Minnows and Whales and casting your lure
"Thar she blows!" shouts the captain of the Minnow Group PH make sure your posts are all ready and have on your signature professing our undying love to the whale so we can keep getting upvotes on our crappy posts.
It is a story as old as Steem has been as we saw the great divide between Whales and Redfish like me. A typical redfish will have a vote value of 0.01 cents to 0.10 cents and can upvote 11 different people if they upvote 100% and try to keep it at least 75% voting power but most redfish don't do that.
A whale vote, on the other hand, can be from a dollar to hundreds of dollars depending on the percentage used. So we can see why it is a much-coveted vote. Friends, groups, and reputations have been destroyed over as a scarcity mindset still infects people.
There is a certain advantage of being in good graces of a whale. You get upvotes from that person which goes either to your head that you start bragging about it and start doing posts that of little effort or would be driven to do better and write better. We all hope that it is the latter.
You also get a better chance of being delegated SP as it could show that you are an engaged user of the platform or has the same ideals as the whales. It is a fact of life that we trust people that have the same beliefs and ideas as us, so as social beings we tend to congregate towards people who think the same.
At its worst, it is circle jerking but if used with better intentions it would be given to a wider array of people through communities, curators and, delegators who have the same mindset of the whale.
Let us take the example of @fulltimegeek who delegated a lot of his SP to his Stewards of Gondor initiative. He set out the idea of supporting several communities and individuals who were involved in different ideas and interests like homesteading, community building, art, crypto, and others.
In this way, he made sure that the votes would be spread out and not just one community was focused and given support. The reception for this was awesome and just to give you a glimpse of its effect check the table below.
@fulltimegeek and the #stewardsofgondor - Steemit appreciates you! taken from @abh12345 post on Stewards of Gondor activities.
6,000 - 7,000 plus comments each week, 23,000- 25,000 plus upvotes given to 10,000-11,000 plus unique accounts. Yeah take that in baby, that is how effective it is to spread delegation and upvotes. One gets to touch the lives of over 10,000 people in a week. Those 10,000 people thinking that somebody out there cares enough to read my post, see my comment and liked it enough to comment or upvote on it.
You see there is absolutely no reason for you to have a scarcity mindset that the votes is finite and you have to jockey for position to get that whale blessing. Sure I am not gonna lie if I get a hundred dollar upvote from a whale I'll be very happy but it's not the end of the world if they pass over me and decide to support another person. It's their call.
I comment on some whales and witnesses that I support not only for the chance to get an upvote but because I like their message and want to support their ideas. An upvote is just cherry on top. Even with the price of Steem down and the number of people upvoting comments and its value down as well has not stopped me from connecting with people.
So are you saying I should be camping out and commenting on whales and other high SP Steemians? On the contrary, you shouldn't.
Minnows are important too
I hit this realization early on because I'm not one of those that had great content or was engaged in the community when I started. I was a lot like the scarcity-minded people that did the bare minimum effort on my pictures and bad poetry and complained a lot why I was not being upvoted.
It took a rude awakening to open my eyes what I should be doing. Ohhh the whale has 65 reputation and hundreds of thousands of SP so my eyes were glossed over and seeing dollars if I catch their attention. I was putting too much emphasis on getting that whale vote that I was not minding the other people in my level. I was not interacting with red fishes like me who doesn't have even a hundred SP to their name.
Yet these people are the bulk of my followers and commenters and I was hardly minding them. Sucks to have no power huh. Yes, it does and it is a fact. Yet things will not be this way forever. If we make good content, interact with the community and generally don't be a troll then we are bound to get more of our content to be seen and appreciated. Then you'll find yourself getting that curie or OCD vote and maybe even that elusive whale vote from time to time.
Minnows are important because at the start they may be your only voters and just like you they will think that getting the attention of a whale is the best way to get stronger. So does a hundred thousand other minnows.
So in the meantime interact and build relationships with people. Create camaraderie and maybe even get started with a community. Communities are a great way to grow in Steemit and often have witnesses and whales that come on board if they see that their mission and vision is aligned with theirs.
You may think that a few cents is not important but those cents can reach a dollar if you have enough people believing in you.
There is also the possibilities that those minnows right now becomes dolphins and whales in the future. So if you blow them away this time and maybe even piss them off they may feel spiteful and instead of upvotes you get downvotes. The adage "Be nice to the people on your way up as they maybe the people you meet on your way down or worse up there."
This idea came from a comment in one of my posts that I had to write about it. It was one of the best comments I saw in terms of why we should engage even minnows and was from @simplymike
It’s not about dragging someone out of a hole, it’s about climbing up together.
