Cheat day

First advertisement

After washing my face and returning, the people who had just come out of the Kukku restaurant opened the office door.

One person looks to be in their mid-40s, and the other seems to be around my age.

The assistant manager, Kim Yong-woo, who I first contacted, seems like a young person.

“How did you come here?”

The aged kimchi stepped forward to greet the visitors.

Hello. I am Park Seok-ho, the head of the marketing team at CookCook. I visited Mr. Banchan from the side dish store regarding the advertising contract.

Mugunji slightly bowed his head and greeted.

“I am Muk Eun-ji, the PD of the side dish store.” Nice to meet you.

With a delighted heart, I opened the door and stepped out.

Park Seok-ho, who had made eye contact with Kim Yong-woo and was about to greet him, was interrupted by Muk-ji.

“I will inform the CEO.” “Please sit down and wait for a moment.”

I naturally tried to greet and approach, but the situation became awkward.

Mugunji turned around to look at me and casually informed me that Kukku had visited.

“CEO, Mr. Park Seok-ho and Mr. Kim Yong-woo from Cookook have visited.”

“아. Thank you.

I awkwardly smiled and approached the two people.

Hello.

Park Seok-ho, like Muk-jin did, slightly bowed his head and greeted.

“Nice to meet you for the first time, CEO.” I am Park Seok-ho, the head of the marketing team at CookCook.

When Park Seokho took out his business card and handed it to me, Kim Yongwoo also acted in unison.

We could have greeted each other comfortably.

It’s a bit embarrassing to be called the representative in a company with just two people, but I think I understand why Muk-ji went through the trouble of introducing and reporting me as the representative.

The word Park Seokho uses to refer to me has changed from “Mr. Side Dish” to “CEO.”

Mukeunji made it clear that, regardless of how small the company was, he was indeed the representative of an organization, and Park Seokho understood that intention.

As expected, reliable.

Thank you for coming such a long way. Did you have any trouble getting here?

He asked, alternating between Park Seok-ho and Kim Yong-woo.

“Not at all.” The location was good, wasn’t it?

“The monthly rent is quite something.”

“Haha.”

Since both we and Cooky are busy, we went straight to the main point.

How was our product?

“Definitely different.” “When I ate rice cooked in a regular rice cooker, there was a difference in blood sugar levels, and I have already made a video about it.”

Ah. “Could I possibly see it?”

“Of course.” PD-nim.

When given the signal, Muk Eun-ji turned the tablet towards Park Seok-ho and Kim Yong-woo and played the video.

Team Leader Park Seok-ho didn’t blink once while watching the 11-minute video, and Deputy Kim Yong-woo took some notes.

As the video ended, Mukbang began to explain.

I followed the guidelines received through Manager Kim Yong-woo to create it. I placed the content about why the low-carb rice cooker, which you said was the most important, is needed at the beginning of the video. The following content focused on comparing the blood sugar rise between rice cooked with CookCook’s CR1 and rice cooked with a regular rice cooker.

We have communicated sufficiently about how we want Cookook to advertise.

I concluded that there wouldn’t be any major issues since we coordinated our opinions, filmed the video, and finished editing it.

Team Leader Park Seok-ho and Deputy Kim Yong-woo also nodded.

“Even the final scene where the product is being illuminated.” That’s nice. How’s Kim Dae-ri?

“Alright.” 음. It would be nice if the review of the rice taste were a bit more detailed.

Team Leader Park Seokho nodded in agreement with Deputy Kim Yongwoo’s opinion.

“Our CR1 has better rice quality compared to other companies.” I would like you to emphasize that point a bit more.

“It’s difficult to insert the information that it’s tastier because we haven’t tried other companies’ products.”

In the midst of pondering how to decline, Mukbang stepped forward.

“However, I will add that the rice cooked with CR1 is delicious.”

“Hmm.”

As Team Leader Park Seok-ho seemed to be troubled, Deputy Kim Yong-woo stepped forward.

“If you’re having trouble comparing with other products, how about using the materials we provide?” If we proceed by concealing the company name, it shouldn’t be a significant burden for the side dish store either.

