Business Closed Loop: Starting with Ringback Tones to Take Down Giants

February 2nd, half a month before the Spring Festival.

The three members of the IP team sat side by side on one side of the long table.

In ten days, the three of them worked for a whole week and each came up with a complete implementation plan for their respective sections.

They stood upright, their eyes occasionally glancing towards the head of the table.

I tried to discern the priority of the three sections from the boss's expression.

I'd rather have this boss point out any shortcomings in the plan.

Half an hour later, Wang Song closed the last page and stacked the three documents together.

"Approved. Make the budget more detailed, then go to Rodin to make the payment."

The three exchanged a glance, their prepared excuses for demanding money coming to a halt.

Ma Xiaojun couldn't hold back any longer: "Boss, is there... a problem?"

Wang Song gave a friendly smile: "You can decide on your own plan."

"If you want to hire people, I welcome it."

The three looked at each other, and had no choice but to give up.

After the three left, Old Chen came in. "Finished approving?"

Wang Song nodded.

"Aren't we going to give them some feedback? I've glanced at those proposals, and there are some parts..."

Wang Song carefully put the plan away.

"These are all common methods; anyone could come up with them."

"There must be many things I haven't considered, why don't you point them out?"

Wang Song shook his head: "We've already ordered, but they'll come back to me to order next time. We can't possibly order everything."

He leaned back in his chair: "I just need to see if these proposals will ruin the platform."

Old Chen understood: "You don't know?"

Wang Song smiled and said, "Not at all. At most, they'll just exhaust themselves."

Old Chen smiled and shook his head. "You decide for yourself."

"The project company has been approved, and after much persuasion, Tian Yusheng agreed to become the legal representative."

That's understandable; the term "legal person" does sound prestigious.

However, this risk dissipates instantly with a 4% shareholding.

A major player like China Film Group would never directly hold shares in a project company.

However, we need to assign a production manager to keep an eye on things, just to prevent the project from going wrong.

Wang Song nodded, "Okay, go check on how his film crew's preparations are going."

Meanwhile, the three members of the IP team on the other side received their first round of seed funding.

A massive traffic-generating campaign has begun.

Ma Xiaojun didn't rush to post everywhere.

I created a table that listed all the top-rated funny campus life sections on the entire internet.

It includes the moderator's ID and contact information.

This was information he painstakingly pieced together over three sleepless nights.

Ma Xiaojun gripped the microphone: "Brother Zhou, just one question: are you in or not?"

The person on the other end of the phone was the moderator of the humor and jokes section on Tianya.

Send me the rules.

As soon as the email was sent, he immediately opened QQ and chatted with the moderators one by one in the order of the table.

"Next up is Mop.com's Miscellaneous Forum, with the moderator's surname being Dai."

The cooperation model is exactly the same, and even the wording hasn't changed.

"It's an old acquaintance. This is a win-win situation. You increase your activity level, and we increase our users. This has led to a long-term partnership."

For veteran players, we emphasize nostalgia and win-win cooperation; for new sections, we emphasize traffic and exposure.

The prize pool ranges from five thousand to ten thousand, depending on the popularity of the section.

The event will last for one month, with a dedicated pinned post in the forum for submissions, and winners will be announced directly.

It must be published first in the Immortal Names Pictures and Funny Stories section, with exclusive hashtags.

"Brother Ma, you're awesome!" The intern next to him was dumbfounded.

He handed over a stack of papers: "The promotional material and prize list are all ready. Would you like to take a look?"

Ma Xiaojun glanced at it; the copy was modified from the promotional script and prizes on Renren.com.

Last year, he was active in various universities, and Ma Xiaojun followed suit and adopted his methods.

"Okay, let's do it this way."

He called out names one by one, "You two go to the internet cafe in the university town to organize the registration event."

"You two set up a mobile stall, put up a banner, hand out flyers and posters, and give away freebies."

And of course, he had to find those unofficial promoters from various universities who were eager for part-time jobs.

They went to schools that the students couldn't access, personally teaching them how to register and use the system.

After finishing all that, Ma Xiaojun lit a cigarette with a satisfied smile.

He boasted to Liu Jianjun and Chen Shu, who were still discussing the script over there.

"I've expanded both online and offline, so your storytelling platform should follow suit."

The screenwriting team's office on the other side.

"Ignore him, let's continue." Chen Shu pointed to the whiteboard.

"Jianjun, what did you mean when you said I set the reward too high?"

Liu Jianjun organized his thoughts.

Why did our last essay contest attract so much attention?

"Many people even come to ask me if I will hold a call for submissions open to the public."

Chen Shu thought for a moment: "Because of the professional comments from teachers at the Central Academy of Drama? Because of the film and television adaptation rights?"

Liu Jianjun shook his head: "Half."

"There are very few writers on the entire internet who are supported by their bosses like us."

