Core Viewpoint - Zhihu is transitioning from a high-quality knowledge-sharing platform to a more commercialized model, focusing on profitability while facing challenges in user engagement and content quality [2][9][14]. User Engagement - Zhihu's average monthly active users (MAU) peaked at 101.2 million in Q3 2021 but has since declined to 81.1 million in Q3 2024, indicating a significant drop in user engagement [5][4]. - The decline in MAU is attributed to a combination of optimizing advertising spend and enhancing user experience, leading to a reduction in low-engagement users while increasing high-engagement users [5][4]. Business Diversification - Since 2016, Zhihu has explored various revenue streams, including advertising, paid memberships, and knowledge services, with non-advertising revenue accounting for 61% of total revenue in 2021 [9][10]. - Paid membership revenue became the primary income source in Q2 2022, reaching 271 million yuan, a 75.1% year-on-year increase [10]. - Zhihu's foray into vocational education has shown significant growth, with revenue from this segment increasing by 457.14% year-on-year in Q3 2022 [10]. Short Video and E-commerce Ventures - Zhihu has attempted to enter the short video and e-commerce markets but has faced challenges in establishing a strong presence in these areas [11]. - Despite various attempts at diversification, paid memberships remain the most significant revenue source, contributing 57.27% of total revenue in Q1 2025 [11]. Short Drama Market Potential - The short drama market in China reached 50.5 billion yuan in 2024, surpassing the film box office for the first time, presenting a new opportunity for Zhihu's "Salted Story" initiative [14][15]. - Zhihu's "Salted Story" has produced over 100 quality IPs for the short drama industry, with successful adaptations like "The Pen" setting records on platforms like Tencent Video [3][15]. Challenges and Future Outlook - Analysts express skepticism about Zhihu's ability to capitalize on the short drama market, suggesting that platforms like Douyin and Kuaishou may dominate due to their advanced recommendation algorithms [16]. - The company is encouraged to focus on knowledge monetization and original content creation as a sustainable path forward, despite the challenges faced in the current market landscape [17].

Core Insights - The trend of "shorter dramas with more precision" is becoming a necessity in the online audio-visual industry, with Zhihu's Salted Story emerging as a benchmark for this shift [1][3] - Salted Story's unique short suspense format achieves a breakthrough in narrative tension, artistic value, and social reflection, establishing a new standard for "good stories" in the digital age [1][4] - The 8th "Online Literature+" Conference highlighted the market prospects and future development directions of short literature, gathering industry leaders and experts for in-depth discussions [1][4] Industry Trends - The rise of short-form content is reshaping the online literature landscape, with short stories gaining traction as a new form of literary expression [3][4] - The integration of short stories with contemporary aesthetic demands is creating a new narrative aesthetic, characterized by concise structures and innovative expressions [4][6] - The increasing popularity of short suspense stories is attracting a growing number of readers, with Salted Story leading the charge in producing high-quality content [3][6] Market Dynamics - The online literature market has seen a surge in new works, with 2 million new pieces added in a year, indicating a robust growth in the short and medium-length creation segment [4][6] - Salted Story's content aligns with the fast-paced lifestyle of modern readers, allowing them to consume complete stories in fragmented time [4][5] - The potential for adaptation into various media formats, including short dramas and audio dramas, is significant, with hundreds of Salted Story IPs sold for film rights [6][7] Strategic Developments - Zhihu is enhancing collaboration with short drama production and distribution platforms to launch more high-quality short dramas [7][9] - The establishment of the "Salted Treasure Pavilion" copyright cooperation center aims to streamline the adaptation process for Salted Story's works [7][9] - The overall online literature industry has evolved into a mature ecosystem, generating over 30 billion yuan annually and driving a 300 billion yuan industry chain value [9]

