I'm going to divulge some secrets how to make more money as an author and curator of steem. #1 of a 5 Part Series
I have a lot to say on the subject, and while I'm not super rich (yet)... I know what it takes, it is just a matter of time and effort. However I seem to rub shoulders on this system with other people who get it horribly wrong, and I can't bear to watch it anymore.
LESSON #1: THE BASICS
1. Don't make people angry all the time
LOL. This one sounds simple. But believe it or not, there are people on this system that spend most of their energy making people upset and angry. I have no idea how that seems like a great idea to them, but it does.
How do you NOT make people angry all the time?
- Don't engage in constant debates
- When two people are arguing, don't jump in the middle and now make three people arguing
- Don't post controversial stupid stuff that is going to get praise from 5% of people that follow you, and upset 95% of those who follow you
- You like large graphics? Animated pictures and memes? Use them in moderation. Don't give people headaches when they are trying to read your content with color and picture overdose.
- Don't constantly complain to the point, your concerns become non-stop ranting
- Be positive more than negative. Try to find the good in things, negative press is just so overwhelming. We want to hear about good things too
2. NEVER BEG or PLEAD for followers or votes
- If you start writing sentences like "please follow me. I will follow you"... you're already on the wrong track. Believe me, you're not the first person to ask this question. When you do that, this is what people hear:
"Hi! I'm the 1,503 person to have posted follow me, I'll follow you. Would you like to hear this again?"
NO!! We've seen that, read that from 1,502 other people. You instantly make us angry. (see rule #1 above - don't make people angry)
3. Try to do some actual work in your posts
- Can't I just find a youtube video that I made, and stick it on here, and copy a describing paragraph?
** Umm... this isn't youtube. We know you're recycling content. How much do you think you'll get paid to just copy/paste one of your own vidoes and not do anything extra special here for steem users? - But the video I made took time! I edited it! I did a lot of work on the video!
** Yes, I know, but that was for your youtube audience. Not your steemit audience. Most steemians don't have time to sit and watch every video presented to them here just to see if a post is worthwhile. Post a transcription of it.. Or better yet, talk about what's in the video a little bit (3-4 paragraphs) and the reasons why someone should sit there and play it. That takes extra effort and extra work. Your followers appreciate and reward extra effort and extra work. It will reflect on how many people upvote you
4. Your followers are NOT your groupies. Understand the difference.
- Groupies of musical bands will stand in the rain for hours on end next to a tour bus in order to just get a smile from the lead singer as he steps off the bus.
- Your followers are not your groupies. They won't stand in the rain for you.
- Many of your followers, are my followers too. Who's posts are more important? Mine, or yours? ANSWER: NEITHER
- You're not the same classification as Stephen King, or any other best selling writer out there. So when it says you have 1,600 followers, please don't let that go to your head. It just means you have a slighter greater chance of your writing to be seen (but not necessarily loved)
5. The price of STEEM goes up when it is in demand. When is the last time you bought some? Even $10 worth?
- You can actually help the price of steem by buying some and powering up with it every now and then. If just ten people bought $10 worth, that would be $100 worth pulled off the exchange and brought back here, where it belongs. :)
- How about friends and family? What if they want to put $50 or $100 into owning a tiny piece of something. The way this system works, I bet you STEEM will outlast Bitcoin. (I should write a post as to why.. but generally a popular social media place like this doesn't die... ever..)
- STEEM POWER, even just sitting there, makes more steem power. Didn't know that? Write down your steem power balance today. Come back in 48 hours and look again. It just went up. So buying steem, converting to, and holding steem power is a good investment. At least I really do think so.. so do big investors that are doing the same.
Now the basics are just the basics. They are important though.
Getting an out-of-the-box look of this place puts things into perspective. It is important that you have the right frame of mind and good perspective before you start making more money here.
Lesson #2 (in another post soon) will get a little more involved, so stay tuned (and you already know how to do that).
Q: @intelliguy why should I listen to any of this?
A: First of all, I've been on here more than a year, and I've seen this place grow up. I dissect and reverse engineer situations and take the time to identify the elements.