"On the forum, even on a single point, almost everyone is a part-timer, or doing it out of passion."

"Even posts created out of passion can get deleted by moderators, and copyright can be seized."

He chuckled self-deprecatingly.

"An author asked me, 'Does anyone actually read my work when I publish it on Xianming?'"

"So you're giving cash, film and television adaptations, and the Central Academy of Drama's jury."

"He looks like a conman no matter how you look at him."

He pointed to the total prize money of 20 yuan written by Chen Shu on the whiteboard.

"If you set the price so high, people will come for the money, take the money, and leave."

"And who will be next?"

"What they lack is a place where they can post their work and people will read it, and if it's well-written, people will praise it."

"What we want is to attract people to the serialization, not to hold a lavish lottery."

Chen Shu was silent for a moment, then suddenly burst out laughing.

"In other words, as long as we can truly complete the essay contest fairly and justly."

"Is it already the most ethical platform on the entire internet?"

It really is.

Chen Shu nodded. "Then let's change it. The Central Academy of Drama's essay contest was worth 50,000, so this time it'll be 100,000."

"Since they have asked so sincerely, we will open our inquiry to the whole society this time."

She took out a piece of paper and quickly wrote down three categories.

Urban romance, suspense, and sitcom.

"We won't cover all genres; we'll focus on the genres most suitable for film and television adaptation."

"That way we won't have to deal with too many manuscripts."

Liu Jianjun smiled and said, "Okay, that's settled. I'll go recruit some people to beat GG."

"The operation of the storytelling section is now in your hands."

Meanwhile, on the other side, in the performance department teaching building of the Central Academy of Drama.

Tian Yusheng poked his head out of the classroom and shouted, "Next, Qiao Shan!"

The mouth of the upper body went into the entertainment industry, but the feet of the lower body remained in the foot massage parlor.

"Director, I need to act..." Qiao Shan had just started to speak when Wang Song raised his hand to interrupt her.

"No need to try it out, a supporting role in a comedy is enough," Wang Song decided.

Tian Yusheng leaned closer in and whispered, "Boss, you really don't want to give it a try?"

Qiao Shan stood there, stunned. She wanted to ask why, but was afraid that if she asked, she would never have the chance again.

Qiao Shan scratched his head and had just reached the door when he heard Wang Song add a sentence behind him.

"Practice comedy well, and you'll get roles in the future."

The door closed.

His voice echoed down the hallway: "Passed? I passed without even trying?"

Tian Yusheng looked puzzled: "Boss, what's going on...?"

"What's the key to casting? It's about having a good first impression. But the more you try, the harder it gets. Why not just choose someone you find pleasing to the eye?"

"This is something only well-known directors would do, like director Zhang Yimou."

Wang Song was spouting nonsense with a straight face.

Tian Yusheng said thoughtfully, "I see. You could never learn everything from Director Wang in a lifetime."

Wang Song waved his hand, "Next, Wang Kai."

"Second male lead, just pick a scene and try acting it out. Relax, don't be so serious."

When Wang Kai came out, he was still in a daze.

He acted in a period drama last year that didn't quite hit the mark, and now he's already prepared to be unemployed after graduation.

As a result, less than ten minutes later, a second male lead hit him on the head.

Wang Song picked up the next resume, which read: Mao Xiaotong, Class of 05, Performance Department.

"Let this in."

Tian Yusheng looked at the four girls who came in one after another. This one was Song Yi, Chen Xiaoyun, and Wang Zhi.

If it weren't for the fact that the boss has never had any scandals, he would rather believe that the boss came to participate in the talent show.

In particular, the reason given for interviewing a woman named Chen Xiaoyun was outrageous.

"You come just because we tell you to? You're too easily fooled. You're just playing the innocent ex-girlfriend."

Tian Yusheng was speechless. "Boss, do you really think these people are capable?"

Wang Song patted him on the shoulder.

"If you take good photos, then they're good; if you don't take good photos, then nobody's good."

Of course, that's the only way to put it; it's better to choose someone familiar than an amateur.

Wang Song glanced at the time: "That's enough for today. The main characters are all here."

"Take the list and go to their teacher to ask for the people."

Wang Song spoke as he walked.

"Take this time to prepare the props and venue. Contact Mr. Chen for the venue."

"We'll start filming as soon as the 15th comes back. If any actors don't want to come, we'll replace them."

Meanwhile, on the other side, the music group on the first floor of Xianming.

"Senior Sister Yao, are you done with your work?"

"Is the boss free today?" Yao Beina asked with a smile.

"Your music team has an investment in the 'Ex-Files' project, consider this my New Year's bonus for you."

Yao Beina was stunned.

Wang Song turned and walked out, saying, "Your music group, hang in there for another year."

"I'll give you a solution, but for now, I can only offer you the most mundane one."

He seemed to remember something, "Oh right, the whole company is having physical exams tomorrow."

"Come early."