Youtube's early business model is a good one to follow. The site would be nothing, Google wouldn't have purchased it, if those first content creators were kicked to the curb. Once many of those folks combined were able to lure in more and more consumers, then the money started rolling in, then the big names followed the money. The big names laughed at Youtube, at first, and not in a good way. Traditional content providers never saw it as a threat.
This place needs dedicated creators posting exclusives, leading to success stories. It needs consumers sharing links around to traditional social media outlets, since each piece of actual content is a free ad. That behavior helped Youtube tremendously in the early days. I see content creators sharing links to their own followings, which is fine if their following doesn't mind being spammed, but the proper way is make sharing across other networks appealing and easy to do so the consumers share the content to their followings. It spreads out much faster that way and that's the only way something can go viral. Not much of that kind of sharing happening here at the moment.
Since the consumer is always where the money comes from in this arts/entertainment/information world, this place needs to tap in to that market. Everyone can see the low number of comments under posts. Even though the average online is about one comment per article, a place like this needs to look more like Youtube. One instance of content, thousands of viewers. A good percentage of those viewers needs to have staked tokens in the wallet. Attracting them can potentially bring in more money than can leave, which is important. I see onboarding efforts once again being targeted towards amateur content creators. Most will struggle, especially with the lack of consumers. I cringe a bit, since creating is the toughest job and hardest way to earn. People need to know they'll be putting in time, time is money, but they can also put in money, which is the same as time, and have it easier simply by enjoying whatever they like, earning that way, as a consumer. That role needs to be marketed as well.
You know why that is? Because at the current level of valuation this place is a giant crypto faucet above all else. The solution is what we have seen since last November which is when @theycallmedan's Quora Onboarding Initiative started. Then @ocdb started rewarding folks for sharing their posts on Twitter.
That can be a tough sell unless it is framed precisely right. The economics are so unlike anything people are used to. It looks like a pyramid scheme unless you market it honestly as an innovative way to tip your favorite authors where you may get back the value of your tips and more if more tippers buy into the token. The expectation has to be that this is not an investment but as a form of supporting content creators you like.
Another angle that came to my mind is marketing the option to buy Hive Power for curation rewards that you can maximize by finding great posts first, reblogging them and earning the largest curation rewards.
It most certainly is something new. Hard to describe in ways most consumers have grown accustomed to. I suppose it's much like buying tips in advance, then handing it out over time. It's not much different than if someone were to charge a prepaid debit card, then make small purchases. But then it's more like buying a membership that grants access to products and services. Plus you get your money back, plus some, if certain criteria is met. The consumer needs to be reminded they spend the money anyway but this time around they're given rewards, plus the chance of having their money back. Honestly, I've been trying to wrap my head around it for years. It's like knowing a word, it's on the tip of your tongue, but for some reason it's not coming out. Cooperatives exist in this world. I can buy groceries and fuel, then get a quarterly share of the profits, provided I sign up, pay for a membership, and buy products from that establishment. It's similar to that, yet new.
That is a very good description. Because it's a new kind of thing, people tend to get confused and confused people get scared and start calling it Ponzi scheme, a fraud and whatnot. But I think the crucial aspect of it is how it is marketed and what promises are embedded in those narratives.