Most of all, if what I say has the ring of truth to it, and makes sense, then why wouldn't you listen to it? Open up your mind and you may be surprised on how some of this will actually help you.
I'm on day 15/30 of my positivity challenge.
Side note: A couple days ago, I went from reputation 65 to 66. That single jump took me about 6 full months, reputation is not easily earned the higher you go. A good tool to check yours is explained in this blog post by @edje called http://steem.cool/ or for a more comprehensive breakdown see https://steemwhales.com
I'm going to bookmark this post. This is good stuff to share with newbies.
Thanks, and thanks also for the resteem. :)
Great content! I hope you post more of these tips. I'm new here on Steemit and I'm still trying to have an idea on what I should/shouldn't do.
Welcome! Reading and commenting is good. You should consider posting something on your blog. I just went there, and saw "Looks like soylent1 hasn't started blogging yet!" --- while it is true, getting to know people and commenting is important. Curiosity will make people click your name, and you want to have at least something there for them to see.
Some of my other blog posts will be helpful to you. Also look out for @timcliff he's good to follow as well as many others.
Great content topped up with an extra great comment... @intelliguy knows a thing or two ;-)
Thanks for the suggestions! I'm currently working on my introduction and I'm still organizing my content.
Understood. If it doesn't get paid well, that is normal. The purpose of it is not to earn money as much as it is, to really describe who you are and make people feel like you're someone they can easily engage with or follow in the future.
I am Cornholio! You will co-operate with my bunghole!
Thank you for the detailed yet still enjoyable post. I'm a newbie here, and appreciate the knowledge :) Definitely following, and looking forward to reading more of your work!
What a useful post! Thanks, @intelliguy!
I would love to hear more about the efficient use of steemit. Anyone knows similar posts? Obv i'm new here :)
Yes, look at the comment I just wrote @soylent1
As you know, it gets even worse, as in
Can't I just find a youtube video that someone else made, and stick it on here...
But wait, it gets even worse, as in
Can't I just find a youtube video that someone else found, that was made by someone else, and stick it on here...
You made my day with this post! 🙂 - I enjoyed reading it all the way through.
The funniest thing is that I was in the middle of the process of deleting some inactive members that I was following. Calling it "autumn cleaning!" 😉
With you and your post, the process turns in totally opposite direction. - LOL
However, I'm so glad that one of the members that I follow resteemed your post!
Otherwise, what are the chances I would come across you in this huge sea? 😉😊
Cheers and have a nice day!
Thanks for putting this series together - definitely filling some gaps in my understanding as a new user.
Nice post
Hey hey, I like the rundown here. I think that the culture here is definitely worth learning about for anyone who is coming over from anywhere else. It's been way different here than anywhere I've shared content before and that's a very good thing.
Checking out your side note post recommends. Much appreciated!
UPvoted!
Love this read, very educational. Never seen steem.cool before glad I have now :) Thank you
I like it.
I'll keep that in mind.
Thanks for the information and waiting for more useful tips.
Thank You very much. A really insightful post. As a total beginner, I want to understand the intricacies of Steemit, find some good content creators after that to follow, and live happily ever after.
But to be honest, the bots scare me a bit. I am here for the human interaction and exchange of thoughts. I honestly prefer a person to upvote me ONLY if he finds at least an ounce of value in my post, rather than 1 bot whose upvote is "worth" more...
I am glad that I didn't do any of those things that I am not supposed to do.
Great tips and thank you for taking time sharing these... old and new will surely benefit!! Im excited for 3/5 😊
Thanks for explaining. The only thing I disagree on with you is that popular platforms don't go away. I have seen several disappear. One of them is Tsu - lots of my old Tsu buddies are here now- but still, it went away.
I never heard of Tsu. Must not have been popular enough.
I'm talking about big ones.. facebook, reddit, twitter, youtube
Tsu was big - much bigger than steemit and had a pay component like this platform - not crypto. Myspace was big once upon a time and is not relevant anymore. It can happen. Even Facebook could go poof. Periscope is struggling and they were big once as well.
hey ! actually you really helped me ! i will read all of your lessons!