The Predictability of which Posts by the New & Talented Authors Will Earn Big or Not - Is There an Evil Side to Curation?
This is only for the members of the community to draw a conclusion about the trend nowadays with regard to getting the very talented new authors to be seen (curation). I would only like to know your unbiased opinion about this.
I'm sure you have read my previous post addressing the frustration of both the new writers and the old members experiencing the same issue - experiencing high rewards at the beginning and facing the reality when the money stops. So the post below is my advice - 'don't write for the money'. I hope that the new and talented authors will get to realize this as early as now to avoid shock or disappointment later. Don't blame yourselves!
The big rewards at the beginning, although very nice, were friendless, unreal and empty. The 'lure' has a bad effect on some of you. My followers here who continued to see the value in what I create are the ones who are really engaging. Those who get what I'm saying are the ones who are experiencing it right now. Those who don't? Just continue writing unique and great content, you will see 'it' for yourselves. But please, take my advice below.
To The Talented New Writers - Don't Write for The Money! - 'The Game' and my Final Advice
I'm staying here for the love of writing and because I'm already attached to the community (which is probably the goal of the high rewards at the beginning and getting abandoned later). I'm very grateful that my posts are continuously supported and upvoted by my dear followers who remained. Even though, they are not really making a lot by curating my content.
I'm a living proof of one those who experienced the drug, you can check my first post and my later posts - very big gap. Nevertheless, I'm thankful that I was able to pay the bills and that some of my followers might have found me on the trending page during my early days.
Below are some classic examples, that some of you (Especially if you are new and have a really great and unique content) might still be experiencing.
I'm putting here examples of posts of my steemit friends/followers. (@allcapsonezero, @anarchospace, I'm sorry guys that I have to put you here, I hope you will gain more followers and exposure, ha!)
As you all know, it's not about the quality of content, it's not hit or miss, it's not about the time posted. It's all about getting the very talented new authors out there (What are the other things behind? It's up to you to find that out). As you can see my friends here posted equally good content and some barely even made it to $1. But they just have to wait for a couple of days and the next posts might rocket up to $135++ again)
It's very nice to get your content to be seen, to earn some money, to get new followers as long as you will not be attached to the earnings. As long as you are aware of how it works here. Do you think there's a downside to this?
People come here for the rewards, they will put themselves out there and release all their personal information on a post. It's easy for some people to express their emotion here, maybe because of the money? It's just sad to think that some people fall for the illusion and think that the big rewards will be forever. Please don't quit your jobs yet!
The psychology of this, what will happen if you don't have the drug anymore? Withdrawal symptoms maybe, wondering what happened, wondering if it's the quality of the posts? Stop thinking that it's you because it is not. Please wake up to the reality that things might not really last.
Their wealth is already here and they have grown attached to the community when the time comes the big rewards have ended. But I just hope that these things have become more transparent. We should not play with the emotion of people by luring and watching them from above. Do you think that it is better for the new and talented authors to earn a little bit at the beginning and just work on it gradually?
I don't really know now.
I'm just happy to be here and continuously writing. Yes, they got me! I'm staying for the community. It was a success. We made money off each other. I can only be thankful. The quality of my content will remain for my dear followers, with or without the big rewards.
To the very talented authors who are reading this and are experiencing the temporary high at the moment, please understand the reality. Just so you won't be disappointed in the end, and hopefully, you will continue writing for the love of it, and for this amazing community.
Before following me, please check my previous posts. I usually write about my travels or whatever my distorted mind has to offer. If you follow me and you're not really interested with that, then you'll only be disappointed! Unfollow @diabolika
I understand what you are saying BUT when you attach you attach money to an effort you remove the love part quite quickly. The SP becomes an indelible part of your creation and always stands right besides it indelibly. Few people here are content in life with their monetary situation otherwise and most always look forward to better earnings on the platform. To be in love with an unproductive system will be foolish as there are other avenues that may fulfill the passion more productively.
That said every time you post something, there is an anticipation factor akin to watching the roulette wheel spin.
Some people see it as collecting STEEM over the next 5-10 years slowly and hope to make it big if the platform grows as big as FB etc.
so the reasons are sundry and varied. Take for example earning 5 dollars on a post in a country such as India or Ethiopia or Venezuela. Those 5 dollars get you somewhere for a day in the places.
Love for anything must be combined with an outcome that is productive for parties involved. I understand that being imparted with pleasant feelings is productive and may keep some folks here but you can also notice that retention rate is low as low productivity is against human nature.
Rebels like you are a rare species. Keep doing it for the love. I do it as well although if I was a betting man ( we all are), I would bet against continuing high output from you for low rewards. I would prefer to see you get back to your highs because you bring a unique perspective to the platform.
