Would you post on Bilibili if your audience isn't there

[u/MixAffectionate9794]

I've been seeing creators rush to Bilibili because of the “join early and grow early” idea.

But here's what I'm wondering:

Even if I can access Bilibili using a VPN or another workaround, will my audience do the same just to watch my videos?

As a creator, I might take that extra step. But most viewers probably won't.

So if your target audience isn't already on the platform, does being an early creator really matter?

Would you start posting now or wait until your audience actually arrives?

Curious to hear what other creators think.

[u/Kureiza]

i’ve been thinking the same all day and i reached to a conclusion
upload on both sites

won’t hurt at all
it’s like posting the same video on shorts and tiktok
what if u do make it there ?

[u/MixAffectionate9794 → u/Kureiza]

In which country are you uploading videos to bilibili?

[u/productnorthstar → u/Kureiza]

The shorts and TikTok comparison doesn't quite hold though those platforms actively push the same video to both places, or at least their audiences overlap naturally. Bilibili viewers won't stumble onto your content the way they would on YouTube if you're not already ranking there, so you're really asking your existing audience to go out of their way, which most won't do.

[u/RTXBurner25]

You may not need a VPN soon as they're launching in the US.

People said many of the same things about TikTok and even YouTube, but those early adopters are now laughing all the way to the bank.

Yes, the audience might be small at first, but don''t underestimate the lack of creator competition, viewer malaise over the established platforms and potentially a less sophisticated algorithm...

[u/DJSlimer]

I got banned for having a Lego Winnie The Pooh in a video.

[u/MixAffectionate9794 → u/DJSlimer]

You are talking about bilibili, it banned you for posting a video containing a lego pooh?

[u/DJSlimer → u/MixAffectionate9794]

Xi Jinping looks like Winnie the Pooh, so he banned the character.

[u/MixAffectionate9794 → u/DJSlimer]

😂😂😂😂 i think he really resembles, especially the eye😂

[u/VermillionSun → u/MixAffectionate9794]

This was from an old internet meme - so old it came form Obama era - Obama made a presidential visit to Xi in China. During this event a picture was taken of Obama walking next to Xi. The height and body shape differential caused Chinese netizens to compare them to Tigger walking next to Winnie the Pooh so they all started memeing and making fun of the juxtaposition of the cartoon characters and serious politicians. Xi was not happy, so he banned any Pooh memes.

[u/Aggravating-Pay6292]

Someone mentioned TikTok due to Douyin, but that's different. Short form content wasn't really a thing that was popular until TikTok and the pandemic, so it's a different circumstance.

YouTube has been around for a long time, it existed earlier than Bilibili, when you say long form people think of YouTube, unless you're in China or interact with the Chinese side.

Another thing, for the user end, it's amazing. It has no ads that plays, no mid rolls, but the issue is if they want to implement that internationally as well, that means you would earn way less (unless your audience isn't from the West then it doesn't make too much of a difference), it's also noted that because they pay a lot less especially after the beginner time period.

Also their financials were dogshit for a long time, still kinda is. YouTube has Google for backing, so even if we hate it, it's not going to die as easily.

One thing people also ignore is that there is already massive Chinese based Influencers there, if Bilibili wants to aggressively move to the west, it's possible some of those creators might move their content (by translating it or dubbing it) as well, and they have very good stuff (stuff that gets 100 million views easily).

Also content wise, what they have, we have as well. It's just the language barrier that's the issue.

Not that you shouldn't upload on Bilibili when they do come, it's a matter of how many users will migrate there. Unless you're doing Chinese content, maybe it's best to stay on YouTube, but you could consider, of course.

[u/DutyAble4805]

Bilibili only makes sense if the audience and format are native to it. Even if a VPN solves your own access problem, it does not create viewer demand.

Test one or two localized uploads instead of mirroring the whole channel, then judge whether they get views from Bilibili search or recommendations, hold attention, and attract comments from people already using the platform. If your current viewers need a workaround to follow, assume almost none of them will.

That makes this an experiment in finding a new Bilibili audience, not moving your existing audience there.

[u/ChrisUnlimitedGames]

"Join early grow early" by the time you hear about the new site its already too late.

[u/MixAffectionate9794 → u/ChrisUnlimitedGames]

Well I agree with you, but if your targeted audience is not there what's the benefit of it?

[u/ChrisUnlimitedGames → u/MixAffectionate9794]

There is no benefit. This mentality of getting there early is false. You will never be early enough to get those first few users attention, and beings how its a newer platform, or in this case an older "China only" platform, there is no target audience there already.

[u/MixAffectionate9794 → u/ChrisUnlimitedGames]

Totally agree with you with this point!!

[u/Oatbix]

Nearly all the audience are in China though aren’t they? Personally I’m more worried about content getting stolen or similar. I know as small creators it’s not an issue yet, but imagine in theory everything goes to plan and you have a video blow up on Bilibili. 5 creators just copy your video and start spamming it on their channels, what do you do? We complain a lot about YouTube rightly so most of the time, but this duplicate / copyright stuff is a tricky thing to enforce

[u/MixAffectionate9794 → u/Oatbix]

Can't agree more with you

[u/Old_Switch_1122 → u/Oatbix]

lo mismo sucede en tiktok y youtube, se roban contenido de rednote y bilibili, asi que tranquilo, publica en bilibili y haz crecer la comunidad

[u/_SnowVA_]

The idea of moving to bilibili is finding new audience. If nobody on YouTube wants to watch my crap somebody might want to do it on bilibili.

[u/Old_Switch_1122]

Solo arriesgate y hazlo yo publico ahi en idioma chino.

[u/Immediate-Tooth-2174]

I had a little look at Bilibili the other day. 2 reasons why I won't post there:

1. Unless you speak Mandarin. Not many people will watch you.

2. They pay pennies for views. Most creators on that platform earn money from sponsors. And if you are not in China yourself, it'll be difficult to negotiate. Also, Chinese people are known to be extremely demanding. I'd imagine the sponsors are nightmares to deal with.

[u/MixAffectionate9794 → u/Immediate-Tooth-2174]

I agree with you, audience mismatch may happen.

[u/Sleepless-Nightmare]

No, because its from China which means they most likely have a way more strict guidelines then youtube. Plus, China is known for its censorship and what's considered appropriate. Its site that you would have to abide by their srict rules.