Back to 1997, I became the originator of online literature

Chapter 416 Announcement in Advance
It turned out that it didn't work.

After "The Romance of Chinese Martial Arts" topped the recommendation list last week, it seemed to have taken root in that position. Not only did Lao Zhu (the author) release two more chapters but still couldn't climb up, and other authors who added chapters to ask for votes also couldn't climb up.

One day, two days, three days...

Seeing "The Romance of Chinese Martial Arts" firmly occupying the top spot on the weekly recommendation list, other authors gradually lost their desire to compete.

As everyone knows, the longer "The Romance of Chinese Martial Arts" stays at the top of the rankings, the greater its accumulated data advantage will be.

This is the top-ranking effect of any list on Qidian.

When readers are looking for books, the top-ranked works always attract the most attention.

In this situation, if the top-ranked work cannot be dethroned on Mondays and Tuesdays, the chances of it being dethroned later are very slim.

Moreover, this is a work by Zhongyuan Yidianhui.

In terms of fame, which of these authors on Qidian dares to say that they are more famous than Zhongyuan Yidianhui?

……

Thursday evening.

Cao Sheng was in the dormitory eating the pork stew that Cui Xinyu had just bought and packed, and he would occasionally raise his glass to toast her.

The spicy and sour pork stew was very appetizing in the cold January weather, and it warmed Cao Sheng up and made him very hungry.

Suddenly, his cell phone rang in his pocket.

Cao Sheng picked up a piece of pork belly mixed with pickled cabbage with his chopsticks and stuffed it into his mouth. At the same time, he took out his phone and saw that the caller ID was Bao Jianfeng. He then answered the call.

"Hello? What's up?"

Because he was chewing meat, his speech was a little unclear.

Bao Jianfeng's voice came through the phone, "Ah? Mr. Cao, are you having dinner?"

Cao Sheng hummed in agreement.

Baojianfeng: "This... I'm sorry to bother you. Why don't you eat first? I'll call back later?"

Cao Sheng swallowed the meat in his mouth and casually said, "No need! You say what you want to say, I'm listening! Just say what you need to say."

Bao Jianfeng: "Hmm, okay! Then I'll say it. It's like this, Mr. Cao, your new book has been on Sanjiang Pavilion for 4 days, and it will be featured in the 'New Book Strong Promotion' this Sunday. According to your previous suggestion, after the strong promotion, it will be available for sale, right?"

Cao Sheng picked up another piece of blood sausage and put it in his mouth. It was a little hot, so he ate it while exhaling, and only after swallowing did he answer, "Yeah, that's right! What's wrong?"

Bao Jianfeng: "Um, I wanted to ask, do you think our author benefits and the upcoming paid subscription system should be announced a few days in advance? For example, by posting an announcement on the website homepage? I think this would both generate buzz for paid reading and allow fans who want to support your new book to top up their accounts in advance and prepare for subscription. Otherwise, when your new book is released, many people might not be able to subscribe even if they want to, because of the inconvenience of topping up their accounts. What do you think?"

Cao Sheng put down his chopsticks and nodded, "Okay! We should definitely promote it in advance, I have no objection."

Baojianfeng: "So it's decided then? Would you like to issue an announcement tonight?"

Cao Sheng: "Okay! However, I suggest that the recharge channel be opened at the same time as the announcement, and the author benefits should also be announced at the same time. This will make it easier for everyone to understand our paid subscription, right?"

Bao Jianfeng: "Yes, that's what I was planning too. Don't worry! Everything is ready, we're just waiting for your new book to be released and go on sale."

Cao Sheng smiled and said, "Alright! Let's settle on that then!"

The two exchanged a few more words before ending the call.

After putting down his phone, Cao Sheng picked up his bowl and reached for the pork stew in the pot with his chopsticks.

It's worth mentioning that when Cui Xinyu packed this pork stew, she brought back the whole pot. At that moment, an alcohol stove was set up, and the sauerkraut, pork belly, blood sausage, and other ingredients in the pot were bubbling away.

The air was filled with the aroma of tangy and spicy meat.

"Boss, how many people have added your new book to their favorites on Qidian.com?"

Cui Xinyu asked curiously.

Cao Sheng: "It's almost 8."

Cui Xinyu responded with an "oh," showing no shock, because she didn't write novels and wasn't particularly surprised that a web novel could have over 8 favorites on Qidian.