Thank you @nedspeaks. I'm born a rebel. I already knew this when I was a kid.
My writing has been improved and I'm happy to get my stories out my system. I just hope that this message will reach those who need to be aware. So they write for the love of it, or just stop? This community will survive if we really acquire great authors who are doing what they love, and not only for the rewards.
Now, I only care about what I write and my followers. I don't care about the other issues around here anymore...
I've already hit the lull. It's disappointing. But not the reason to write.
I'm sorry to hear that man, I checked your posts and I got it already.... I hope you still stay. Yes, it's not the reason to write.
I will likely stay. I'm a crypto nerd and longtime content creator. I started creating content on the net twenty years ago. I have taken a break for a couple years, but I will probably hang out and post.
Cool, I just hope that the platform will someday improve the UI here that will suit the writers who don't write for the money hehe.
You know like the blogger.com features - archive, dates, tags on our feed. Because right now it's obvious that the design is to make money, lol.
Let's wait and see.
I'll take it.
Hmmm! Well personally, I've resigned myself to not making it big as and author on Steemit, and I'm Ok with that as I read much better than I could ever do.
However, I'll be continuing to post and pick up 3/5 $ each time and hopefully one day, Steem will reach $10+ and we'll all be able to write stories about how we earned an income with a bit of writing ;)
Ps. I've already quit this job so you are too late!
omg you quit your job? hahaha. Ok, I can only say congrats! ;)
Yeah me too. Let's just be happy that we are still making something.
Yep, happy to have no destination for the time being!
Just keep banking it as Steem Power and let's see where we are next year.
I will have 11 cents for your posts, sometimes as a lot of people need my 11 cents lol.
I think you should try to be an expat somewhere or live in a cheaper country, the $3-5 atm will get you a pad thai lol.
Haha you don't know how close you are to the mark! I'm veryyyy tempted for that $3-5 pad thai!
I'm sure some of my followers here are eating the $3-$5 pad thai atm @flipstar, @world-travel-pro ?
Like what @nedspeaks said above, the $5 will get you somewhere in some places. Steemit is good for some of our brothers here...
Yes Ned is right, I was 'told off' the other day for mentioning a dollar not being much for an hours work. In some places, that will do nicely. Followed the guys you have mentioned :)
Thank you for following them. I'm sure they won't regret being mentioned here haha.
Btw it's Saturday, I'm sure the $3-5 will also get them a beer lol.
Keep cranking out material that swims around in your distorted mind. "The Lull" is a big disappointment when you hit it. It was rather nice to have wind in my sails for a bit. I'll stick around anyway.
I promised yesterday that my other post will be the last about steemit. But I can't help it haha.
Yes, let's stick around for fun, just observe and go with the flow.
I know the feeling. I keep saying that I'm going to stop certain actions, like writing about steemit, but I keep getting pulled back in. Guilty pleasures.
Yeah I know, especially if writing about steemit makes money lol
Ok, tomorrow I will really stick to my niche - travel. I have already tainted my feed/ portfolio with posts about steemit, ha!
Very nicely worded post. When people do things they don't genuinely enjoy for monetary rewards it is often reflected rarely means it is done well (that may be a vastly generalized pseudo-truism, but I hope it make sense). Plus, as I have seen a few times, people write great stuff that ticks off somebody or a group of people and their rewards get pummeled, so writing just for the money is a bad option for that reason as well.
Plus, if like me you focus more on serious posts with critical commentary about how the world appears to be losing its mind, your audience is going to be smaller than cryptos or humor or other things. Have the right mind set and realistic expectations.
There is a lot of emphasis on rewards, and I totally understand it, cash motivates, it makes life easier, it helps us feel like our time has been spent productively. In our world in general, financial rewards are often considered a sign of appreciation, but it is only a placeholder for the real thing.
I generally try and show my appreciation considering I can't impart much in the way of rewards yet. And I know when someone writes a thoughtful comment and engages with me in a post, that is worth more than a big upvote (then again I have a steady job so I can piggy bank whatever I might get here for the future - if Steemit survives, if the world doesn't explode, etc. etc.) I also joined Steemit primarily because it cannot be censored, but that is another story.
Thereto, writers have to be honest with themselves about if they are they here to share a message and find their place in a community of like-minded souls (which means relationship building and may not be financially lucrative) or to make followers and cash? Not that the two are mutually exclusive, but I think the former is going to be more rewarding and make the inevitable low value posts easier to bear.
