So Many SteemIt Contradictions... I’m Completely Lost :0(
Is SteemIt as fucked up as it appears to be, or is it just me?
The dynamics of SteemIt are still a big mystery to me...
When I first started out, I was told to check out the trending posts regularly to be able to find out what kinds of posts had a chance to become successful.
Because I’m a good girl and listen to my teachers most of the time, I’ve been checking the trending pages every couple of days for the last four months, hoping to find a pattern of some sort. Unfortunately, I can’t tell you that I’ve found one...
Maybe it’s just me, maybe I’m missing some important factor which prevents me from seeing the full picture... or maybe there is no such thing as a pattern...
I see new people earning more than $100 with their good, but not exceptional introduction post, while I see introduction posts from people with loads more potential reach post payout without even getting noticed.
I read top quality articles every day, and often notice that these excellent authors don’t even get 5 bucks for their masterpiece, while screenshots of the CoinmarketCap website earn hundreds with ease...
Yesterday I came across a post from a guy with a reputation score of -17(!) and the counter below the post showed an amount that was way over $800...
The World upside Down...
For months, I’ve been working my ass off, trying to write articles that could be a somewhat valuable contribution to the community, never getting more than 6 or 7 bucks (if I leave out the ‘earnings’ I purchase from the bid bots) and a handful of comments.
While yesterday it seemed like everyone was going crazy over a very trivial article about watering plants. It got 109 votes, over 20 unique comments and got a comment and a resteem from @jerrybanfield
To be honest, this has made me even more confused than I already was, and I really don’t know how to interpret this.
So Many Questions...
Have I been wasting my time by trying to write (semi) in-depth articles? Or did I perhaps promote the trivial article in the right place at the right time and got lucky?
When I first signed up for SteemIt, I instantly realized that marketing was a very important factor on the platform.
After all, a good marketeer can sell shit to people, making them believe it’s worth more than gold.
But the contradictions on SteemIt are too extreme to say that marketing is the key. If marketing would be the big secret to success, this would mean that 60% of the people listed on the trending page would be better marketeers than all those professionnals I have met during my 15 years in the business...
Is it networking then? Sometimes I tell people that SteemIt is just like real life: it doesn’t really matter what you know, who you know is much more important.
When I use these words I try to think of it as a joke, but in my heart I know it’s closer to the truth than I want it to be.
It’s undeniable: the SteemIt system is just as fucked up as the rest of the world. (It would have been really weird if it wasn’t.) And for the moment, I must admit I’ve lost all sense of direction; I honestly don’t know which way to go from here.
I know this feeling of being lost will pass, just like it always does.
But for now... if you took the trouble to read all the way down to this sentence, then I’d really appreciate if you would be pointing my nose in the right direction, so I can keep going on...
Subscribe Ro RSS Feed | Subscribe To Newsletter
More Posts You Might Like:
Whaleshares Meme Contest Entry - Win Free Whaleshares & Get Whale Upvotes
Calling All #newbieresteemday Members! Let's Spread The Word About The NewbieResteemDay Initiative
Easy DIY Self-Watering System For Your Indoor Plants
I'll Show You The One Thing You Need To Do To Never get Bitten By Cheetah Again!
Hi @simplymike. I glimpsed a comment from you earlier about a Jerry Banfield resteem (sorry, haven’t had the chance to reply yet) but then saw this one and had to comment.
You were so excited earlier. I hate to see the enthusiasm diminish. I wouldn’t bother looking for patterns. I don’t. The ecosystem is what it is. It’s just as in life. We don’t have to accept it though. There are some awesome people out there with power that know Steemit is not perfect. They are trying to change things in their own way. We try to build Steemit into a better platform in our own way too. I think we can make a positive change collectively. It’s not going to be a fast-tracked change, but a gradual one where we continue to add our pennies worth together and change this platform into a place where beautiful minds and artists and supporters are valued.
I have my days as the grumpy cheerleader where I feel as you do. Believe me, I rant to @davemccoy on those days. I’m still here though because I like our community and the people in it. We are a great bunch with good hearts and I sure as heck will continue to build this community of ours into a great one for our newbies and members.
I just had to get it off my chest last night. I'm still confused about what to post as for now. I guess i'm going to ask Dave to give me a well-defined task I can do for the initiative....
This post is 100% perfect.
That sentence is life.