She only knew that Cao Sheng's physical books, whether published in traditional Chinese characters in Taiwan or in simplified Chinese characters in mainland China, sold hundreds of thousands or even millions of copies.

Such sales figures made her subconsciously feel that Cao Sheng's new book, with less than 8 collections on Qidian, was not many, or even pitifully few.

She was unaware that most works on Qidian, even if written to completion, would struggle to surpass 1 in the number of readers.

Works that have over 1 favorites are considered to be somewhat well-known on Qidian.com.

A post with over 2 favorites is already considered moderately popular.

With over 3 favorites, one can be considered a top-tier author among mid-tier authors on Qidian.

A work that reaches 5 collections is definitely a huge hit on Qidian. Generally, only top-tier authors can write such a work. Even if an author is not a top-tier author when writing it, once the work's collections exceed 5, they will naturally become a top-tier author in the eyes of many people.

A book like Cao Sheng's, with only 13 words and 8 collections, is absolutely unprecedented since the founding of Qidian.

She calmly ate a few more bites of food, then casually asked, "Boss, if your book were to be sold on Qidian, how many of those 8 people who have it in their favorites would actually subscribe? Maybe ten or twenty thousand?"

Cao Sheng looked up at her in surprise, chuckled, and shook his head, saying, "How could the subscription-to-purchase ratio be that high? If it were released now, it would be quite good if 8 out of these 4 readers subscribed! Tens or twenty thousand subscribers? What are you thinking?"

"Huh? So little?"

Cui Xinyu looked up in surprise.

Cao Sheng smiled and said, "That's already quite a lot! Online paid reading is similar to street performances in ancient times. When you're performing, a lot of people may gather around to watch the excitement, and there may be waves of cheers and applause. But when it comes to actually asking for money, do you think that out of 10 people watching the excitement, one would be willing to give you any?"

Cui Xinyu: "???"

Cao Sheng added, "Besides, this time we're launching paid reading, which is unprecedented. Readers are used to reading books online for free. If we suddenly ask them to pay, they'll be lucky if they don't complain. So, the number of people who are actually willing to pay to subscribe will inevitably be very small. In that case, a 10:1 subscription ratio is probably not very hopeful. A 20:1 subscription ratio would be very good. A 50:1 or even a 100:1 subscription ratio is also possible."

Cui Xinyu asked, puzzled, "Boss, what do you mean by the subscription-to-order ratio?"

This was the first time she had ever heard the word.

Cao Sheng: "The subscription-to-collection ratio... is the ratio of the number of people who add the book to their favorites to the number of people who subscribe. For example, if 10000 people add the book to their favorites and 1000 people subscribe, the subscription-to-collection ratio for this book is 10 to 1. If only 100 people subscribe, then the subscription-to-collection ratio for this book is 100 to 1."

Cui Xinyu frowned in surprise and muttered softly, "10000 people have added it to their favorites, but only 100 people have spent money on it? Isn't that too tragic? That's too exaggerated!"

Cao Sheng smiled and nodded.

A subscription-to-receiver ratio of 100 to 1 is indeed quite brutal and outrageous.

But he knew that many poorly written new books in the original timeline had similar subscription rates. Once such results were achieved, the author's confidence would collapse, and abandoning the book would almost certainly result in failure.

Before his rebirth, the subscription-to-receiver ratio for most of his works was around 10 to 1.

This is considered a very good subscription-to-order ratio in the industry.

but now?
Just as he said, this time they are launching paid reading.

This is an unprecedented measure.

In this situation, it is almost impossible to achieve a 10:1 order ratio.

He considered a 20-to-1 subscription-to-receiver ratio to be excellent data.

……

Shanghai. Qidian Headquarters.

After ending his call with Cao Sheng, Bao Jianfeng walked out of his office and into the outside office area. He clapped his hands, attracting the attention of everyone who was about to leave work.

"Dear colleagues! I have some good news to share. I just spoke with Mr. Cao on the phone, and we've decided to announce our paid subscription service today, along with author benefits, the opening of recharge channels, and other features. So, let's all work overtime today! Don't rush to leave, okay?"

Is this good news?
Everyone looked at him with expressions that were hard to describe.

Many people have just packed up their things and are getting ready to go out for dinner after work.

Some people have even made plans with their partners to meet somewhere and where to book a hotel room for the night.

At this moment, Baojianfeng suddenly came out and announced this news, asking everyone to work overtime, and said it was good news?
Yes!
The paid subscription that everyone has been preparing for is finally going to be announced, and it certainly sounds like good news.

but……

Is announcing this news so close to the end of the workday really considered good news?

