Chapter 1266 – Stimulating Consumer Spending
Pony Ma did not notice Feng Yu’s weird expression and continued. “This new product is called Q Zone. It will be like an online diary where users can write about their mood, post pictures with dates. It includes the functions of a blog, but it’s more than a blog.”
“We planned to include premium services that allow users to decorate their pages’ background, music, and other small decorations. Users can personalize their pages to their liking. How is it? Is it very attractive?”
Feng Yu looks at Pony Ma coldly. When Q Zone was launched, it did attract lots of users. But as Weibo and Pengyou become popular, many users left Q Zone. But Q Zone has lots of users, and many users remained.
“This is not a bad idea. It sounds more comprehensive than Weibo. Are you going to target QQ users with Q Zone? That means there should be lots of paid features in it, right?”
“That’s right. Users will have to pay for the decorations, backgrounds, and expanded storage s.p.a.ces. This way, users must become paid members to use it.”
Feng Yu suddenly remembered QQ has different types of memberships for its users. For example, some memberships target QQ users, Q Zone users, QQ Games users, etc. But now, there is only one type of membership.
“Manager Ma, have you thought of introducing different types of memberships?”
“Different types of memberships? What do you mean? Is it about the membership tiers?”
“No. It will be based on the different types of products. Different memberships can enjoy different kinds of benefits. For example, QQ members will get certain benefits from QQ. QQ Games members can benefit from the games, while Q Zone members will get special privileges in Q Zone. You can use different types of precious stones to differentiate the types of members.”
Pony Ma is speechless. He did not know there are so many ways to stimulate his users to spend. Manager Feng is really professional. If he uses this idea, more users will be willing to join the membership. He believes that his QQ Games and Q Zone can attract lots of users.
Feng Yu appears calm, but he is laughing in his heart. All these are what Tencent did in his previous life, and he is telling Pony Ma about it now.
“Manager Feng, you are a genius. Your suggestion really inspires me. I will discuss it with the rest after I go back. This will surely increase the number of paid users.”
“Sigh… I had only offered some suggestions. Even if I had not suggested this, you all would also think of it in the future.” Feng Yu replied ‘modestly.’
“No. Even if we can think of this in the future, we will miss out on many money-making opportunities. The company is lacking funds, and I plan to list it in 2005 to raise funds. if not, we will not have funds to implement our plans.”
“Let’s talk about this when the time comes. What if you suddenly have enough funds?” Feng Yu smiles.
“That’s right. Who knows what will happen in the future? Since you can come up with so many splendid ideas just by listening to my plans, can you give me some suggestions on how to retain QQ Games and Q Zone’s users?”
“It’s very simple for QQ Games. Just organize some compet.i.tions for those games and offer prizes for the winners.”
“Setting prizes for compet.i.tions? Is this legal?” Pony Ma asked worryingly.
“Who asked you to give cash? You can give out Q coins. These coins are virtual currency from your company. Why can’t you give them out as prizes? Currently, users can only use cash to buy Q coins and cannot convert Q coins into cash, right?”
Pony Ma’s eyes brighten up. He is right to meet Manager Feng. How come he had not thought about this? Many users like to use Q coins to pay for their memberships.
“There is another way to make users spend in games. That is introducing all sorts of in-game items. Some items can be given to all users, but the better items will be given to the paid users. Of course, these items can only a.s.sist the user, and you must not introduce an over-powered item.”
Feng Yu saw a joke in his previous life. An online Chinese Chess game allows users to buy chess pieces, and a paid user has eight chariots. Who can beat him? Even a grandmaster will lose against him!
If such a scenario can happen, who will want to play that game?
“In-game items? We intend to introduce points and level system for our games. The winner can get points, and level up can get different t.i.tles. Does that mean we can introduce an item to reset negative points?” Pony Ma asked.
“Of course. For example, suppose I meet a player with negative points in a cooperative game. In that case, I will a.s.sume that player is a newbie. There is a saying in games. A G.o.d-like opponent not scary, but a stupid teammate can kill you!”
“Hahaha… is there such a saying? Who comes up with this? It’s too funny.” Pony Ma laughed.
Feng Yu scratched his head. This saying still has not appeared now?
“I saw it on the internet and don’t know who said it. But I think this saying is true.”
“I know what to do with QQ Games. We will introduce better games to attract new users. What about the Q zone? Are we going to make it the same as blogs?”
“Of course not. Other than the different decorative items and backgrounds, you can introduce other items. For example, users can turn their s.p.a.ce into a home and can keep pets.”
“You are saying we can introduce pets in the Q zone?”
“Why not? Also, pets need to be fed and be taken care of. The users will be afraid of their pets dying, and our users are mainly from which group?”
“The white-collars and youngsters in the city?”
“That’s right. You should have heard about many people who will travel to the suburbs farms for holidays on the weekends.”
“Yes. I had gone there once. There is an area where visitors can get to pluck fruits or vegetables.”
“The charges for those farm visits are not cheap, right? Also, not everyone from the city has the time or car to travel to the suburbs. Why can’t we create a virtual farm for these people on Q Zone?” Feng Yu hinted.
“A virtual farm? What’s so fun about it?”
“It’s the same as keeping a virtual pet. Users can grow vegetables, plant fruit trees, rear fishes, to experience village life!”
Feng Yu replied confidently. This QQ farm is Tencent’s most popular game in his previous life. It had attracted many users, but he is unsure if it will be as popular this early.
Pengyou