You won't understand the unabashed power of a community until you're part of one. - BraveNewTalent, Inc.
But what does it actually mean to be part of a community?
A couple of weeks back I was contacted by an agency that's organizing a blockchain conference in Berlin, Germany. They asked me if I was interested to talk about how to build a community on Steemit.
In the end they invited someone else to go on stage - none less than the former Vice President of Marketing Steemit, Inc Mitchell Loureiro @zurvanic. I guess they preferred having someone official with insights into the HQ speaking.
Obviously I would've loved to be the one, but I'm sure Mitchell will be doing great as well. Now even though I'm not going to go on stage in Berlin after all, the semi invitation made me think about my idea of community building on Steem.
Side note: Even an apparent disappointment can lead to something good in the end :-)
So here's my take on community building on Steem!
@surfermarly literally rubbing her hands with glee
What is a community?
We often tend to talk about concepts without knowing their real meaning from an etymological point of view.
I love to study words and their origin since it often helps me to understand their context.
The English-language word "community" derives from the Old French comuneté, which comes from the Latin communitas "community", "public spirit" (from Latin communis, "shared in common").
People join communities all over the world - whether online or offline - because they enjoy to interact with like-minded people. It's an important part of their own social identity, practice and role within the society they live in.
Social identity: Everybody wants to be somebody. And thinking about Steem we immediately realize what that means. Steem rewards attention - the more attention we receive, hence the more valuable our contribution to Steem in the eyes of the community, the higher the reward.
It's all about value creation in the end!
Mission Steem - The internet of value
Now one might say that creating value is a quite generic term.
Then I'd fully agree with you and even assert that this is a good thing.
We're all here on purpose. Nobody joins a community by accident, and nobody spends 25 hours per day (insider from Steemfest²) in a social network without a reason. Nobody gets emotional on virtual flag wars just because they don't have anything else to do.
Steem matters. It matters to us in many different ways.
What unites us is the common interest and that comes with many different shapes: growth, wealth, impact, attention, equality,... you name it!
The important part in 'common interest' is the word: common.
The degree of value we're able to contribute to the Steem network is measured in the positive impact on the community.
There are many ways to have a positive impact on others.
It's not all about developing a new Steem application what only few of us will ever be able to achieve in their lives.
Also you don't need to be a witness to be important.
Even asking a thought-provoking question can make a difference and keep the ball rolling, hence the Steem eco-system alive.
The social interaction is the true value of Steem.
Ask yourself what you'd like to experience in the network, and then do exactly that.
It's about give and take - and never losing track.
Building a community requires builders
As in real life so on the blockchain: there's always a couple of people who feel that they'd like to contribute a bit more than the average.
It's those people who then - naturally - grow into a leading role.
They have a general understanding of public spirit, common interest and shared values.
Community builders know how to connect people, build bridges, foster interaction and represent the group in the best interest of every individual.
Steem is built of community builders. There are uncountable sub communities already created on the Steem blockchain, led by characters, personalities, builders, believers, visionaries.
These people pull the strings of the network. Yet they wouldn't be here without their community members.
Everybody matters.
Now go out and ask yourself what you'd like to experience on Steem today - and then do exactly that.
Remember: Community means 'public spirit'.
Let's live it up!
Much love,
Marly -
PS: This blog post was created and submitted via eSteem Surfer 1.0.3 - my favorite Steem desktop client that was developed by the @esteemapp team. Give it a try following the instructions in this post and reading the update for the latest release here.
Quotes found on quotefancy.com and quotes.thefamouspeople.com
I still do not know this huge community very well, but I like the little I know. Thank you.
I like your way of thinking. We always start small, don't we...? :-)
Saludos a Venezuela - un país que aún no he visitado pero que tiene que ser increible.
I'm all about communities , as this is what I do on SteemIt! From @platforms to @dporn it's all about building communities! great post as usual.
Ha, I couldn't agree more! It's the diversity that makes it so valuable.
Thanks for your compliment :-)
Great inspirational post @surfermarley.
Resteemed
One of my favourite aspect of Steemit, as you touched upon, is that it provides a platform from which people can reach out and help others, from all over the world, more effectively.
