A CHALLENGE FROM @papa-pepper FOR THE WHALES OF STEEMIT
In a respectful manner, I will attempt to offer up a small challenge to the whales of steemit.
For the record, I am not entitled to anything, and I do not envy your position. The job of a whale is demanding and full of a lot of unnecessary hassles, or at least that’s my view based upon what I’ve seen in my months here.
I offer this up as just some food for thought, and thank you all for your time.
In a recent post from @berniesanders about promoted posts he mentioned:
After taking some advice from @smooth, I will be regularly voting on promoted posts moving forward and promoting posts I find worthwhile.
Burn those SBD!
In his reply to that post, @smooth wrote:
Bravo berniesanders!
There is value in how the promoted feature burns some SBD of course, but I also find that the Promoted page is a good way to find quality posts (that doesn't mean I agree with all of them especially some of the conspiracy theory posts, but they are at least posts that people some real put effort into writing, decent photography, etc.). Most people won't spend money to promote junk posts, so it serves as a decent filter for removing a lot of the spammy garbage that you have to wade through on New, etc.
If more people were aware of this aspect of it, the page would have more visibility and spending money on promotion would make even more sense.
From my perspective, I have a few thoughts.
Many of us work our tails off every day attempting to create great content, but far fewer use the promotion option. Until I saw the previously mentioned post from @berniesanders, I hadn’t really used it.
From the author’s point of view, we generally promote posts that we want to get more visibility whether it’s just to try to get a greater payout from a post or to raise community awareness about a specific topic or opportunity. As @smooth said, “Most people won't spend money to promote junk posts,” so it’s a great way for whales to check out some solid posts they may not normally see without having to sort through a lot of garbage.
Sending SBD to null certainly has a benefit as well.
Without whale votes, most posts will not get much attention. The higher the payout, the greater the visibility.
For these reasons, I challenge the whales and all steemians to at least attempt to check out the promoted page on a regular basis.
It’s a great way to support others who are really investing in steemit.
Without having promoted posts get votes and payouts, no one will use that feature, but, as @smooth already said, “If more people were aware of this aspect of it, the page would have more visibility and spending money on promotion would make even more sense.”
I know that some may see encouraging whales to upvote promoted posts as an attempt to turn the promoted feature into a form of vote-buying, but the personal preference of the whales still comes into play, and just like with posting, it’ll always be a gamble of time and effort, and even SBD.
For the "non-whales" out there:
What are your thoughts on promoting posts?
Are you more likely to promote posts after reading what @berniesanders posted?
Thanks everyone, and full steem ahead!
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Well, not sure if it is worth burning money to promote a post, being in a way it takes way to long and to much effort to gain the little I can with lower payment. I like the idea but it would in my opinion be better if the whales would actually find new authors, or look for people who do not have a large following and are still making good posts. There are lots of great authors that do not make much here.
Yeah, many believe that there are not enough whales to go around.
I just try to remember that whales are people too, and they can't please everyone.
Some days it seems that no matter what they fo, it's wrong in someone's eyes.
Just hang in there and keep doing what you do, you're on the right road!
Thank you, I am close to breaking the top 3k by value, so I know I'm heading the direction I want to go. Seems hard still to get others involved, but you seem like your doing great at it. Guess I shall just keep working on it!
Just keep working on it - that's the way!
Hmmm, well that's sort of a bummer for folks like myself. I have only tried promoting one of my posts and it didn't seem to really help at all but I felt like my money is better spent promoting other peoples posts who don't seem to be getting noticed at all.
To me, creating quality content should be enough. It is a little irritating to see really good posts that people have spent an obvious effort on get below a buck when other posts that are made by people with high reps but contain one or two lines make $30 and $40 bucks because everyone dog piles the upvotes knowing there will be popularity. The more I look at things and read peoples content the more I'm seeing the skewed system.
This post should irk a lot of folks...shouldn't working hard to provide content be enough to get rewarded? We have to pay to promote the posts too? Exactly where does it go when you send money to null? Feels a bit pyramid schemish all of the sudden. Please, tell me I'm wrong.