When I first ‘met’ @davemccoy and @charisma777 and a lot of others, we all had a low reputation. It was only because we started interacting with each other and many, many other people with low reputation scores, that we were able to grow our accounts.
1 cent here, 2 cents there... if you build your network by engaging, these cents add up. (And become like 10 cents, lol)
@davemccoy is a prime example of a Minnow who will be a future whale and yet he made the decision to go after newbies and minnows first rather than whales and his initiative is #newbieresteemday
Just look at that number
The man is an absolutely, beast in commenting and being engaged in the community. He posts about highlighting other people and bringing them to the focus and he brings his voice to where people listen to him.
His efforts are not in vain as he is closely seen and sought out by both whales and minnows. He also has this card forever immortalizing him.
Ok so not yet convinced?
How about @ankarlie we started at the same time since we belonged to the same crypto group and was excited about the possibility of earning through blogging in Steemit. She continues to be humble and caring to people even if she has received the attention of whales and even got delegations from them.
She still goes out of her way and welcome newcomers, mentor them patiently and upvote their content. She could earn better curation rewards if she concentrates her SP on whales and other high earners but instead spreads out her votes to those who need it.
She started like me a redfish but how she has now grown.
Lastly me, it wouldn't be that kind of post if I did not mention me. I am still a redfish and don't earn that much but I do my best. I spread my vote and comment a lot
374 comments, 713 upvotes given and 1 self upvote that I used to bring up my comment in one post, and 267 accounts given to. That landed me in the top 5 in that league and I am mighty proud of it.
Just like @ankarlie I could focus on some people that I know will be high earners because either they will be curied, a known whale or have an incoming big bot upvote but I choose to upvote people that have lower earnings and give a good comment to their post. Crazy right and a lot of people are saying that I am misusing my SP especially on the not self voting but I see it as a good way of supporting the platform long term.
The upvote and comment I give now to a person may pave the way for that person to stay and become a dolphin of a whale in the future. We know some of the whales are powering down and moving to different platforms and it is their right because they adopted early and have the right to enjoy it. I would have done the same and cashed out some but I would still retain a bigger chunk now because Steem is going to be big.
With the Dbooks, Steem.films and hivemind update released you know that Steem has a lot of things to other. EOS might be a better blockchain in the future but for now I am staying put and continue doing my engagement.
Yet I am also human at times and get tired, feel bad and often still falls under the trap of depression. The past few weeks has been so hard for me and I thought about quitting. Yet this comment energized me and made me feel that not everything seems so bad. That what I am doing matters.
This came from @itinerantartist who is a wonderful artist and a great person. Whenever I feel weak and ready to quit. I will just have to read this again and I know that I can continue on. I had to put this here not to be self-serving but as a reminder to all redfishes and minnows like me that our comments means something. This is what it truly means that your voice truly matters.
[-]itinerantartist (51) · 2 days ago
@maverickinvictus you are singlehandedly one of the most inspiring profiles on this platform I have come across. Not because you're a ballad-belting singer or a day trading crypto enthusiast. Not because you do contorting yoga moves or post funny memes - not because of your hobbies but because of your heart.
you are one of probably 2 people on steemit I have always come to count on and i can't express how much I've come to treasure each heartfelt comment, driving me to want to revise and write and make more... to put more into each thought and song and poem and drawing. if it weren't for you and the other steemian, i know i would most likely not be on steemit the way i am today - or maybe even at all. I joined Steemit in an effort to publish my writing and art that I've mostly kept secret all my life, and to encourage myself to post more, but with low engagement I started to drift away, feeling quite useless when I'd pour my heart and soul into public and feel that no one was listening. but then you came along - and now there you are, always listening, always providing commentary and feedback, giving ideas for taking it to the next level and becoming a better version of whatever artist i am. even if my audience if only a few people, those few really matter. because if no one is there to listen, is there any point to making art at all?
@maverickinvictus you have the wonderfully unique and selfless quality of building up bridges for others to walk on. supporting the boards under their feet and helping them walk across. connecting them to each other and instilling the ideas that give them the tools to create. and selflessness is beyond mere hobby or skill, its a quality you've taken the time to grow over the course of your entire life. and its a choice you make ***each and every single day. ***
i can't wait for the day you are a whale on steemit because if anythings for certain, i know you will give it back 1000% to the rest of the community. and i wish i could upvote this post twice. in fact i wish i could vote it 100 times. big love to you. aim high and don't forget the immense beauty and benefit you bring to the wonderful world of steemians <3
So this partially the answer to a steemians who asked me who I put in GINABOT. It is a mixture of whales, dolphins, minnows and redfishes that I value. These are some of the people that I find interesting and want to make sure that I keep updated and comment on their post. They made he effort to make one so I will make the effort to read it and give my thoughts. Those are priceless.
