The cover of his new book titled New Thinking Method in the Mobile Internet Era. [File photo]

Q: What's the biggest challenge for the pay-for-content business model at present?

A: In the past, most content on the internet was shared for free. Such a tradition could and has already led people into the mindset that neglects copyright protection. Many content providers don't even care if their content is being copied or not, they only want their work to spread further and reach a grander audience so as to increase their popularity.

However, in pay-for-content, authors utilize their content to acquire economic benefits. The views are deeply linked to what the income platforms make. If the content got leaked and spread for free, it would not only directly affect content providers' income, but also the user experience the paying readers enjoy.

Another challenge is the audience's passion doesn't last long. It's common that subscriptions start to decline, losing their strong momentum at the beginning.

Q: What are the prospects of paid content products that can convey more information in today's rapidly developing internet world?

A: It's undoubtedly acknowledged that the new internet era has changed the way to read and acquire knowledge. Individuals would like to find more useful information they need in less time, although they need to spend some money in the process. Therefore, the emergence of the cash-in model conforms to the trends for a knowledge-sharing economy. As long as the content providers keep continuously creating excellent materials, the future for content creators is still optimistic.