Let’s start with some numbers.

On Xiaohongshu, posts related to "manga-style avatars" have accumulated over 1 billion likes. On Xianyu, daily searches for "custom avatar" exceed 50,000. 87% of young users are willing to pay for a personalized avatar.

The demand has always been there. Previously, custom avatars required waiting in line for artists, costing hundreds of yuan. Now, with AI, one can generate an image in just 10 seconds using a single computer—everything has changed.

Who’s Making Money Here

Searching “AI avatar customization” on Xiaohongshu reveals two types of accounts.

One group consists of side hustles: college students, stay-at-home parents, and white-collar workers who spend 1–2 hours daily taking orders. Unit prices range from ¥19.9 to ¥69, with couples’ packs starting at ¥129. Experienced operators earn a stable monthly income between ¥4,000 and ¥8,000.

The other group comprises studios: small teams running multiple accounts in a coordinated matrix, standardizing the output workflow, generating monthly revenue of ¥30,000 to ¥50,000.

The real difference lies not in skill level but in customer acquisition and operational efficiency. AI has flattened the technical barrier—what remains is who can better drive traffic.

How It’s Done: Four Steps

Step 1: Choose Tools. Beginners can use Sohu Simple AI—upload a photo, get a K-manga style avatar in 10 seconds, no parameter tuning needed. For advanced users, Midjourney supports diverse styles like POP MART aesthetic, Studio Ghibli, and cyberpunk.

Step 2: Build a Portfolio. Before taking orders, generate 30–50 sample images using your own and friends’ photos—more than 10 each for solo, couple, and pet variants—to create a case library.

Step 3: Expand Channels. Xiaohongshu is the primary platform. Use cover images showing side-by-side comparisons of original vs. AI-generated avatars. Titles like “Custom K-manga Couple Avatar for ¥99 — My Friends Keep Asking Where I Got It” work well. End with a call-to-action to DM.

Post two “free avatar giveaways” weekly. Reward three random winners when likes surpass 100. Encourage followers to add WeChat in comments—real-world testing shows this generates 50–100 new private community members per giveaway.

Xianyu is the secondary channel. Optimize titles with keywords like “AI K-manga avatar customization,” “couples & pets,” “24-hour delivery,” and “revision support.” Use low pricing for new users: ¥19.9 for singles, ¥39.9 for couples. After accumulating 20 positive reviews, increase prices to ¥29.9–¥59.9.

Step 4: Increase Average Order Value. The base package at ¥19.9 is purely for lead generation. Profit comes from add-ons: background enhancement (+¥20), phone wallpaper (+¥30), bundled couple pack (+¥129). Launch limited-edition designs around holidays—e.g., Valentine’s Day exclusive or Mid-Autumn Festival traditional family portraits—pricing can be marked up by 20%.

Potential Earnings

Conservative estimate: 5 orders per day, average order value ¥30 → monthly income ¥4,500, requiring only 1–2 hours daily.

Scaling up: raise average order value to ¥50, handle 10 orders daily → monthly income ¥15,000. This requires consistent traffic and reputation building—but it’s realistic.

Must-Know Pitfalls

First, homogenization. The K-manga style has low entry barriers—everyone is doing it. To justify higher prices, differentiate through niche aesthetics: Chinese ink painting, cyberpunk, or classical portrait photography.

Second, platform throttling. Xiaohongshu suppresses content mentioning “taking orders”—avoid direct calls to “add WeChat.” Use alternatives like “DM me” or “message via backstage” instead.

Third, refund disputes. AI-generated outputs aren’t always perfect. Pre-clarify “one free revision” to reduce negative feedback.

Fourth, it’s not passive income. Managing client requests, iterative edits, and chasing payments consume more time than expected.

Want to Try?

Start by generating 30 AI avatars using your own photo. Post one Xiaohongshu update and check performance metrics. If people ask about pricing, you’re ready to go.

No need to pay for courses.

No need to buy expensive tools.

Just one computer and 10 minutes to learn an AI tool—then post one note to test the waters.

Monetization starts with validating the smallest viable loop.

Disclaimer: The above is based on personal observation and sharing, not investment or business advice.