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Richmondite keeps ahead of the digital curve and shows others how

Back when COVID-19 was still an epidemic, local entrepreneur was planning for the online wave
Richmondite keeps ahead of the digital curve and shows others how _0
Photo from Getty Images.

While many local businesses were caught off guard when the pandemic hit, Victor Zhuo, a man with a knack for anticipating trends, was just hitting his stride.

Back in January, when Wuhan, China was forced to lock down, Zhuo was here in Richmond busy purchasing and testing a range of live-streaming programs and equipment. 

“I told my friends we are officially entering the digital age. It wasn’t a gut feeling. Actually, I have spent so many years working in the field, I knew it was coming,” He said. 

Zhuo is now hosting weekly Zoom webinars where he teaches Chinese-speaking small business owners how to keep pace in the new digital era. 

“Many people think making a video means opening the Zoom app, recording themselves talking and live streaming it from a YouTube Channel. But we also need to work on many other details, such as how to tell a good story to get your audiences to feel connected,” explained Zhuo. 

Zhuo, who graduated with a computer science degree, was also ahead of the curve in 1998 when he started using e-commerce to sell mooncakes in China -- a time when most people in China were just starting to learn how to use computers. 

In 2003, Zhuo immigrated to Canada with his family and began working in the international trade sector. Although he was busy with work and family life, he also developed a side gig coaching people eager to learn digital marketing.

Several years later, Zhuo and other business partners co-founded a company, Vancouver Directors Alliance, to help business owners who faced language and cultural barriers to promote themselves on various media platforms.  

“Prior to COVID-19, some people understood the importance of digital technology, but they didn’t pay much attention to it. But now it has become the center of economic development, and everyone wants to learn about the latest trends to ensure they can stay ahead of the game,” said Zhuo. 

“As large-scale events and shows won’t be taking place due to COVID-19 restrictions, there has never been a more crucial time to ensure your business is up-to-date with the latest trends and technology,” he added.