Chapter 415: 3.4 million new red envelopes in 24 hours! 8 million red envelopes a day! 240 million a month?
On April 28, the yellow bike-sharing program of giving out red envelopes for riding had been online for three days, with the highest possible reward being 4,999 yuan. For each shared bike, the size of a single red envelope is around 3 to 5 yuan, far exceeding the 2 yuan offered by OFO bikes.
The maximum red envelope for Didi Bike is 888 yuan.
Faced with this situation, Wang Zihao also adjusted the upper limit of cycling red envelopes to 4,999 yuan. Anyway, it was just a gimmick, and 99.99% of users only got 2 yuan.
Free rides and extra cash?
The local residents of Yanjing have seen the world. They ride a bike three times a day and can earn enough money for breakfast.
The elderly who were originally not interested in smartphones also started clamoring to buy a Qingcheng D2 phone.
For a while, the streets and alleys were filled with people riding shared bicycles.
Didi Bike has the largest number of bikes, with 300,000 shared bikes in Yanjing; Ofo has 200,000 bikes, and OFO has the least, with only 100,000 bikes.
Cheng Wei stared at the financial statements with a worried look on his face. In just three days, the revenue in the Yanjing area dropped from 800,000 to 70,000, a 90% drop.
The red envelope activity still costs 3 million every day. Based on the current scale, the net loss is 90 million per month.
If the battle line is expanded and a subsidy war is launched nationwide, Didi Bike will fall into a vicious cycle of burning money → financing → bankruptcy.
"Is Chang Wei's brain full of shit? Price wars are played with hard power. OFO bikes have suffered the least. If Didi is not doing well, you can forget about having an easy time."
Cheng Wei snorted coldly and couldn't help but curse in a low voice.
After saying that, he called Zhang Haibo from the technical department and whispered a few words to him.
"Mr. Cheng, this is not good, right?" Zhang Haibo frowned and said timidly.
"What are you afraid of? You just accidentally discovered a few software bugs and accidentally shared them with others."
Cheng Wei said meaningfully.
Zhang Haibo thought for a moment, gritted his teeth, and agreed reluctantly.
An hour later, a kind-hearted person suddenly appeared on a domestic forum to share a 'strategy and tips on how to exploit the red envelope vulnerability on the shared bikes'. The content included the entire process from rooting the phone to virtual positioning and receiving red envelopes.
Even a novice can make a lot of money by following the tutorial.
"Big boss is awesome!"
"Who downloaded the attachment? Is it a virus?"
"Don't download it, my computer is frozen!"
"The one upstairs wants to eat alone, right?"
"Oh my god! I'm so lucky. I just won a red envelope of 73.8 yuan. I got a lot of money."
"Brothers, please give me a simulator!"
"Is there any kind-hearted person who can give me a cheap and easy-to-use code receiving website?"
The wool-gathering gangs are like sharks that smell blood, and they pounce on you madly.
In fact, this software was not created by Zhang Haibo, but by someone from another forum. After seeing the vulnerability he posted, he combined it with virtual positioning software, cycling simulators and other products to take advantage of the situation.
I have to say that the Internet in 2013 was indeed more sharing-spirited than it would be ten years later.
When Hui Ge and others who were far away in Annan learned about this, they were so angry that they cursed: "Damn it! Isn't this just stealing business?"
"Brother Hui, I've studied it. This software requires manual operation, but our software is fully automatic and can operate seven or eight hundred accounts in batches. There is definitely a market for it." A Zhen thought about it and analyzed calmly.
"I know, I'm just unhappy." Brother Hui said with a crooked mouth, and then waved at Yaozi: "The price is 20,000. Contact the previous old customers first and sell him a few dozen sets."
"Okay, Brother Hui." Yaozi nodded in response.
Before long, a software called Xiaojinniu gradually became popular in the gray industry.
Although Hui Ge’s pricing is high, the product functions are impeccable. From receiving the code, logging in, receiving red envelopes to withdrawing cash, everything is fully automatic, and you can make 3,000 yuan in ten minutes.
The big bosses in the gray market use automatic cheats, while the low-level freeloaders use manual cheats.
Soon after, college students with strong learning and hands-on abilities also joined the ranks of getting the free stuff.
Although manual work is slow, it is not a problem to earn two or three thousand yuan in a day.
Receiving codes, applying information, using virtual positioning and riding simulation software are both against regulations and illegal, but no one cares.
Chang Wei looked at the rapidly soaring number of new customer registrations and orders in the background. Although he was happy, he fell silent again after taking a glance at the event subsidies.
The subsidy war is so damn expensive!
But once the arrow is shot, there is no turning back, so he can only grit his teeth and fight on.
at the same time.