“The CEO has only dealt with verified matters.” The reason we haven’t run any ads until now is also because of that. If you wish to proceed in that manner, you must specify that the materials were provided by Cookook.

It’s the best we can do.

He said he would handle the meeting himself, and indeed, he had every reason to be so confident.

Welcoming people, introducing the video, and coordinating the commentary—there’s really no need for me to step in.

“Let’s proceed with that part as is.”

Team Leader Park Seok-ho took a step back.

The reason the advertiser is going to such lengths is likely twofold, one being the recent advertising trends.

No one believes a company just because it is promoting its own products.

Rather, the more a third party transparently presents the advantages and disadvantages, the more trust they gain.

It’s no longer effective to just hide the flaws and highlight the strengths like before; we live in an era where it’s acceptable to acknowledge the flaws but still argue that the strengths make it worth buying.

Another one is the advertising effect.

Currently, the side dish store is a large channel with an average view count of 300,000.

There are also major YouTubers like Jichan, Baek Woojin, and Joo Ji-seung involved, so from Cookook’s perspective, they would definitely want to proceed with the advertisement.

Just as expected.

Team Leader Park Seok-ho brought up the topic of the lunchbox business.

Let’s wrap up the video with this. I heard that you run a lunchbox business.

Yes. I thought it would be nice to introduce rice cooked with CR1 in a lunchbox as a healthy meal. It’s product placement.

Team Leader Park Seok-ho clasped his hands and leaned his upper body forward.

“If you say you’re not interested, that’s a lie.” “We are also viewing it positively in internal meetings.”

However?

“I would like to suggest an active approach instead of PPL.” When you’re marketing, you should put our product front and center.

“I need to be clear on what you are looking for in order to provide an answer.”

“For example, it feels like a low-interest bento made with CR1.”

After a moment of contemplation, Team Leader Park Seok-ho signaled Deputy Kim Yong-woo with a glance.

Deputy Manager Kim Yong-woo took out the contract and continued to persuade.

“3 million won for the CR1 review advertisement.” “When proceeding with the lunchbox advertisement, we propose a separate contract for 100 million won.”

I doubted my ears for a moment.

While preparing for today’s meeting, I heard about the advertising rates from Mukunji.

There are various categories like beauty, gaming, and food, and since the viewing age, number of views, and number of subscribers vary greatly, standards were needed.

There was an advertising rate table created by a large MCN like Hongdangmu in the management.

Based on Hongdangmu’s internal standards, I could have demanded around 20 million won for a single product review video.

I was aware that the rates for YouTubers who are not affiliated with MCNs are usually lower than that.

So, I had set today’s negotiation target at around 15 million won, but they are offering double that.

On top of that, they say they’ll give an extra 100 million won for running the lunchbox business advertisement, and I feel like I’ve been hit on the head.

“……It will be difficult.”

I didn’t know it would be this hard to say a word.

“CEO.”

Deputy Kim Yong-woo preempted the situation by stepping up.

“I know it’s really a good deal.” But the lunchbox is not just my own responsibility.

Joo Ji-seung, Cha Ji-chan, and Baek Woo-jin are together.

Perhaps that’s why Cookook also offered an amount that would be hard to refuse.

“We talked a lot before having this meeting.” Even if we run the lunchbox business, let’s do it for just one month.

“Ah.”

The faces of Team Leader Park Seok-ho and Deputy Kim Yong-woo were marked with regret.

“It’s still a business, but it’s a kind of tribute event to benefit our subscribers.” I want to minimize any elements that could potentially cause misunderstandings.

Team Leader Park Seok-ho and Deputy Kim Yong-woo exchanged glances, then asked if they could discuss it briefly and were readily accepted.

After confirming that the two people had left the office, he sighed, and Mukji lowered his voice to speak.

“CEO, a full-page ad would cause less misunderstanding.”

“Yes?”

PPL is essentially product placement. “If you’re going to introduce it as rice that makes you gain less weight anyway because you’re using a low-sugar rice cooker, it would be better to get support from the company and use that money to sell higher quality lunch boxes at a lower price.”

“…….”

Now that you mention it, that’s true.