I've seen so much honesty, positively and generosity from this community, over the last 2 years, it's blown me away!
Absolutely! It's exactly what the Steem community is about - and there lies its great potential.
Thanks for your ongoing support @benadapt. Knowing that you're a surfer and skater makes it even more appreciable, hehe :-)) surfers need to stick together
For sure. It's pretty cool that there seems to be a growing surf community on Steemit. We'll have to get some Steemit rash vests made. 😎🏄
Without the community builders and its active member, we would long ago have turned into a botnet.
Hurray to everyone who still writes, comments and votes, and not just sits on his Steem Power!
Yay! Cheers to the builders - the big and the small ones :-)
Hi Marly - I've found the circles I'm mixing in on Steemit to be full of great community members who have respect for one another and are kind. It's very refreshing and in general the Steemit communities are great for encouragement and collaboration. Thanks for the thought provoking quotes!
Nicely said, Chris! I fully agree. It's all about respect and kindness!
Thank YOU for stopping by and adding your valuable thoughts :-)
Hope you had a comfortable flight back home..
Thank you for sharing these tips with us! I'm new, I joined like 3 weeks ago and I'm really fascinated about this community and like to learn more and more.
Welcome to Steemit, @claubzs - it's great to know you on board!
If I look back on my first three weeks, then I can feel your excitement :-) Keep it up!
You never disappoint @surfermarly your post is always credible
It was just a very short moment of disappointment :-)
Thanks for your encouragement @tobiicole!!
its also about figuring out that having loads of followers isn't automatically a community...
I would rather have 5 that answer and interact with cool messages then thousands that just followed you because you wrote a post that got 100 dollar payout.
Sure! Numbers are just numbers after all :-)
Without the community makers and its active members, we have become a long time ago my friend
There will be a next time, I am sure of it.
Hopefully!
Thank you, surfer :-)
Serias muy buena organizando una sub comunidad dentro de steemit...... pero que no sea de surfistas por favor ... porque nisiquiera sé nadar, jajaja así que no podría formar parte de ella.. jajaja. Anímate!!!!
Jajaja, pues desde que elegí el nombre de la cuenta surfermarly sabía que el surf siempre iba a ser el núcleo... lo sientoooo!!! :-D
jajaja. No te preocupes, igualmente te sigo, me gustan tu publicaciones! :)
hola excelente post saludos..
Ese es el tipo de comentarios que precisamente NO aporta valor a nuestra comunidad :-) Acabo de intentar leer y comprender mi propio artículo en 1.5 minutos - así como lo hiciste tú al parecer. Es imposible.
Te recomiendo: o leer lo que comentas o no comentarlo :-)
Suerte!
Hi @surfermarly sorry for the disappointment but am pretty sure something big is coming after you ... Disappointments prepare us for the bigger things in the end. steem is a boardless world we are working towards a common goal so really everyone would love to be in such a peaceful world.Before steemit I was never addicted to the internet like this but am glad steem is changing my world. This is a really a well written article
cheers
Irene
You can read the online version of Howard Rheingold's The Virtual Community here...
http://www.rheingold.com/vc/book/
Good ideas...
Hello, I am new to this community, despite having little time I feel like family. Greetings
I really like that root: public spirit. Or passion i guess. That's really what fuels a community eh? A group Passion for and idea (or set of ideas/ideals).
Too Bad you didn't get to speak at the event.. You'll always be welcome to speak at The SteemBirds Crypto-Babe Summit ;)
Hey Jay!! I'm glad you agreed on the passion thing :-)
I really believe it's THE common denominator and the no. 1 driver towards the success of Steem.
Haha! When and where? I'd love to be part of it!! :-)
For sure, the Steem community is distinctive among Cryto imo, not only because we have crypto-babes, but also bc of the engagement level and type. No other blockchain offers this experience or environment in which to mingle your passions.
In terms of the SB’s Crypto-Babes Summit... still in the conceptual phase lol. It’ll happen 1 day tho 😎
Steem is built of community builders
Definitely agree .. this is one social network with a great deal of positive energy .. and many altruistic acts of kindness and leadership.
:D