托福阅读素材：揭秘网络红人们的致富之路

    Not long ago, YouTube star Michelle Phan wowed the beauty products market when she succeeded insetting up a personal cosmetics brand by just uploading makeup tutorials to YouTube. To this day, her success is hailed as a testament to the power of the Internet.

Now, thousands of others are trying to emulate Phan in China. They boast huge online following. The ability to transfix eyeballs online, especially on social networking platforms, these daystranslates to celebrityhood and riches.

    Such leaders are building up thousands of online communities by sharing knowledge on subjects like fashion, beauty and electronic games or just by producing humorous videos. In the process, they make loads of money.

The list below summarizes the key ways by which such cyber stars grow rich:

    1. Tips and virtual gifts from fans

Most online platforms have introduced a "tips" system for fans to give cash to online celebrities. For example, when an online celebrity publishes a fashion-themed article on WeChat, China's most popular instant messaging tool, readers can reward the author with tips ranging from 1yuan (15 cents) to 256 yuan by using its digital payment tool.

    2. Advertising fees from luxury brands

Luxury brands such as Channel and Prada are turning to online celebrities for targeted marketing. When releasing latest products, these companies often invite online celebrities to advertise the products on Sina Weibo, China's version of Twitter.

    3. Profits from running online stores

Setting up a personal fashion brand is the most popular income source for most online celebrities. It is also the stream that pulls in the largest part of their income. One shining example is Zhang Dayi, 28. She has cultivated more than 4 million followers on Sina microblog. By regularly posting her store's fashion items and corresponding links on her Sina microbloga ccount, Zhang successfully converted her online store on marketplace Taobao into a must-visit destination for female online shoppers. Her shop is listed as the second-best store in terms of sales in 2015 on Taobao, the consumer-to-consumer platform of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.

    4. Appearance fees

Internet celebrities no longer limit their commercial activities to the online world. It is increasingly common for companies to pay them to attend offline gatherings like product launches and similar corporate events and celebrations.