WHAT IT COST AN AVERAGE NIGERIAN TO BE ACTIVE ON STEEMIT
I joined steemit since February this year, but started blogging on the 16th of March. I began my Steemit adventure when I had no single penny on me. It doesn't mean I was jobless, but I was making very little from my efforts. I'm a crafts-person. I make beads. Since the economic recession in the country, making a comfortable living from that alone was extremely difficult. For the past 16 months, life has become very frustrating for so many Nigerians. Being able to provide basic life necessities is a challenge for the masses. In the quest for survival, then came the "Almighty MMM".
My beautiful bead
MMM is a HYIP (High Yield Investment Program) scheme. It was established by Sergei Mavrodi, a Russian. It is a well packaged scam. So many Nigerians were victims of the MMM scam. I was also a victim, not because I don't understand how HYIPs work, but because in very hard times, the struggle for survival makes people do weird things. I lost the little money I had to schemes like MMM. Then someone introduced me to Steemit.
Another beautiful design
An anonymous facebook friend introduced me to Steemit. He said I could earn $20 a day on steemit. I leaped for joy on hearing that, but when he said they'll pay me with cryptocurrency, I became sceptical about it. The reason I was initially sceptical about it was because MMM and its cohorts have given cryptocurrency a bad name in Nigeria. They were the ones that first introduced cryptos to us. Since they turned out to defraud people of their hard earned money, so many people don't want to here anything about cryptocurrency. When I told my sister about Steemit, she said "this is another well packaged MMM". She said, after wasting my time here, I'm not going to be paid. I'm glad Steemit has turned out to be the exact opposite of MMM. Steemit is putting smiles on the faces of so many Nigerians.
Since I joined steemit, my ever radiant face is glowing more and more.
What it cost me to stay active here
It cost me courage to join steemit when everyone around me was against it.
It cost me sacrifices to have enough money to always purchase data for my internet connection. Staying connected to the internet is not a very cheap thing for most Nigerians. To purchase One gigabyte worth of data, it will costs you approximately $3. More than 50% of Nigerians are living below $3 a day.
Electricity supply is a major problem here. 10 hrs a day electricity supply is not guaranteed. For some people to power on their computers for a long period, it takes using a generator set or solar energy.
For an average Nigerian to stay active online, it takes a lot of sacrifices.
A shout-out to all the Nigerians and others from Third World countries who defiled all odds to come on board and remain active here.
If you ain't on Steemit, you haven't experienced the power and wealth of social network.
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Steem On!!!
The story is almost the same as my friend, I was also told by my friend to join steemit because every post we are appreciated. I almost do not believe it but I try it, it really is true steemit appreciate our work. I was glad. How are you, friend?
Yes, steemit presented what is uncommon that's why people hardly believe it. Thanks for your comment here @berkat.
Both friends, we must support each other here.
@ogowinner thats the truth, being online in this part of the world is really difficult with exorbitant data subscription and epileptic power supply. I'm just about 2 weeks old on steemit and I've spent over 3000 Naira on subscription let alone the stress of constantly powering my gadget. Sometimes i just feel stressed out but seeing notable steemians like you has been a source of inspiration to me.
@harbysco, thanks for reading this. I encourage you not to give up. Join the African community on steemit chat, that will help.
Welcome on board.
Thanks @ogowinner. I have joined the African community on discord(PAL to be precise)
I mean the one on steemit chat. Register there, I'll mention you in the channel.
Incredible post my fellow Nigerian...you had say it all...... the hardships of data, precisely power failure it's really took us good couraged to be active here... I will be a bad Nigerian without Me UPVOTE this .. Thank for this great post.
Thanks so much for confirming this story @davidad.
true post
I see people complaining about steemit not making the money they want it to. It is so refreshing to see someone like you who has real struggles making this work. We should appreciate anything that moves us forward and see it as a long term investment rather than a scheme to get rich. I am genuinely excited for you and hope this takes you farther than you ever imagined! I have upvoted and resteemed it to help as much as i can.
