As a cryptocurrency enthusiast, I have spent many years explaining to others the concepts of blockchain technology and the tokens that secure them. I usually get a lot of eye rolls and glossed over looks, but at least I can usually get across the value proposition of something like Bitcoin or Ethereum.
I've been spending the better part of the last two days talking to friends and family about Steem, and the reactions so far range from "It's a scam" to the tried and true "It's a pyramid scheme". I've been trying to explain that communication is a currency itself, and that the best communicators within the system correlate (or at least should correlate) with the greatest wealth acquisition. The "value" of steem rises with better contributions from the ecosystem. Evidently, this is falling on deaf ears.
Steemers - What is your "elevator pitch" go-to explanation of Steem to others?
People value power and influence, steem power gives you the ability to influence who gets what. Every argument for Bitcoin or eth is also relevant.
I agree. I think the monetary supply is explained nicely by a combination of short term market speculation and long term monetary commitment (steem and steem power). But like many have touched on here already, I can see why it can be hard to understand why anyone would speculate on communication as a currency to give the token value in the first place.
"The future."
https://steemit.com/steem/@cryptofunk/defending-steem-from-the-most-used-word-in-crypto-scam-please-help-with-defense
There are two main hurdles you have to conquer when explaining steemit to people. The most obvious is the use of a cryptocurrency. Most people just can't wrap their heads around a currency that appears from nowhere, has no physical form and is complicated to use.
The second is people are so used to thinking that the only genuine ways to make money online is to sell online or make money through advertising. Convincing people to try revenue sharing sites that pay in dollars will often get the same response.
Until cryptocurrency as simple to use as normal currency sites like this are going to be a hard sell. I believe once the first problem is solved the second will slowly resolve itself.
The elevator pitch I need to hear is, how does a site pay out cash money with no income from subscribers or advertisers? The answer to that is the elevator pitch.
they don't.
I think it is also important to realize that this crypto currency is transparent. But there is a barrier to gain this knowledge, like knowing how to code or where to look for references. But if this was a scam, I would think that the last thing the scammers would want would be a growing community of developers, coders, and people interested in this site, to be social and constantly talking. If something did happen or reveal itself, you can believe that there would be an article somewhere about it. And I would like to believe that if the article was posted on steemit.com that it would be upvoted and shown to the world.
So far i'm getting understood fairly well when explaining that it is a blogging platform that rewards quality content (posts and replies) , and the reward is in direct relation & proportional to your reputation and Steem Power (which I tie to reputation, accumulated rewards, and potential investments) . The better your posts or replies are, the more chances they are to be noticed by someone with high reputation and lots of Steem Power.
Since my big breakthrough (well, big for me) by being blessed by a comment upvote by @berniesanders, once I posted this on FB, I do get asked quite alot about steemit on FB , by my family and by friends & work colleagues.
i am also new here, and i am trying to understand,
for now, i observ that anyone can put his ideas, and search for help, to improve his work, his idea, others are telling different stories, some news.
so its a comunity, but what next?
Steemit is the first blockchain application creating additional value for standard product. It has a huge advantage over other applications, as it suits almost everyone in the world. I'll be happy to see the future with steem everywhere!
Maybe it is a scam, maybe not, time will tell. Besides, what sphere of the economy isn't a scam to the third world?
Explaining why and how steem works is really difficult, because there is a lot of money involved for good content and people don't believe it.
I always talk about cryptos to my friends and family, and it really helped me explaining how steem works. When they asked are they really pay out money, all I needed to say it is blockchain based and you receive STEEM and SteemDollard what can sell at an exchange.
I have been facing the same problem myself. When I explain to people about Steemit and how it works, they give me this look of disbelief. Even without opening their mouths, they convey the message that "You are crazy".
I hope there was a better way of explaining to people just how powerful this really is!
this is my pitch... especially if theyre economics or polisci dorks (like most of my friends), the whole attention economy thing will get them all warm and moist