platform to freely express their opinions.
Chris was in charge of the project and thought that as long as he emphasized that the software was free and the virtual mini-games were paid, everyone would let the topic go, but he didn't expect that netizens didn't care.
The mere mention of fees makes everyone irritable.
They simply felt that ICQ's launch of paid virtual mini-games violated their initial promise.
Under pressure, the project team and Chris couldn't hold out any longer. The project team took the lead in deciding that their newly developed virtual mini-game would no longer be charged, but would be available for users to download freely as an add-on game for ICQ.
The game is free, but the in-game items are paid.
This virtual mini-game is similar to QQ's online farm game, but it's integrated into the ICQ software and designed to enhance the user experience and interactivity.
Only after seeing the concessions made by the ICQ project team did netizens gradually regain their composure.
Soon, the ICQ online plaza returned to calm, and Chris was very distressed after experiencing some twists and turns.
He was involved in the entire development of ICQ, so he naturally knew how difficult the ICQ project was to develop. However, after the big boss announced that the project would be free, the entire project could be said to be operating at a loss.
It wasn't that the big boss put financial or business pressure on them, but rather that Chris felt this unprofitable project was too unfair to the engineers and technicians maintaining ICQ.
They invested a lot of energy and time in developing and maintaining ICQ, but they failed to gain the understanding of netizens. Even when a small paid feature was launched, and even when they explained in advance that the game was free to download, they were still unhappy.
Virtual products are also a form of copyright. Chris used to think that getting data for free was great from a consumer's perspective, but one day, he became a development engineer and realized how difficult it is to develop a project.
Chris remained silent for several days, and afterwards, the maintenance of the International Plaza was not as strict.
The online forum was frequently filled with offensive comments, and since no administrators were handling them, many users complained about Chris, arguing that he had failed to manage the ICQ online forum properly.
After Chen Dong learned about this, he specifically asked Annie to find Chris.
"Boss, you wanted to see me?" Chris tiptoed in.
This was the first time Chris had ever been in such close proximity to the big boss, alone with him.
Chen Dong had ICQ open on his computer. Looking at the comments from netizens on the online forum, he asked Chris, "What's wrong with you? I put the ICQ project under your management, and this is how you've managed it."
"Look at these comments from netizens, don't they seem similar?"
Chris lowered his head and said to Chen Dong, "I really can't see a future for the ICQ project."
"Boss, is running this project at a loss really good for our company?"
"Actually, I think we don't need to use this method to retain these netizens."
In Chris's eyes, the fact that the ICQ project is free already makes it a kind of online public welfare project.
"For example, when we were working on the iPod project, we also created an online community, and most of the people in the online community were potential MP3 users."
"I agree to maintain the iPod online community, but I really don't know what I'm doing all this for when you ask me to maintain the ICQ communication software."
Chris seemed unwilling to cooperate, which made Chen Dong sigh.
It seems these foreigners don't quite grasp the importance of online traffic.
Chen Dong closed the ICQ interface and asked Chris, "Tell me, in your eyes, what role do these online friends play?"
Chris thought for a moment and replied, "They leave messages for each other online, sharing their product experiences and suggestions for improvement."
"These comments are very valuable to us at Longteng Electronics."
Chen Dong looked at him. "Anything else?"
"The second benefit is that these netizens are potential users of our new and old products. As long as we keep them engaged, they will eventually buy our products."
Chen Dong smiled and said, "It seems you already have the answer."
"In the internet age, it is important not only to retain existing users, but also to retain potential users."
"You could say that everyone on the internet who has even glanced at our product is a potential user. As for the rest of the internet users who haven't seen our product, we work hard to make sure they see it."
"The role of ICQ is to bring all potential users together and create a scale effect."
From the very first day of its launch, Chen Dong stated that the dating app project would be permanently free. Once Longteng had collected a sufficient number of user samples, these users of the ICQ software would form a massive potential user base.
"Think about it again. What if the ICQ project were to grow even bigger? What if the ICQ project were no longer just a few hundred thousand daily active users, but tens of thousands, hundreds of millions, or even hundreds of millions of daily active users?"
Chen Dong analyzed seriously: "If ICQ becomes a social networking tool in the future, and people become dependent on the ICQ software, then this group of users... I mean, this group of over a billion users is our potential user group."
"Chris, when you look at something, you have to see beyond its appearance to its essence."
Chris fell silent; he felt as if he were entering a new world.
"Why did I put someone as inexperienced as you in managing ICQ's online forum? Was it because of your abilities?"
"No. It's because of your stance, your thoughts, and because you represent this generation of young people. Only those who can best grasp the trends that young people care about most."
"I put you in charge of the ICQ online forum so that you can keep up with the latest trends."
Chris represents the perspective of the young people in the engineering department, which Chen Dong has always found very valuable.
ICQ is a tool that serves as both a way for netizens to make friends and a tool for Longteng to understand and learn about consumers.
"Chris, you may not understand now, but you will when the internet booms. While it's important to have money in consumers' pockets, it's even more important to be able to attract their attention."
Chen Dong remarked meaningfully, "Whoever can attract netizens' attention controls the traffic."
Chris seemed to understand, but not quite.
It turns out that the big boss developed this software not to make money at all. The engineering and technical departments were operating at a loss and did not expect ICQ to make money.
They wanted to use ICQ as a rope, connecting technology companies and internet users at both ends.
......
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