Alright, this is getting long so I am going to round it off here. I found you by following a comment you left for @value-customer that I liked. After perusing your blog and checking out some of your stuff it looks fun, I'll follow and see where your adventures take you. Cheers! - CZ
I totally understand this, I can't write about positivity, success or crypto stuff, if I do it only meant that I'm here for the money. I won't be a hypocrite and say I was not lured, my emotion was played by the curators who discovered my posts, who heavily rewarded me at the beginning, perhaps it was normal to feel this way. I would have been ok when my long posts remained 0.06 cents, I would just have continued writing anyway, for the love of it. I just hope steemit someday will hide the $ sign on each post.
I like to write realistic stuff and all the things I have observed during my travel. And no, I didn't stay in posh hotel or fancy resorts, and I've seen real life of people, the issues and the system that enslaves many of us.
I recently came back from a 4-year trip and found myself scrambling and putting back my life. I found a job and lost it. Then a friend introduced me to steemit. However, it obvious I cannot just depend on it. So, anyway, I'm still failing at things and I'm so good at it.
Whenever I'm taking a walk, lost in my thoughts, reminiscing about my travel, one idea will pop up again in my mind and I couldn't wait to write. I guess this is one thing that makes me jump out of bed every morning. I just want to get all these stories out of my system.
@cupidzero I just woke up to see if I would get any honestly upvotes and comments, and I say wow. This is the best comment I've read so far. I am following you back and check what you've got in your portfolio. Thanks!
Still fighting for the little guy!!! Thanks for the shout out... enjoy you perspective as always.... I want to quit my job, but it has nothing to do with the outrageous rewards I am getting on Steemit... I just want to quit my job (and have that $3 pad tai.)
Hahaha, I hope they will keep discovering you. They made money, you and those who referred you. Win-win, just when you're already rep 57, don't feel abandoned. Get used to 06 cents lol.
I might join the $3 pad thai club soon lol.
I'm sure we are being watched from above haha (Oh there they are again, minnow talk, talking about $3 earnings and cheap food).
Also: Don't forget to vote! Even if your vote is only worth 0.001$, it's still something and voting is important. We minnows are countless but we still have much power with our upvotes if we vote!
Haha yes, the minnow revolution! And the Minnow power. :)
@diabolika you're doing great job to your followers. to have active followers in here is not easy. I have 138 followers but the most of them don't even use their feed they're just follow to be followed at the beginning thought its great to gain this followers in this short period of time then i realize that's not the quantity that counts. I saw many talented authors got thousands of followers but obvious from the number of views that it's all about gaining loyal active followers who follow to engage with what you write I think that what make it hard at the beginning. anyway I'll continue offer quality content. also I made a post used the tag waronspam talked about how the newbies think when they get started.
Thanks!
I suggest that you continue writing quality content, not for the money but because you will have quality followers for it. People really reading your posts and are engaging is what really matters in the end.
I never asked anyone to follow me. They just found me through my content. ;)
I do see your point and if people engaging with your posts so they will appreciate your effort.
if seek for money you end up with nothing and if your purpose to make people enjoy and engage with your content eventually money will come .
Great post! It is challenging to find true followers, and people who are here for more than the money-side of the platform. (Almost) Everyone is doing something where they are trying to earn more money from their posts.
I'm posting about things that interest me, and I'm doing all of my work "manually", as opposed to using some sort of automated bot. Some may think of this method as inefficient, but I am not here simply for the money. I am here to be part of the community. In my opinion, the only way that you can truly be part of the community is to be actively (and personally) engaged in the content that you support.
My main motivation arose from how I always wanted to start a blog. When I heard that I could create a blog and also be able to make money out of it (without having to litter my blog with Advertisements), I signed up. So while my motivations were two-fold, I have stayed here because I truly enjoy the community side more than I ever expected to!
Reading through all of the amazing writers' posts on here inspires me to be a better writer, and I feel more connected with many of those who I'm following and "spending a lot of time with" by reading their posts and comments :)
Thanks for sharing your view. I enjoy reading your posts, and will continue to be following you!
This is the right motivation. We can't blame some writers feeling bad when they hit the 'lull'. They were lured for the rewards, as the curators feel their importance in this community, otherwise, it will get boring seeing the same thing on the trending page. But I believe there's more behind getting those talented authors out there.
It's just the UI of this community is designed for making money. Seeing a post making $$$ already has an emotional effect on some people. But it's still in beta, so let's see. We can only be positive.
Then some people here curse Facebook? Come on. I'm seeing the same thing here, worse if you put money, people change big time. Some people can drown here in their money. Others are traveling, having the time of their lives and writing about those.
I've hit a lull lately. Last month I was seeing way more success on my posts, but now I'm lucky if I get $3 this week.
Yes, I've seen your posts and I got it. I hope you will continue writing, you have followers who are genuinely interested in your content.