Been almost 3 weeks since I joined. A group of us joined at the same time and we still do a lot of reading and giving links to each other. Those are the good times. I was excited about the aspects of discussion without censorship and getting paid for it. I was expecting something like reddit but without the moderation. Turned out it's not like that at all. Very few threads have any actual discussion which is kind of a letdown. News and stuff I am looking to read and discuss seems to get buried quickly. It's more of a tell us about yourself and what you like kind of site. It's more about having talents in writing, photography, video and being popular. Those are the kind of threads that make the money. Well I'm good at none of those things so that's a big letdown. I like to read, comment, and help people by answering questions. That doesn't seem to be what this site is about though. Threads with good topics and questions get quickly buried with very few replies or votes. Another letdown. Next are the bots. These are the bad times. Just when you think you made a decent post you realize that most of the votes and replies come from bots or even worse you post gets flagged and buried by one. Granted they are trying to do something about it now but I don't think it will do much good.
So what is exciting about the site? Well posting is (or was). Having you or one of your friends make a post then watching it get replies and votes. Really exciting. I don't know how many times I refreshed the https://steemd.com/ page or a particular thread looking for the latest votes and replies. Thankfully @royaltiffany showed me https://steemstats.com and saved my f5 key. Of course this excitement is great at first but if your like me it's also the biggest letdown when you get little or nothing out of your contributions. So with that said here is a rundown of my first 20 days on steemit:
Posts made: 23 (not counting this one)
Replies to my posts: 120
Upvotes for my posts: 314
Comments made: 195
Author rewards: 1.374SBD and .454 SP
Votes for others: Doesn't seem to be available
Curation rewards: .023 SP
Interest made: 1.009 SP
Grand total 1.374SBD and 1.486 SP
Not going to get anywhere with figures like that. For someone like me you have to buy steem power if you want to get off the ground and make any difference and I just can't afford to do that. That's the biggest letdown of this whole thing. You either hit the popular jackpot or buy your way there. Even mining seems to be a buy your way in game. You need multiple accounts to mine with multiple computers and apparently the extra accounts cost steem to get. Looks like I will be stuck with no power and that is not only a letdown but down right depressing.
I agree, it seems like you get no where without buying steem. And you cant even use your bank, or paypal, which would be more affordable then bitcoin. For me at this time in my life, being a nube to bitcoin.
It's not that hard to buy bitcoin and convert it or other coins to steem. The problem is having money to invest in the first place. I can't afford to lock up money for 2 years especially in a new system that may result in 100% loss of that money.
Hang in there early stages here. The concept is extremely exciting and the addiction is cool just look at you 24 posts already. Why don't you scroll youtube see the clips that have the most views then watch them and do a review of it and post them here? If you do, let me know how that works and I may do same.
I don't watch youtube or use most other social media. I prefer discussion forums to them. Heck most of my chats are on IRC.
I know how you feel, haven't been here along as you but finding exactly the same Its sad watching your post sink without receiving a penny for it
I'm frustrated too. In fact I did buy some Steem Power a couple of weeks ago. However, I have only done a little better than you. However, since it will now take two years for me to power down, I might as well make the best of it. I think that I am just going to stick to comments. My biggest score was actually only a comment.
It takes a lot of money to even get enough steem power to have a chance at curation rewards. We are talking over $1000
I think something like this may help new users. Take a look at this proposal if you have the time Decentralized Steemit Marketplace
That wouldn't help me at all. I already sell stuff on ebay to help with bills and have a little fun. Can't put that money into steem power and lock it up.
You can't sell steem power so the goods would be sold directly with steem or steem dollars.s o the money would not be locked. It also would not have the fees eBay has, but yes it's a little ways off in the future, but those who use eBay and wish it had different features may be interested on weighing in as some larger players have seen this article and will most likely keep an eye on it.
That still doesn't help as I can already do that on ebay, open bazaar or some other service. It would take the money I would already be getting in cash or bitcoin and get it in steem then I would need to buy steem power to have the steem power. So no different than just buying steem power with bitcoin I buy with money from selling stuff now. That is making a very risky investment and I can't do that.
Understood. Hopefully it will be a more stable and profitable idea for you someday in the future or allow you to provide a service that has no shipping fees or something. If not it's great to have that feedback as I'm sure it will need to be addressed since eBay is a powerhouse and steemit would be a small fish
I think we joined about the same time, and I agree with your sentiment wholeheartedly. It's been quite a frustrating run, with most of my posts not being noticed. Apart from one post which had a surprising spike, all my other posts average about 3 or 4 votes. I don't know how many reads they received (though I wish there was a tracker for that) There has been very little engagement and most of my conversations are with bots.
I really wish I could give you words of encouragement. I really do. Unfortunately, I'm approaching a crossroads whether I should continue using Steemit as well. It's definitely a whale-driven community, like an exclusive club where I don't have a clue how to penetrate. You hit the nail in the head when you said that it's either you get lucky or you buy your status. I definitely feel happy for those users that make it big, though I really wish that the love was spread more evenly.
Here a little bit help form a real person and not a bot.
Like steemit, but right know it is a little depressing.