I have no idea what direction to go on Steemit nor do I think I ever will. I've only been here a month so I have a long way to go but it irrates the shit out of me to see well deserved post get nothing while like you said, 'good' post get a ton of payout. I seen a picture, just a picture with no words, get a +20 dollar payout. It wasn't even a good enough picture. Here I am struggling to get .25 on post.
I've tried to go in a bunch of different directions looking for something to stick, non of it does. I stay off of trending, its ridiculous. I've determined that you either need to know a few people on top or wait for a lucky day...
If you find the answer, don't forget to let me know!
I will :0)
The only clear direction I still have is to go with the flow with the #newbiesteemday initiative. It gives me the feeling of community, which is far more important than money.
But I'm one of those people who needs clearness, I need to know the 'rules' of the game, and so far, my best guess is that on SteemIt, there simply are no rules.
So if you haven't already, you might try and join the #newbieresteemday initiative. It's just a group of minnows trying to help out even smaller minnows (who are overwhelmed by this feeling all the time), by setting up different initiatives that allow them to have fun, and earn at least some cents. You can learn more about the initiative here
Completely agree with you @magicalmoonlight. It is so frustrating seeing people just copy and paste an article, but it gets upvoted by @cheetah which is supposed to be against plagiarism. In fact it's against the rules, but those people seem to get the pay outs. And the dumbest pictures ever with just the picture..no source no anything and they've made 45.00. People thought I was silly for being happy with having almost 2 SP. Agree stay off Trending and Hot those will just make you feel like less. I personally have my few favorites I visit, I've started out looking for Steemians around the same level and upvoting their original content. @simplymike Hang in there. I am really liking this group and how much everyone interacts and helps each other.
I'm feeling you on everything in this post. One day I came across an intro post just like you and it was almost 5 days and the poor guy had tons of great articles prior to the post. Often for less than 0.05 in payouts and his excellently written intro post wasn't even busting 0.50! I decided to go everywhere I could and beg for some votes for his post. After getting kicked out of most chats I formed my own. The post ended up going over 5.00 In upvotes and from that day I was determined to help minnows grow. After a few posts much like this but not as good and being told that Steemit could't stop the abuses and scams I decided to give it a go. https://SteemThat.com was born and the rest is really history in the making.
Let's Build A Whale Pool Together And Support Honest, Hardworking Writers!
That was a nice thing to do!
I'm doing the same now, focusing on helping newbies, both with the guys of the #newbieresteemday initiative and the SteemThat community.
I should really take some time to give SteemThat a little more attention - the 'good' news is that I'll be having surgery next week, and I won't be allowed to do anything for a month. Plenty of time to dig into SteemThat again ;0)
I agree @simplymike, a lot of good posts go unnoticed....and a single pic without much written take away all the limelight...it’s more about networking I believe and the time too...
True.
When I find posts of new Steemians crying out for help, I always give them the advice to start networking first. Build connections, the more the better.
I simply don't understand that those connections would upvote crappy posts, just because they have a connection with someone.
I love to meet new people, but for me it's a matter of ethics to only upvote quality posts...
I guess I just finally need to learn that every person thinks differently, and might have a different point of view...
Although the post I wrote may give you the idea that I'm here for the money, but that isn't true. I don't care if people think my articles aren't worth an upvote, but there are so many good writers out there who deserve a lot more than they get. It's the unfairness that's bothering me
@simplymike, I am so sorry you are feeling confused and disillusioned right now. It will pass, I am sure - I hope it passes! You are a talented writer and an active Steemian. I know because I am new here and I have come across your name and work often!
I get what you are saying about trying to find patterns. My findings have been quite similar to yours! Unremarkable work is getting rewarded while very professional, in-depth, amazing posts are being barely noticed.
I have no answers - like i said I am new here! So my plan is to remain authentic and try to keep learning about this incredible system!
Allow yourself to feel discouraged but please don't quit! You are very good and this system, though imperfect, is pretty amazing! Hope you feel better soon! Resteemed
Thank for the motivational words :0)
I’m not quitting, I’m already too addicted ;0)
It’s just the frustration that I can’t seem to be able to find any patterns.