Chen Yansen posted a Douyin promotional content on his Weibo and Toutiao accounts, with the text saying: "Play a small game, the first 1,000 fans who follow me will each receive a red envelope of 888 yuan."
"Douyin? Short video?"
"There is a short video app called Mimo in North America that is super popular. I didn't expect Mr. Chen to become a master of Chinese translation of the software."
"The red envelope is important! Go!"
While the netizens in the comment section were busy leaving messages like "grab the sofa" and "grab the bench", before they could react, the smart people had already opened the app store and downloaded Douyin immediately.
Register, log in, search the name '陈严' and follow us at the first moment.
In less than ten minutes, Chen Yansen's Douyin fans exceeded 170,000, adding nearly 200,000 new users to the platform.
Liang Bo placed video ads on Penguin and Youku, and graphic ads on NetEase, Sina, and Sohu. With the exposure on Toutiao, Lingxi Browser, and Xiaohongshu, he easily attracted more than 1 million new customers.
Having strong strength and solid background gives one a great advantage in promoting new products. For example, in order to promote Penguin Weibo, Ma Wenteng directly used QQ to divert traffic and attracted 400 million users in one year.
But whether a product is good or not will be determined by user retention.
Traffic and exposure are basic conditions for success, but not necessary conditions.
Many companies have no shortage of money or traffic, but their products and services are lousy and they still can’t make it.
After learning that Douyin was launched, Ma Wenteng was surprised and asked, "So fast?"
"Douyin's product functions and recommendation engine technology are not much different from Mimo. Apart from the changes in the interface style, there are no other differences. The development workload is small, so the speed is naturally much faster." Liu Zhiping said slowly.
"What a pity. I wanted to release Weishi before Chen Yansen, but I underestimated the speed of technology development today."
Ma Wenteng sighed.
"Pony, there's no need to worry too much. The network conditions are there. Although Douyin's users are growing rapidly, most of them are just joining in the fun. I'm afraid only those with Senlian Xingyao cards or a small number of users can become Douyin's retained users."
Liu Zhiping adjusted his glasses and said with a smile.
"I understand, but the first-mover advantage is lost after all." Ma Wenteng lowered his eyes, looking slightly dissatisfied.
"..." Liu Zhiping thought: You are too greedy!
“By the way, what stage has Laiwang’s research and development reached?” Ma Wenteng asked again.
Alibaba’s strength should not be underestimated, and he is also worried that Laiwang will have an impact on WeChat.
"The progress is just halfway through, and it is estimated that it will be launched in the second half of the year." Liu Zhiping replied immediately.
Throwing sand into a competitor's company is a basic operation for Internet giants, especially when the person in charge of the project is a former executive of Penguin.
After the other party went to Ali, in order to ensure execution and enhance the right to speak, he poached several people from Penguin.
Liu Zhiping took the opportunity to plant someone to get real-time updates on the situation.
“An e-commerce platform is thinking about developing social software. Who gives it the courage?” Ma Wenteng said disdainfully.
But when he spoke, he ignored the embarrassment of Penguin trying desperately to squeeze into the e-commerce track.
“It’s not enough to make a good product just by having money and traffic.”
Liu Zhiping followed suit.
…
…
"With sufficient funds and traffic, can't you create a phenomenal APP?" Chen Yansen asked indifferently.
"The core of software is function and experience," Han Sheng said seriously.
He received a bachelor's degree from Jiaotong University and a master's degree from Fudan University. After graduation, he worked in a technology company in Silicon Valley for ten years.
The sudden popularity of Mimo in North America made him smell a business opportunity, and he planned to return to China to become a "moving master" and follow the example of Ma Wenteng, Li Yanhong and Ma Liyun to create a unicorn company.
But after researching the market, he was stunned.
While Penguin is working on developing a short video app, another Internet giant, Douyin owned by Senlian Capital, has entered the warm-up stage.
The small cheater meets two big cheaters!
What the hell is he doing!
I just made up my mind and came to Xucheng for an interview. If I can't beat them, I'll just join.
After all, when he was in Silicon Valley, he heard people say that a giant had emerged in China that not only developed its own mobile phone operating system, but also launched a new set of instruction set technology, which was favored by companies such as Huawei, Apple and ZTE.
This company is generous and the benefits are generous.
After hearing this, Chen Yansen smiled slightly.
He was no stranger to Han Sheng in front of him.
This person will become the founder of Weying Technology in the future, and its main business will focus on the field of mobile editing software.
The product is good, but due to its single model and profit channel, the company has been slow to go public.
The two had met once at an entrepreneurs' exchange meeting in East China.
At that time, Chen Yansen was already the chairman of Feiyu Technology with a net worth of more than 2 billion yuan, but Han Sheng was still busy promoting the listing of Micro Image Technology.