YouTube has been popularized for a long time. Several creators have been talking about how their ads are being handled. “Along the way, there was also a controversy over hidden advertisements, and it clearly revealed how YouTube users perceive ads.”

I nodded, thinking I would keep listening.

They hope that the YouTubers they subscribe to will do ads. There are also people who worry about the financial situation of those who run things without a single advertisement, like you. The behavior that users despise is hiding the fact that it is an advertisement. If it is conducted fairly and transparently, I will gladly accept it. “I hope the channel I like continues to exist, and I know that additional measures are needed for that.”

As the aged kimchi says.

Even on my channel, do your homework a bit.

There are quite a few people who say to earn money like that and hire staff to extend the broadcast time.

There are posts jokingly asking not to worry about health and to focus on the video, but that’s not the real intention.

“Then.”

It’s difficult to proceed as requested by Cooky. If that happens, Cookooki will be no different from a lunchbox store. The good intentions of you and your friends are being overshadowed.

“What do you think is the best way to do it?”

In the promotion, include information about CR1, but it should be introduced as one of the various dishes. The lunchbox you made, CEO, isn’t just a cheap microwavable meal, is it?

“Hehe.” That’s right. It’s not just about selling rice.

“If you persuade Cookoo on that point and proceed, both your friends will be satisfied and the original intent of the business will be maintained.” It’s a bonus that we can invest a bit more in advertising costs to improve quality.

“I guess so.”

Could I feel this secure?

Every single word made sense, and I ended up taking the money I could have given up.

“And.”

“Yes.”

The advertising unit price is much higher than our predictions. It seems that they are viewed as a group that includes Jimkkun, Ujini, Banyasikgyeong, and Banchangage.

I think so too. It’s not wrong since we’re doing it together.

Just as Muk Eun-ji was about to say something, Team Leader Park Seok-ho and Deputy Kim Yong-woo entered the office.

“Have you had a chance to talk?”

The aged kimchi has emerged.

Yes. You said the full-page ad is burdensome.

I will correct that part. Just now, the CEO changed his mind.

The aged kimchi looked at me.

Park Seok-ho and Kim Yong-woo are looking at me, and it feels like I need to say something.

It seems that Muk-ji decided it would be better to appear as if I changed my own mind rather than giving the impression that the representative changed their opinion through his persuasion.

“Thinking about it, if I’m going to introduce a lunchbox with low-carb rice anyway, I don’t think I can leave out the CR1 content.”

Team Leader Park Seok-ho and Deputy Kim Yong-woo’s expressions brightened up a bit.

“So I was worried, but our PD gave me a great idea.” The lunchbox contains a variety of nutrients, so we can’t just emphasize the rice. However, how about stating the fact that using CR1 definitely results in lower blood sugar levels? For example, I’m going to upload a video about running a store, and I can briefly introduce it there.

“That video was also at the side dish store.”

“Packers, it will also be uploaded to the Heart Sutra.” We each have our own separate shoots.

“Then.”

The aged kimchi, which had been set aside for a while, came out.

“I would like you to re-evaluate the advertising costs.”

I was so surprised that I almost turned my head.

They offered me 100 million won, and now you’re thinking of getting more money from here.

“Then.” It might be better to have others join us as well.

“We will establish a separate business entity for the lunchbox business.” The four of you will serve as co-representatives, and the representative has been delegated by Ju Ji-seung, Cha Ji-chan, and Baek Woo-jin. You don’t need to worry about that.

Mugunji showed the power of attorney he received from the three people.

Before the meeting, I was wondering why I had to do this, but I realized that showing it in writing is more persuasive than just talking.

Team Leader Park Seok-ho nods.

I see. Then how much of an impression do you want?

It’s not just about highlighting CR1, but it’s a condition for actively promoting it.

Since Cookook seems to be very eager, I think we might be able to get an additional 10%, maybe even 20%.

“It’s 200 million won.”

I was so surprised that my mouth dropped open, but Team Leader Park Seok-ho just pursed his lips and then nodded.

“I’ll be back in a moment, I just need to take a call.”

I was surprised by the amount, which was bigger than I had imagined, but I was the only one who was left speechless at the table.