One-hit wonder? Viewership slumps for Luo Yonghao’s second live-stream after viral debut
- In his live-streaming debut, the indebted founder of smartphone brand Smartisan made more than US$15.5 million, with 48 million people tuning in
- His second attempt about a week later attracted significantly less attention, with 11 million viewers and US$4.5 million in sales
Luo sold more than 100 million yuan (US$15.5 million) of products the first time he live-streamed on short video app Douyin, with 48 million users tuning in on April 1. However, the founder of popular smartphone brand Smartisan was unable to replicate this success with a second appearance last Friday, which only attracted around 35 million yuan in sales from around 11 million viewers, according to data provider newrank.cn.
In the live-stream last Friday, Luo demonstrated using a laptop while exercising on a walking machine. “It won’t affect your work schedule and you may not even be aware that you have already exercised two hours,” the entrepreneur, who is in his late forties, said. “As an old guy, it’s not easy to demonstrate like this,” he commented as he got off the machine.
In a post on his official Weibo account on Thursday, Luo had said that he enjoyed selling products online just as he did any other creative endeavour.
“I’m counting on the income, counting on it to help me pay off my debts and counting on it to help me advance my business,” he wrote.