We were lucky to catch up with Jiaqi Zhou recently and have shared our conversation below.
Jiaqi, appreciate you joining us today. Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?
My name is Jiaqi Zhou, from Guangdong China. I’m a content creator who enjoys capturing different moments of life and sharing them on social media platforms. At first, I had very few followers, but my passion kept me going. I still remember my first dollar that I earned was from a pet brand. They loved my content and invited me to their store to create promotional videos. I was thrilled, feeling that my efforts were finally being recognized.
That day, I made some research and gathered information of this pet brand, which made me more familiar with it. It helped my creative process a lot. I wrote down many questions about pets to discuss with the store manager, who appreciated my dedication and we established a long-term partnership. Since then, I always prepare in advance before visiting any store. It makes my content more genuine and professional.
Jiaqi, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I started my journey as a social media creator in 2022. In fact, social media was becoming increasingly popular and commercially valuable at that time. Many brands began to invest in advertising and promotion on social media. As for me, I decided to share my daily looks on social media since many of my friends often asked me for purchasing advice.
Then, various fashion brands prefer to collaborate with me. They sent me clothes, shoes, and accessories to showcase. I worked as a creator on fashion category for a year. During this year, I hardly bought any clothes and I wore the items sent to me. Although I didn’t earn much initially, I felt fulfilled and happy seeing myself look polished and vibrant on camera.
As my audience grew, more people began asking about the materials, sizes, and styling tips for the outfits in the comments. This made me proud, as I realized my content was providing value to my audiences. My sincerity built trust, leading more people to follow my recommendations and purchase the clothes. As a result, more brands recognized my influence and they paid for me. I started earning a small income from creating video content.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
It is not easy to be a content creator; it requires enough passion, sincerity, and flexibility. My journey hasn’t been smooth. Initially, when I shared my outfits, I gained a group of followers who liked my style. However, when I transitioned to store exploration, my audience changed significantly, and I found myself spending more time and energy on outdoor video shooting.
I used my lunch breaks and after-work hours to write contents, and spent my weekends out filming, often dedicating an entire day to it. I paid attention to the little things in life, turning them into inspiration for my creations. Although I did lose a lot of my free time, I remained determined and persistent.
I remember my first store review received few views, which made me anxious and frustrated. I even doubted myself. But I quickly adjusted my mindset, analyzed my content, and learned to improve my filming techniques and writing. As a result, my later posts got better, and my confidence grew.
Success doesn’t happen overnight; it’s a gradual process of continuous experimentation, change, and learning.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
Throughout my journey in social media, I’ve gained so much. Not only have I developed extra income, but I’ve also built a community of supportive followers and made many like-minded friends. Additionally, I’ve received recognition and opportunities thanks to my work in this field.
However, what I value most is the transformation in my mindset and thinking. I wasn’t always a very driven or organized person, and I often felt lost regarding my life goals. Since becoming a creator, I’ve been filled with a relentless motivation to learn and improve. I’ve developed a sense of urgency about my work, and I try my best to create better content that resonates with more people.
This shift has helped me overcome laziness and procrastination. I now spend my evenings and weekends brainstorming ideas and studying themes, as well as learning new filming techniques. My thinking has become more dynamic; I often find inspiration from fleeting moments or small objects, leading to interesting topics or angles.
I firmly believe that hard work does not go unnoticed, and that good content will eventually reach a wider audience. This realization is my greatest reward in the self-media realm.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redpanda_aaa?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jiaqi.zhou.2024?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jiaqi-zhou-redpanda/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=6L1lz_REi4V1Waw5Rn7qZA&utm_source=ishare
- Other: The Red:
https://www.xiaohongshu.com/user/profile/60c1f6560000000001007fe5?xhsshare=CopyLink&appuid=60c1f6560000000001007fe5&apptime=1727728157TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@redpanda_aaa123?_t=8qA89u4s1UM&_r=1
Image Credits
Credits to Jiaqi Zhou