It’s not about the money, I stopped caring about it a while ago, it’s just the unfairness I can ‘t stand. And I’m not talking about my own posts... there are so many quality authors out there who are undervalued... Steemit is preaching to be all about quality content, but isn’t showing any of that in the stats. As in the real world, success is only for those who have money, fame and no ethics (of course that doesn’t go for everyone, loads of people are genuine and simply earned their status by working hard and knowing what they’re taling about)
And most of the time I have peace with that, but then I see this guy with a reputation score of -17 earning $800 with only one post and I’m doubting the system again...
There’s an ‘easy’ way out of this vicious circle: I’ve got to stop thinking as much as I do - lol. But that’s easier said than done :0)
There really really is very very few rules. In fact the only real rule I can see after almost 7 months is that your vote is your vote. Buy, sell, lease, rent, it is your vote. Some of the SP sellers/renters/leasees, will have their own rules on how you can use the power they give, most do not care though, as long as they get their money.
When reading the frequently asked questions page for steemit, there are a lot of suggested actions, suggested rules, but it really pretty much is make your own rules and live with it.
There are a few people that complain about censorship, there are a few people that claim so and so is stealing from the reward pool thus other users. Most of those claims have no real bearing when you look at the Rules.
How can you say that people might ask, there is no rule that states an individual or a group of individual can not vote for who they want when they want how often they want. There is not even a rule about self voting. There are people who upvote themselves to the tune of 80% + sefl votes out of all the votes they cast 85% of them or more are for themselves. Is it selfish? To me yes. To them no. I don't know how many kids or people in real life they are trying to help, or if it all goes in to their selfish pockets. It is not upto me to decide, I decided, so I have moved on.I have to live with myself at the end of the day, and they with themselves, as we all do.
There is one thing/activity I do not like, and that is people telling other people how to vote It is you vote, and like the FAQ says, vote how you want.
Iagree with you here @bashadow I do not self vote but I use bidbots so it is up to you how you share your vote, its your investment use it how you see fit!
Maybe, as human beings being brainwashed by living in a society, we're just not used to the fact that no one is setting the rules. Interesting... I'm going to give that some more thought... :-D
Sometimes I get lucky, sometimes I don't. I publish multiple things per day that vary in subject matter, that's about it, some of my posts are simple, some are lengthy. I don't seem to be able to figure out a set formula for anything myself other than "Throw a bunch of crap around that's of interest to you and see if something sticks".
Unfortunately, in order to get a ton coming in, you actually have to work towards "Lowest Common Denominator" as that tends to strike a cord with the masses in general. Just look at the Backstreet Boys, Nsync, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, etc for an example of that in action in music.
I do understand Steemit to a large degree, partially due to being a contributor to the Freenet Project and IPFS as well as the research I've done personally including reading of the white and blue papers. The curation rewards, however, is the most confusing for me. I don't quite understand that one entirely yet.
That sums it up. For some stupid reason I must have thought there would be some sort of formula that would make it work. But there isn't. It's just about writing certain things on a right time and the right readers passing by...
I was just discussing with @creativetruth that we didn't really understand the curation rewards either.
I 'summoned' a couple of people of which i think they might know...
You just rose by 31.2212% upvote from @therising courtesy of @simplymike. Earn 43.8% APR by delegating SP to therising. For more details visit: https://steemit.com/budget/@therising/auto-daily-payout-of-43-8-apr-for-steem-power-delegations-starting-from-500-sp-only-limited-period-offer.
Great post! You just got a 22.61% upvote from @edensgarden!
Thanks for tasting the eden!
Thank you @simplymike for pouring out my frustrations, I am four days old here but I can't help notice that steemit has so many congruencies that might not be clear to understand, I want to make it as a good steemian and a great writer,but the truth still remains, I have to start knowing people, and not just knowing people, knowing many people who matters. By the way I am your steemit baby @steemcenturion, and I love this post. 😘
Thanks @steemturion
You made me realize I have nothing to complain about actually. I built up an account, and then decided to give up a rep score of 51 and more than 500 followers to start a new one. 25 days later, I'm back at 52 (thanks t the delegation from my old account.)
It's even harder for newbies. With 250k new articles posted every single day, it's hard to get noticed.
If you allow me to give you 2 tips that might help ou out growing your account and building strong connections: join the #newbieresteeminitiative - it's a group of minnows trying to help out other minnows by giving them some extra's and supporting them until they are able to get by on their own.
You can find their Discord channel and more info here: https://discord.gg/zYkHVMy
Another site that has really helped me is the SteemThat website (WARNING; this is an affiliate link)
The community is smaller and a bit easier to approach and build connections