Soon, someone let out a wail.

"Seriously, boss? You're announcing this right before you're about to leave work? What were you thinking all along?"

"Yeah, boss! We're all hungry, don't we need to eat?"

"Exactly! Boss! Even the emperor doesn't starve his soldiers! This is just too inhumane!"

"Boss! What are we going to do for dinner? Are you going to treat us?"

……

As everyone voiced their protests, Bao Jianfeng waved his hand and reassured them with a smile, "What's the big deal? We're just hungry, aren't we? Xiao Zhang! Go downstairs and buy some boxed lunches! Buy a lot! Make sure everyone has enough to eat. Now everyone's satisfied, right?"

"Add a chicken leg!"

"I want a braised egg!"

"Just boxed lunches? On such a big day, shouldn't you kill someone to have a treat?"

"Ha ha……"

As someone made a joke, everyone burst into laughter, and their discontent was finally appeased.

In fact, everyone knows that paid subscriptions are the boldest attempt Qidian has ever made since its inception.

The consequences of success or failure are not trivial.

If successful, Qidian will have an excellent way to make a profit, and from then on, it may never have to worry about running out of funds and the website being unable to continue.

If it fails...

That would be more than just not making money; many authors and readers would likely leave the site, and Qidian's reputation in the industry would probably collapse.

He was ridiculed and insulted for many years.

Perhaps, the starting point will be a setback, and it will be difficult to rise again.

So, when faced with such a big event, although everyone expressed their dissatisfaction, it was only because Baojianfeng announced it when everyone was about to leave work, making everyone work overtime.

Even so, everyone was on edge.

Because it concerns everyone's future.

Will I be living a life of luxury after getting a raise?
Or a pay cut or even losing the job?

Everyone's watching to see if this paid reading attempt will be successful.

……

Everyone at Qidian got busy.

At Baojianfeng's request, everyone was checking their assigned section to ensure there were no problems.

Bao Jianfeng did not return to his office. He stood with his hands on his hips, pacing back and forth in the office area, a smile on his face, but he was more nervous than anyone else.

Although no works will be available for sale on Qidian today.

But he knew that once the paid subscription was announced today, industry feedback would quickly emerge.

How do I view other websites?
He doesn't care.

What do the authors think? He's confident that paid subscriptions that can help authors earn money will definitely receive support and praise from the majority of authors.

but……

The key question is how the readers will react?

Is it support?
Or is it just one-sided sarcasm? Abuse? Attacks?

I'm sure some people will say we're obsessed with money, right?
He is not afraid of being criticized by a few readers, but he is afraid of being criticized by the majority of readers.

Because that would mean that most readers wouldn't support paid reading, which would cast a shadow over the future of the upcoming paid reading service.

At that moment, he thought of the rise and fall of internet companies in recent years.

This reminds me of Yahoo, founded in the United States by Chinese-American Jerry Yang. After its IPO, Yahoo's market value soared more than 200 times, reaching $8.5 million, which shocked the world.

I also thought of China.com, which went public in the US in 99. It was the first Chinese concept stock to be listed on NASDAQ. After listing, the stock price soared from $20 to $67.11, enjoying immense popularity and attracting the envy of countless people in China.

There are too many similar examples.

In recent years, the stock prices of American internet companies have skyrocketed after they went public.

Although those internet companies have not yet found a way to make a profit, their founders all know how to make grand promises, painting a rosy picture of the future for investors in front of various media outlets, and encouraging countless investors to buy internet company stocks.

In those years, it seemed that the world's fastest-growing companies had all become internet companies.

The myth of instant wealth creation continues to brainwash people.

Some previously unremarkable internet companies see their stock prices soar once they go public, causing the founding team's wealth to skyrocket.

Their net worth is often in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

Such a frenzied rate of wealth accumulation has caused countless investors to lose their minds and blindly chase after the stocks of various internet companies.

Until... the bubble bursts.

That's an outrageous boast.

Many investors have come to their senses and are selling off their shares in internet companies.

then……

In March 2000, the dot-com bubble burst, and its effects continue to this day. This year, global internet companies have faced a harsh winter.

On the one hand, they cannot find a way to make a profit.

On the one hand, they cannot find financing channels.

Now, Qidian is trying to find a way to make money – paid reading.

(End of this chapter)