Herding Cats
The challenge is to convert socialites to Steemitians, a process which I'm learning takes finesse and patience.
You can’t just jam Steemit down peoples throats, they get concerned that you’re trying to push them into a Ponzi scheme or something. With the little information that the average person has about blockchain technology or crypto currencies in general, it’s no surprise that skepticism would arise when talking about a social website that pays you.
For me this was a no brainer. I had been in the crypto space about 6 months before I joined Steemit. I had already watched hours of YouTube videos, invested money in my favorite coins, watched it double in size, then watched it deflate to skin and bones. A lot of lesson learned about crypto, money, and investing in such a short time. I’m grateful for it all and even more grateful that it brought me to this platform.
But for those who are unfamiliar with this space, it may all seems weird and like a fad that will come and be gone the next day. I’m learning more about people as I help them make this transitions.
Too Much Information Too Quickly isn’t Helpful.
Initially I tried starting form the beginning. I wanted to explain blockchains and cryptocurrencies, and then guide their new knowledge to Steemit. Not the best idea.
This is like trying to explain TV to a caveman. Not saying anyone is slow, but if you haven’t heard of any of this stuff then it takes time for the information to sink in. Nobody heard about Bitcoin and jumped right in. We all took out time to first investigate.
It's Social Media That Pays
I find its best to give the attractive basics first and wait for them to ask questions. If they don’t ask questions they’re not interested yet and probably won’t be until four or five more people randomly tell them about it. That’s how it usually happens. Your sitting their doing whatever and you hear another person taking about this, “Steemit thing”.
So for now I just tell them they should follow me on a social media site that pays me to keep making good music. Usually they’ll just agree with a few questions like, “do they have an app” or, “can you post about anything?" Most people who know me are use to me guiding them to some new platform where my music will be. To be quite honest they’re probably sick of it by now.