Thanks so so much for this feedback @goatgarden. There were times when I spent more I earned on steemit. My posts hardly got up to $1 then, but I never gave up. I'm so glad today that steemit is rewriting the story of my life.
@goatgarden, i am also new in steemit...can you help me out?how can i earn through steam it? I am following you !!
I am still fairly new myself, but here is what i am learning. Posting quality posts often is important. This is difficult for me because of my schedule but i do what i can. More importantly, get into the community. Leave sincere replies and get into conversations with people. Also, join the chats, especially the minnowsupport on discord. Get to know people and this will gain followers. Gaining followers gets upvotes. Don't focus on money, focus on people and community. Success will follow. Follow @aggroed and @gmuxx. They will lead you to a great steemit experience.
thanks a lot @goatgarden....how do i join chats? could you guide me through?
For steemit chat, click on the 3 bars at the upper right corner of your page. There is a link near the bottom of the drop down menu. For the minnowsupport project you have to use discord. It is an app you download to your phone. On a standard computer in not sure. I'll see if i can find an invite link to get you in the group. I'm a little low-tech so it may take some searching :-)
https://steemit.com/guide/@a4illusionist/how-to-register-for-discord-complete-guide
Click on this link. It should be all you need to get there.
@ogoowinner,
I had no idea it was so difficult that sometimes solar generators were used for computers. It makes sense but I am spoiled by my centralized utilities.
I have had the same objections when I tell people about Steemit. They think it sounds like some sort of scam, because admittedly, it promises to do pretty amazing things.
Is it possible to buy any of your beadwork (I am assuming the pictures are both yours) via Steemit? Also, can it be shipped to the US?
Ps - I gave you a full upvote & resteem, but unfortunately it'll only get you about a gig of data at the current price =/
@lexiconical, thanks so much for the Upvote and resteem. You're one of the reasons I can't leave steemit. I appreciate your regular feedback on my posts.
Yes those pictures are mine. It's possible to buy through steemit. I'll be glad to pm you on this. Are you on steemit.chat?
I'm usually not logged in there. I'll have to get back to you on this in the future - few things came up this week!
Ok. Thanks @lexiconical.
Lol... The data part got me... For a month, you could expend $6 just for a month... It may not be up to a month in some cases..
The amount of fuel generators consumes is abysmal...
Steemit has changed lives Mehn....
Lol! Which network? Cos I spend more than 6,000 every month for mtn data.
Thanks for reading and commenting @dean-mno.
I use gloves which issomewhat cheaper.. At random, I could expend 4k or 5k on data per month with measures OOO @ogoowinner
Glo is very unreliable here. Too slow.
I was so lucky to join Steemit at the start of the year and when everyone was complaining of recession, I was like "what tf is that?". I almost looked insensitive to people's plight but it wasn't totally my fault.
Steemit kickstarted what has been an amazing 2017!
@fisteganos, same thing is happening to me now, I'm no longer feeling the terrible waves of the recession. Thanks for reading and leaving a comment here bro.
naija, the hustle is real. The challenges are several and the overcomers are my heros. Data, Power all join but dem no reach to scatter ya show!
nice one, Lady
My brother I almost gave up, but today, I'm glad I didn't. Thanks for this comment here @kolex.
my sista tell dem...internet is not a small somtin
#GBAM
Yeah, I've heard people who complained that they spend too much to be here, then earn nothing. Thanks for reading @purplerabbit.
Wow how do people live on $3 a day? That's crazy to think.
The thing is, you would be losing nothing even if crypto currencies went bad.. Because compared to Facebook, where you got nothing, this is in every way a ton better experience :)
Interesting post. Talk soon. I will give you a follow!
Being on facebook and being active on steemit are not the same thing. You come on facebook when you want, but you must be very active and committed to make anything on steemit. It takes staying longer online. Beside steemit consumes more data.
Thanks for your here @enazwahsdarb.
My pleasure :)
True, but I am just thinking about how much time some people spend on Facebook anyways.. Just wasting time away. If you think about it like that, that if they just spent that time on Steemit, they could potentially make a decent money if they do it properly.
Talk soon.