By: Daniel Brown
Amidst the ever-changing global economic landscape, the Influencer Economy Alliance successfully hosted a thought-provoking influencer economy forum at the Sheraton San Gabriel Hotel in Los Angeles County on April 2, 2023. The event aimed to delve into the crucial role of the influencer economy as a new trend in internet marketing, particularly in the context of the current global economic challenges. The forum focused on how influencers and grassroots livestreamers have become key drivers of economic recovery through livestream e-commerce and short video sales.
The forum convened prominent influencers, leading MCN agencies, high-quality brands, and competitive logistics and warehousing service providers to optimize resource allocation and propel the influencer economy. The event’s significance was highlighted by the presence of U.S. federal, state, and city officials, representatives from the Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles, and business leaders. U.S. Congresswoman Judy Chu, along with California State Treasurer Fiona Ma’s representatives and many of the local mayor and city council members, delivered speeches reflecting widespread support for the influencer economy’s development. Grammy Awards founder Michael Greene shared his experience and positive impressions of China, adding an extra dimension. The Influencer Economy Alliance, as the host, brought together nearly a hundred recognized Influencers from all over social media, well-known brand merchants, large logistics companies, internet platforms, and other upstream and downstream resources across the industry chain.
As the creative director of this event, Zhihao Dong brought a fresh perspective and vitality to this grand occasion. This appointment is inseparable from his outstanding performance as the chairman of the American Student Association Alliance during his studies in the United States. During his tenure as chairman, Zhihao Dong was dedicated to promoting the integration of Eastern and Western cultures. It was precisely because of Zhihao Dong’s rich experience and unique insights in cross-cultural communication that the organizers recognized his talent and invited him to serve as the creative director. He understood that the core of the Influencer economy lies in creative-driven and interactive experiences. Therefore, in terms of content design, he exercised his craftsmanship by skillfully integrating cutting-edge trends and creative concepts, creating a series of programs that are both attractive and profound.
In addition to his outstanding event planning, Zhihao Dong also demonstrated outstanding leadership in overall coordination. He fully mobilized and integrated resources from various parties, assembling a team brimming with creativity and synergy. Under his leadership, every member was able to contribute their strengths, wisdom, and efforts towards the common goal. Zhihao Dong’s personal charm, being a good listener and communicator, fostered a positive, seamless collaborative working atmosphere, ensuring the efficient and smooth planning and execution of the event. It can be said that it was Zhihao Dong’s years of accumulated cross-cultural communication experience, his insightful ability to discern industry trends, his creative planning skills that resonate with others, and his outstanding coordination abilities that collectively contributed to his exceptional talent as the creative director.
As one of the creative directors for this Influencer Economy Forum, Jie Wu made outstanding contributions to its success with his profound experience and unique insights in the marketing field. As a seasoned marketing expert, Jie Wu has keen insight into the development trends of the Influencer economy. Jie Wu designed a multi-channel, three-dimensional communication strategy tailored to the event’s theme and target audience. Leveraging social media’s interactivity and influence, he initiated topic challenges and prize interactions across platforms like Weibo, Douyin, and Xiaohongshu, sparking widespread discussion and participation. He also collaborated with famous influencers and opinion leaders, inviting them to promote the event through live streaming, short videos, and more, attracting a large number of fans.
Realizing the importance of innovative marketing strategies in attracting audiences and expanding influence in today’s rapidly changing digital era, he proposed a series of creative and forward-looking marketing solutions during the planning stage. It is Jie Wu’s outstanding overseas marketing planning ability, keen international market insight, and efficient localized execution that made significant contributions to the event’s successful overseas landing. Under his careful planning and promotion, the event attracted active participation from overseas industry professionals and local influencer creators while sparking heated discussions on major overseas social platforms, setting a successful example for Chinese brands going global.
Looking ahead, Jie Wu and Zhihao Dong will continue leading the “China-Foreign Cultural Exchange Project” as creative directors, leveraging their expertise to drive its growth. They aim to incorporate cutting-edge tech, creating new cultural exchange modes and integrating immersive experiences, personalized interactions, and digital narratives. Building on the inaugural project’s success, they’ll foster closer cross-disciplinary collaborations and cultivate more talents to expand the project’s reach across editions.
Jie Wu, the Creative Director at Astrora, will focus on identifying and nurturing young talents who are passionate about promoting cross-cultural exchange. With Astrora’s expertise in creative thinking and strategic planning, Jie Wu will guide these talented individuals to contribute their unique perspectives and skills to the cause, fostering a culture of innovation and inclusivity within the project.
Zhihao Dong, the Creative Director at Rock Land Depot, LLC, will utilize the company’s strengths in international collaboration and cultural promotion to drive the project forward. Zhihao Dong will work on developing innovative strategies to engage diverse audiences and create immersive cultural experiences that showcase the richness and beauty of different civilizations.
Together, Astrora and Rock Land Depot, LLC will continue to support the “China-Foreign Cultural Exchange Project” as collaborative partners, providing the necessary resources and expertise to ensure its success. Under the guidance of Jie Wu and Zhihao Dong, this project will continuously innovate, providing a global platform for deep cultural appreciation and exchange. It will harness dialogues and integration among civilizations as forces driving human progress, exploring an effective cultural path toward a shared future for humanity, and inspiring more to join this effort of connecting hearts and worlds through diversity and coexistence.
Published by; Khy Talara