I felt like that for a long time too, and have seen similar things with votes and posts. That's why I never used to promote and am now trying to encourage people to at least look at what posts are being promoted. If authors work hard, it should be enough, but we know that not everyone can get noticed or get paid well. Of course, at least getting paid for our posts is an option here. When authors not only invest time and effort in posts, but their hard hard earned $$$ into it as well, I think it would nice for people to at least take a moment to check the promoted page to see if there is anything that they like.
Working hard to provide content "should" be enough to get noticed, but things take time. Again, this is the only platform that has ever paid me for my content, so for that I am most grateful.
Also, when SBD is used to promote posts and is transferred to null, it is basically burned and gets eliminated from existence.
I thought that the whole idea of promoting posts was strange when they came up with it, but people use it.
If you noticed, my 100% upvote just rewarded your comment 1 cent.
By itself, my full power upvote has never been worth more than that. Lots of us here wish we could reward others more, but lack the capital to invest in the platform to raise our Steem power. That's why I often run contests and give away steem, plus I sometimes give out "WILDCARDS" on posts and comments and reward people out of my own pocket for their effort. I've even anonymously promoted others posts too.
My recommendation would be to keep it up, and try to remain optimistic.
There may not be any guarantees on steemit, but there is possibility!
I think it's still such a young platform, still in beta, and they are still working the kinks out, that it does warrant sticking it out and staying positive. I am still trying to learn the ins and outs of everything myself. I would love to see it do well just for the sake of the creativity that I've seen. I hope that the rewards system can get worked out a little better to where there are no questions of fairness and it doesn't seem shady to newcomers. When you really step back and look at what people contribute from all over the world it's astonishing and it makes me feel like I'm a part of a real grassroots community.
Let's hope 2017 brings good things for Steemit and all of the Steemians!! Happy New Year!!
Well said @alohaoy!
Happy New Year!
I like your post sir. I have done something similar HERE if anybody is interested. I can take that advice as well about the promoted posts.
I will check that out, and follow you...
Happy New Year @keithwillshine!
Happy New Year @papa-peppa . I hope you have a year to look forward to.
Me too, thanks! 😎
I've not tried the Promote button. Given the amount that my posts currently make, I'd be paying to post content. That sounds a little counter-intuitive.
But what the hell, anything is worth a try. So I tell ya what I'll do...
@dragosroua is running a 30 day writing challenge starting tomorrow - you have to submit one post every day to the challenge. So I'll promote each post each day (as long as I have the funds to do it) and see how it turns out.
My posts will be awesome by the way. So make sure you check them out hehehe.
Thanks for tipping me off on that @dragosroua challenge!
I saw the post about promoting posts and for the last couple of weeks I've been doing that on the latest of my stories I've put up on steemit and also checking out posts there and voting on ones I like. I did this because I understood it would help the decrease supply and so help everyone so it was my little bit to help. So about 50 SBD later I think it's still a good idea to do.
As for paying for votes, I often got a whale vote before I promoted the story so I'd say I payed in thanks for votes.
Sice I saw that post, I've spent about $60 SBD (more or less) promoting posts. Some got paid better because of it, others did not get noticed at all.
Before that post, I would never really look at the promoted page, though now I try to look more often.
Happy New Year @alienbutt!
Hoping the new year brings you all you want.
That's certainly on my to-do list!
Thinking about this, I would have changed my 'actions' today. I helped 'Fund' a Good Will Project, started by @codydeeds. (Yesterday) I sent today $5 Steem Dollars to him, because as I "promised" I would send him a 5-er' toward the project. He mentioned trying to raise funds through posting, perhaps I could have done better by "funding" the SD in promoting his post. Living and learning here on Steem. Still 'love' this platform!
Ok... so forgive my ignorance @hexdek16 :) but how do you give someone steem - and what's the difference in funding by promoting? (After you live and learn.... you can live and teach me! hehehe)
Giving "Steem" I transfer a 'set' amount (at the time) based on valuation. SD is pegged to the 'US' Dollar, and can be "Burned" in promotions. Steem, to @codydeeds can be "carried", if he uses the SD to "Promote", they get 'Used'. Not transferred.
ahhhhhhh. hmmmmm. well that created more questions than answers hahahaha That's what I get for asking too many questions! LOL (thank you for replying!!!) :) (happy new year!!!)