Core Insights - The eighth "Internet Literature+" conference was held in Beijing, focusing on the opportunities and trends in short story creation and its derivative development [1] - Short stories are gaining traction in the market, with a significant increase in the number of works and authors contributing to this genre [1] Industry Overview - The market for short stories has seen a year-on-year increase, with the "2024 China Internet Literature Blue Book" reporting an addition of 2 million new works in the past year [1] - Salted Story has over 14.2 million monthly subscribers, more than 1 million contributing authors, and over 200,000 signed works, generating over 1 billion yuan in revenue for creators [1] Content Adaptation and Collaboration - Salted Story has become a source for content adaptation in industries such as film, publishing, and animation, with hundreds of IPs sold for film rights and over 5,000 IPs turned into audio dramas [3] - The company has collaborated with Tianyi Film to produce hit short dramas and plans to continue developing adaptations of its works [3] - A new copyright trading center, "Yanzhen Pavilion," has been launched to facilitate quick access to adaptations, with thousands of works already stored [3]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the rampant issue of copyright infringement in the short drama industry, particularly focusing on the actions taken by the platform "Salt Story" to combat this problem and the broader implications for the industry as a whole [1][4][12]. Group 1: Infringement Issues - The short drama industry has been characterized by a "wild growth" phase, with frequent instances of plagiarism, copyright infringement, and a lack of regulatory oversight [1][5][6]. - Salt Story has identified over 50 cases of short drama infringement, with more than 10 cases formally filed, including a significant case against the short drama "Broken Sect Master Sister" [4][5]. - The platform has established a "Anti-Piracy Processing Center" to encourage users to report infringement cases, highlighting the need for community involvement in addressing these issues [4][6]. Group 2: Legal and Regulatory Challenges - The legal framework surrounding short dramas is still developing, leading to challenges in enforcing copyright laws and determining infringement standards [6][8]. - The short drama format's rapid production cycle complicates the legal recourse for authors, often resulting in minimal compensation for significant time and effort invested in legal battles [6][8]. - Salt Story has taken proactive legal measures, including filing lawsuits against multiple infringing entities, and has been recognized for its efforts in copyright protection [8][12]. Group 3: Industry Dynamics - The short drama format has gained popularity due to its alignment with the fast-paced consumption habits of modern audiences, making it a prime target for copyright infringement [13][18]. - Salt Story's content is well-suited for adaptation into short dramas, as both formats share a focus on concise storytelling and emotional engagement [13][15]. - The article emphasizes the need for improved regulatory measures and industry standards to foster a healthier environment for creators and protect their intellectual property [12][24]. Group 4: Future Outlook - The article suggests that for the short drama industry to thrive, it must prioritize the protection of original content and foster trust between creators and platforms [23][24]. - The establishment of copyright centers by major platforms indicates a growing recognition of the need for structured copyright enforcement in the industry [23][24]. - The ongoing legal actions and advocacy for copyright protection by platforms like Salt Story may lead to a more sustainable and ethical short drama ecosystem in the future [24].

Core Insights - Zhihu reported a total revenue of 730 million RMB for Q1 2025, a year-on-year decline of 24% [1] - Gross margin improved to 61.8%, up 5.2 percentage points from 56.6% in the same period last year [1] - Net loss narrowed to 10.1 million RMB, a 93.9% decrease year-on-year [1] - Non-GAAP adjusted net profit reached 6.9 million RMB, a significant turnaround from a net loss of 136 million RMB in the previous year [1] Financial Performance - The company achieved Non-GAAP profitability for the second consecutive quarter, indicating a strategic shift towards more sustainable financial practices [1][3] - The focus on high-value users has led to reduced marketing expenses and improved retention rates, contributing to a more sustainable profit structure [3] User Strategy and Market Position - The company is shifting its user strategy to focus on high-quality users, which is expected to enhance monetization opportunities, particularly in advertising [6][10] - Zhihu aims to differentiate itself from competitors like Bilibili and Douyin by concentrating on niche, professional interest content rather than general entertainment [7] AI and Content Quality - The integration of AI in content generation is seen as a challenge, but Zhihu's model encourages users to maintain high-quality standards due to the real-name verification system [2][4] - The platform is positioned to become a leading professional social space in China, akin to LinkedIn, by helping users establish their professional credibility [2][4] Advertising and Monetization - The company acknowledges past structural issues in advertising monetization and aims to attract influential brands to improve ad revenue [5][6] - Future revenue growth is expected to come from targeted high-value advertising rather than direct content purchases from high-quality users [6][10] Competitive Landscape - Despite increasing competition in the knowledge-sharing space, Zhihu's focus on deep content and professional user engagement is viewed as a competitive advantage [7] - The operational team’s expertise in various fields allows for better content curation and differentiation from other platforms that prioritize click-through rates [7] Future Directions - Zhihu plans to explore online education opportunities in emerging fields, such as AI programming, to cater to its high-quality user base [8] - The company is committed to enhancing its public professional identity features to further solidify its position in the professional social networking space [4][9]

Core Insights - The report outlines Zhihu's 2025 marketing strategy, emphasizing its platform advantages, user value, content ecosystem, and commercial partnerships, positioning Zhihu as a "trust hub" in consumer decision-making [1][7]. User Demographics - Zhihu's user base primarily consists of young, highly educated individuals from second-tier cities and above, with strong purchasing power and high trust in product information [1][17]. - The platform has a significant proportion of users aged 40 and below, with 58.41% of users being from second-tier cities or higher [17]. Content Ecosystem - Zhihu boasts a rich and diverse content ecosystem, with a cumulative content volume of over 855 million and a year-on-year increase in high-quality content rate by 13.37% [13][21]. - The platform facilitates in-depth discussions across various topics, enhancing brand engagement and consumer trust [1][20]. Marketing Solutions - Zhihu offers comprehensive marketing solutions through its "DEEP TRUST" scientific marketing system, which aids brands in understanding consumer needs, demographic flow, and competitive analysis [1][7]. - The platform has launched various IP projects, such as the New Knowledge Youth Conference and Zhihu Science Festival, to enhance brand exposure and conversion [1][20]. Business Expansion - Zhihu is expanding its business with initiatives like "Salt Story" and "Zhihu Knowledge Hall," which provide new avenues for brand marketing and engagement with high-quality audiences [1][20]. - The platform's monthly active users (MAU) reached 81.1 million, with a 17.87% increase in user engagement time [13]. Trust and Consumer Behavior - Zhihu is recognized as a key decision-making reference for consumers, with 94% of users believing in the reliability of product information on the platform [19]. - Users exhibit a strong willingness to pay a premium for quality brands and products, with 72% expressing readiness to spend more for trusted brands [19].