128. Not Positive Enough
In Lu Ban's backend, he could see the specific data growth.
For example, data such as valid clicks and total clicks can be used to directly calculate revenue.
In the past, video websites lacked transparency in their data. They only had total click data, and the number of valid clicks was entirely up to the website to tell the creators, thus the revenue was in the other party's hands.
That's how the free operating model works.
Later, after a series of open and covert struggles, the rules were finally re-established, and the backstage became transparent.
For example, right now, Lu Ban can access the backend of several video websites and keep refreshing to see the number of views.
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, while everyone else is checking if the Moon is round, Lu Ban is checking how many clicks it gets.
Refreshing the page, the number of views on the Old Days Video Network has reached 150,000, with just over 10,000 being valid views.
The Lovecraft Video Network has over 20,000 views, but only 4,000 of them are valid.
The data for Scarecrow Video Network is similar to that of Lovecraft Video Network, except that it has fewer clicks, less than 10,000.
To Lu Ban's surprise, Tomorrow Online had the highest number of clicks, surpassing his main battlefield Old Days Video Network, reaching 200,000. However, only 3,000 of them were valid clicks, even lower than Lovecraft Video Network.
This reveals the tone and style of several websites.
Lovecraft Video Network and Scarecrow Video Network have a higher proportion of paying users.
It's not that their users are very loyal, but rather that there's practically nothing to watch on these two websites without a membership. Even the free content requires watching a one-minute ad, and then another thirty-second ad interrupts halfway through. And if you have a membership, there are paid advanced viewing options, and even more expensive super advanced viewing options.
Therefore, the vast majority of people who use these two websites have paid money; they are forced to do so, using money to create happiness.
The Old Days Video Network mainly features UCG, which is user-uploaded content. This content is mostly free, and users with free tickets can enjoy most of the content on the website, so the paid subscription rate is relatively low.
Tomorrow Online is another extreme. It focuses on the lower-tier market and short videos, attracting users who have not been very familiar with the internet in the past. These users are extremely price-sensitive, meaning they are the most willing to pay for free content. So, although it has a large user base, very few are actually willing to pay to watch beyond the six-minute mark.
Lu Ban was fairly satisfied with 20,000 valid clicks in one night. After all, it was the Mid-Autumn Festival, and many people were watching the Mid-Autumn Festival Gala with their families. In addition, apart from his fans on his Old Days Video Network, he had hardly done any promotion elsewhere, and the buzz needed time to build.
There are still more than two months left. If you earn 10,000 a day, you can touch a million. At least you can get a "mediocre" rating!
Lu Ban's greatest virtue is being content with what he has.
After refreshing the page for a while, it was time for Lu Ban to go to sleep. He finished drinking hot milk, did some stretching exercises, and washed up. Then he remembered something and posted another update.
[Motionless]: Wishing everyone a happy Mid-Autumn Festival!
He didn't pay attention to the hundreds of comments that popped up instantly in the post.
They must all be blessings!
Background music played, Lu Ban lay down.
In his drowsy state, he felt a hand gently touch the back of his hand, then move upwards, across his chest, to his neck and cheek, like a mother caressing her child.
"Um?"
Lu Ban opened his eyes slightly and felt a figure pressing down on him, making him unable to move.
The song of the righteous path continued in his ears, which made Lu Ban feel a little strange.
Normally, shouldn't these guys be able to fall asleep peacefully to uplifting songs?
Could it be...?
"Is this song not positive enough?"
Lu Ban frowned. He saw that the shadow was blurry and didn't seem to be the one he had seen before.
It has evolved?
Or is it...?
Lu Ban focused his attention and felt that the blurry shadow seemed rather slender, like a woman.
Lu Ban had seen many female ghosts.
He felt that as he could see the other person more clearly, the oppressive force weakened, and soon Lu Ban was able to sit up.
He saw the figure vanish quickly, leaving no trace.
"Ugh, you're disturbing my sleep."
Lu Ban didn't turn on the lights, and in the dimly lit room, there seemed to be a shadowy figure moving around.
He first looked at the corner of the bedside table, where an eyeball was faintly visible.
"It's you?"
Lu Ban noticed the eyeball and it immediately shrank back, leaving only a little bit of hair sticking out, like a swaying sea anemone.
"You're not the coward."
He muttered to himself, then stood up and went to the wardrobe.
Open the closet door, and among the autumn clothes, a shadowy figure huddled up, like a shivering cat.
"It doesn't seem like you, staying at home all the time."
Lu Ban turned his head and leaned down to look under the bed.
Under the spotless bed, a comical doll was slowly crawling. Seemingly noticing Lu Ban, it turned its head and revealed a sinister smile.
"You're too slow, that's not right."
Lu Ban walked out of the bedroom and into the bathroom. The light was off, but the outside light shone through the frosted glass of the window, making the room dimly lit.
He looked in the mirror.
There was nothing in the mirror.
"Um?"
Lu Ban looked closer and realized that Lu Ban's reflection in the mirror was in a corner, seemingly frightened by something.
"It seems it's not you either."
He returned to his bedroom and spoke to the Air Friend beside him.
"Could it be you?"
There was no response.
"You mean if it were you, I wouldn't even wake up? Okay."
Lu Ban checked around and found that none of his roommates seemed to be the one who had disturbed his sleep earlier.
Is he a newcomer?
Lu Ban looked at the table, where the Crimson Crystal dimmed in the dim light.
He thought for a moment, then adjusted the playlist, changing it to a background music album made by Hammer Technology, which mostly contained eerie melodies and background music.
The soft murmur of the woman echoed in the bedroom, accompanied by the melody of Japanese musical instruments. Just listening to it made one feel that a large black and white photo of her head should be displayed, along with two candles and an incense burner, so that Incense Burner Incense Burner would emit purple smoke in the sunlight.
It is absolutely pure and righteous funeral music.
Listening to the music, Lu Ban lay down contentedly and slept soundly until dawn, leaving no fatigue or stress for the next day.
In the morning, Lu Ban ate breakfast and studied as usual. Around noon, he opened a webpage to check the trending topics.
This time, he saw himself directly on the leaderboard, ranked fourth among several Old Days Video Network self-produced movies and TV series.
He was satisfied with the result, considering it was only the first day and the duration wasn't long enough.
Before opening the background apps, Lu Ban saw a push notification on his phone from "Did You Get It??"
How would you rate the new video "Hyakunin Isshu" by the Old Days Video Network "Uploader Hyakunin Isshu Motionless"?
He clicked on it.