That could have been a good idea... the world will never know!
Oh but it might, I challenged him to write a 'new' update post and use the $5 SD I sent him to promote it. If it does not pay out, I promised to 2X my original funding of $5 SD to sending him $10 SD. Sometimes good ideas, get a second go around. ;)
That is great incentive!
...but I always remember, this is how I "Started". (Keeps me Humble) - Then again, what a 'Blast' those times were! Would not trade them for the world! (lol)
Nice! You've got to do what you've got to do!
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year @thecryptofiend!
May it be full of marvellous blessings for you!
Thank you same to you mate:)
;-)
Honestly I didn't even know that posts could be "promoted"I did this twice, after my Steemit Guru @ballinconscious helped me ^.^
I feel like we should all support what we like. I get inspired a lot here and that's what I appreciate the most in this community.
I will promote more posts (I actually mean to but keep on forgetting to do so LOL)
hi @danilamarilu :) how do you promote a post? (I'm asking a billion questions on here - hoping that I'll start to get the hang of this site soon! hehehe) Thanks!
@dreemsteem after you submit your story, you should be able to find a button that says "promote" at the bottom right corner of your post. Posts are promoted by using a percentage of your SBD.
Hope it helps!
Thank you @danilamarilu!!! I did try but since I'm need I don't have enough SBD to make the transaction happen yet. I'll wait til I get some and then try it out- thanks for your guidance! :)
At least you have Ballin to help!
yes, otherwise Steemit would be so hard for me!
I got a lot of help from @noganoo when I got started... A lot!
@papa-pepper
Challenge accepted a long time ago.
The whales also said we should actually let our SBDs go so we won't have to print more SBDs, we should stop hoarding 'em - tomorrow I shall :)
Happy New Year!!!
Happy New Year @englishtchrivy!
I wish there was a page that explained EVERYTHING. hahaha
I don't really understand much of it. at all. All I know is - I like to write. :)
But it seems like you have to know someone.... or a lot of someones haha to get any momentum. How does someone who is just starting out make a name for themselves? Just hope that enough people catch your story that you start to create a following?
Is it a numbers game? The more you write, the more people notice you (regardless of your content)
I've read a few posts on steem, steem dollars, steem power..... I am more confused after reading them, than before! :)
Who knows the best "tutorial" out there for newbies?
oh... and if anyone would LIKE to read my first entry... please do :)
https://steemit.com/fantasy/@dreemsteem/fireflies-chapter-1
(um - i hope that's allowed.. and if not - i'm sorry! forgive me - I'm new! LOL)
Basically, produce the best content you can, Interact frequently and respectfully, and stay positive. That is what I did... and eventually, it worked for me.
Also, many don't like people dropping links in replies on their posts, but I do not mind.
I will check it out and follow you.
HAPPY NEW YEAR @dreemsteem!
Oh!!!! sorry! thank you for the counsel - I will be sure to NOT drop links in the future :) and thanks for checking it out! i hope you enjoy it :)
(and I LITERALLY CRACKED UP at the picture!)
happy new year!!! LOL
goodbye dear squirrel. I barely knew ye!
Yeah, the same thing happened to the chipmunk... rest in pieces...
...If only hand grenades came with warnings.
and if they did
... if only animals could read.
LOL!
and by the way... it wouldn't let me even attempt to promote my story - cuz i don't think i have enough money? or it looks like i have something in there... but like i said - I'm not really sure about the value of one vs. the other. and how I can actually buy/sell/give/hoard/ bathe myself in it like a greedy steemillionaire. LOL so - anyone know... how does one actually do this? (screenshots with instructions would be ever-so-lover-ly) ;)
Tags are very important. Use 4 tags instead of 5 because there is a bug in the system.... bla bla, so only use 4. Choose your tags wisely. When you see the main page on steemit you will see the most popular tags on the right. According on what you write, choose 4 tags and post.
Promote your post on steemitchat.com (you will need a different account, use the same username as the one u use on steemit, so users know who you are). Add yourself to all the groups you find interesting & promote your posts on the chats ( follow the rules of each chat room) Promoting on the chat rooms is free and will get your post out there.
Follow people and steem on!!!