He understands technology, products, and operations, but is not good at the twists and turns of capital operations.
It’s a bit similar to Liang Bo’s skills. It just so happens that Douyin’s content creation and optimization are inseparable from the popularization of simple editing tools.
Therefore, after seeing Han Sheng's resume, Chen Yansen decided to meet him in person.
"You want to go to Douyin's R&D department? But there are currently no suitable positions in the R&D department." Chen Yansen said lightly.
Han Sheng's heart skipped a beat when he heard this, and he thought to himself: Is this interview going to fail?
"Mr. Han is mainly engaged in editing software development in Silicon Valley?" Chen Yansen saw the changeable expression on the other party's face, and then asked slowly.
"Yes, Mr. Chen." Han Sheng replied quickly.
"PR and VideoStudio are targeting the PC market. If Douyin wants to encourage users to create more high-quality content, it needs a simplified mobile editing software." Chen Yansen said slowly.
"Mr. Chen, do you want me to be responsible for this product?" Han Sheng asked tentatively. The surprise came a little suddenly.
"Are you confident?" Chen Yansen asked back.
"Mr. Chen, I'm fine. To be honest, my first entrepreneurial goal after returning to China is short videos, and the second is mobile editing software." Han Sheng said truthfully.
"I will ask Mr. Liang to set up a separate project team for you. You will serve as the project director first. If the product can reach a certain market scale, the project team can also be changed to a business unit."
Chen Yansen made some big promises casually, which made Han Sheng very excited.
"Boss, if you give me a chance, I will never let you down." Han Sheng immediately stood up and patted his chest to express his attitude.
You changed your tune pretty quickly!
Chen Yansen waved his hand, motioning the other party to sit down and talk.
Han Sheng didn't hesitate and climbed up by grabbing the rope. He had thought that if he couldn't get into Senlian Capital, he would become a video editing software service provider and start from his old business.
At this moment, he was very glad that he had come to Xucheng before starting his business.
Otherwise, once the product is launched in the future, it will run into the giant shark of Senlian Capital.
So he already had a plan in mind, and he spoke very clearly about editing, transitions, audio processing and adding effects.
“Put together the specific plan and send it to Liang Bo, and send me a copy. The product should be available in both Chinese and English versions, and the primary functions should be built into Mimo and Douyin.”
Chen Yansen ordered.
"Boss, Mimo is a product of Senlian Capital?" Han Sheng opened his mouth slightly, stunned.
"Didn't Liang Bo tell you?"
"Boss, this is my second interview today." Han Sheng laughed dryly.
What I mean is, I haven't started working yet.
No, to be precise, he hasn't even received the offer yet.
"Complete the entry procedures as soon as possible, since you are resigning now." Chen Yansen said with a smile.
"Okay, boss." Han Sheng grinned.
Although I missed the opportunity to start my own business, it was worth the trip to join Senlian Capital and get the chance to be in charge of a project independently.
The other side.
With the help of virtual positioning and simulation software, the army of wool-collecting people are constantly unlocking → riding → ending service → collecting red envelopes. One account can earn four to five yuan in ten minutes, and if they are lucky, they can even win a big red envelope of dozens of yuan.
Even at three or four in the morning, there is still a steady stream of orders generated for the shared bikes.
The expenditure on the red envelope activity quickly increased from 3 million per day to over 8 million. In just one day, the amount increased nearly three times.
The next morning, Chang Wei turned on his computer and checked the business data.
More than 8 million?
He frowned, took out his phone and called the director of the data department: "We have only put 200,000 shared bicycles in the Yanjing area. Based on the consumption frequency of three to four times per bicycle per day, the marketing expenditure should be less than 4 million."
"Mr. Chang, before the red envelopes were launched, the daily consumption frequency of bicycles was indeed three to four times, but our red envelopes are relatively large, which greatly increases the consumption enthusiasm of users."
The director of the data department thought for a moment and gave a reply based on his experience.
I have to say, there is some truth in what he said.
As for data such as the time and proportion of order generation, it is difficult to detect them without special attention.
Although Chang Wei thought the cost was too high, he didn't care when he thought about the market share.
The higher the market share, the higher the valuation.
He knows that every penny he spends is valuable, and investment institutions will cover his losses.
Little did people know that out of the 8 million, more than 6 million were taken away by gray industry studios and wool-collecting parties.
At the same time, Douyin’s cumulative registration volume within 24 hours of its launch was 3.4 million, but only 570,000 users stayed for more than 30 minutes, accounting for less than 20%.
To put it bluntly, traffic charges are still the biggest obstacle to the development of short videos.
(End of this chapter)
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