Learn from "Student Zhang"！
How a Douyin Account Gained 10M Sub in 3 Months?
Ten million new subscribers in three months, a single video for more than 100 million views, a large number of netizens are studying and even imitating 张同学 (Student Zhang). At the same time, the burst of popularity was followed by concern and curiosity about him. Is he a professional director? What is the team behind him? How much money can he earn? And most importantly - how in the end did he go viral?
I personally got already addicted to the hypnotic style of his editing style. Let’s find out what all the fuzz is about.
The Topic
Zhang's video shows the real life of a single young man in the countryside, which seems to have no intentional portrayal of characters and offers the original look of Chinese country life. Unlike Li Ziqi's beautiful idyllic life, the countryside under "Student Zhang's" camera is more "coarse": old pillows, worn-out furniture, an old-fashioned TV, and farm vehicles that are often out of order. Some people say this is the natural, original countryside. In "Student Zhang's" interview, he said most of the video ideas stem from his surroundings and the life he has experienced firsthand.
In Zhang's video, he wakes up every day from a dilapidated old house and then starts a day of country life, waking up, brushing teeth, going to market, cooking, feeding the dog, drinking wine. It is authentic and makes a lot of people feel the same way. The cultural difference between urban and rural areas is constantly narrowing in China; multiple cultures interact and mingle, reflecting the richness of cultural identities of the times.
The Editing Strategy
Unlike the causal countryside living style, the editing skill in the "Student Zhang" account may be much more delicate than you thought. The highly distinctive editing and fixed background music have become the unique features of Zhang's video. Some netizens found that in the 7 minutes and 50 seconds presented in the video, there are 190 sub-shots. The tight editing rhythm, combined with smooth camera transitions, captured the public's attention without a trace.
Another important reason is that its music is too addictive. Although it has always been played on a loop in all videos, the more you listen to it, the better it sounds.
Emotional Values:
The steady development of the economy and the continuous promotion of urbanization have led more and more people to move away from rural life and integrate into the fast pace of modern society, enjoying a happy and fashionable life. However, social anxiety and emotional drift have become a symptom at the same time, and the aspiration of "escape from the city and return to the countryside" has emerged.
Just like Li Ziqi's idyllic life captured people's hearts, in Zhang's case, the pure and straightforward emotions and uncomplicated life are in tune with the public's need to slow down and enjoy life to the fullest, becoming another remedy healing their hearts.
Moreover, since ancient times, China has been an agricultural civilization, and pastoralism has been immersed in cultural genes. Today, many Chinese people living in the city may have grown up in the countryside and have the same rural memories. The new generation born and raised in the city is also curious to seek something different from their environment.
From Li Ziqi, Ding Zhen, to "Student Zhang", more "new farmers" take advantage of new media to participate, showcase, and promote new rural areas. This phenomenon becomes one of the most enjoyable parts of rural revitalization.