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All good points. Seeking out those from within our own ranks who produce great content and want to reach out and create community is how the foundation that Steemit apparently had, but somehow lost, gets rebuilt. There needs to be more and more of us attending to it in some fashion.
Getting the larger vote is cool—but what you do with it is more important. Are you cashing it out every time, or are you using it to power up and give back?
The more we extend our reach as individuals and as groups of like minded people, the more that this foundation being rebuilt will lift the platform. It's going to take a while, it means playing the long game, but in the end, it will be better and more beneficial for everyone than all of the workarounds currently invented and deployed.
I loved this comment and even though a lot are saying that Steem is broken and even say dead but when I see you and Dave and the rest of the people in Asher's league I cannot help but feel hopeful that it can still work because we are the ones down in the trenches engaging people.
Steem gave us the house and midway we are making renovations to the foundation haha.
There's a lot to overcome. Human nature is a powerful tool, and then when you throw in all kinds of people's experiences and their opinions and their expectations, it's hard to derive a consensus amidst competing interests.
However, I think people can come around to the idea that there will be more rewards in the long run if we're not depending on workarounds to make them, but rather sticking to the principles of Steemit and recentering the platform around them.
Otherwise, it is helplessly broken and the bots can have it. :)
Wise words spoken by a wise man! In the beginning I tried to follow whales (or dolphins, wherever the line is), but I've noticed that lots of them don't create interesting content. Most articles I like are actually written by people at my level or newer. Of course there are exceptions, and some whales do write interesting and deeper stuff (I follow some of them in my vegan community for instance), but I connect much more easily with minnows who aren't so busy yet and are flooded with comments of people sucking their balls. That's what it is mostly...a$$ kissing and it's something I swore I would never do. Great article Mav, you are on your way to the top for sure!
Oh I don't know about being on top I'll be perfectly happy becoming a sugar dolphin hahhaa
It is that mad dash and scarcity mindset of certain people that infuriates me and has made the trending page pretty much useless because it is usually not the interesting posts or worst just meme. I like a good meme but a meme that is hundreds of dollars is just too much for me.
I find that too that it is usually minnows and dolphins who writes interesting topics.
Although there are certain whales who have interesting posts as well.
As long as it is relevant to me I don't really care on their reputation nor SP.
Quoting @lynncoyle here
YES! I think most of the failed retention rate has to do with people coming here with the dreams of easy cryptocurrency earnings; and when they realize it is actually hard work, they start to leave.
I came to steemit last summer with the dreams of writing, blogging and having a new platform to revitalize my love and passion for writing. The fact of earning money or cryptocurrency (which I knew NOTHING about) was on the bottom of my totem pole of reasons for being here. I am here for community, writing, blogging and interacting. My reasons for coming to steemit have not changed but have evolved into a career for me.
Yes because people are I'll advised how easy it is as we see videos saying that they earn more than hundreds of dollars in several posts and then as new users we see the trending page and we are floored that we see thousands of dollars on simple posts.
Then we make our introduceyourself and it earns well because of all the welcomes and upVotes we get and we feel good.
Our 2nd , 3rd and other posts don't do well and people start pointing to whales and how we should get votes from then and we join the mad rat race.
Then we get angry and we feel bitter and we leave the platform.
It is a tale that many people are familiar with.
The wrong expectations doon many people to fail.
It is good that you had a different reason for joining and with the experiences you have and teh engagement you did with teh community and recognizing early on what Steemit is made you and a lot of the people who flourished here.
I'm so glad you wrote this post! It seems like when people start on steemit, they have dollar signs in their eyes and a desperate need to saddle up to the popular kids, or the whales, in the hope of being noticed enough that the whales upvote them. That same 'high school' desperation didn't work then, and it doesn't work now. Begging to be popular didn't get you invited to the 'cool kids' parties, but instead befriending like-minded people helped to create a much more realistic circle of trustworthy friends who always had your back.
That's what I see here. You mentioned @davemccoy, who joined at the same time as me, and I think we met pretty early on in our steemit journey. I remember the conversation surrounding the beginning of @newbieresteemday, and it focused on the idea that in the beginning, all of us supporting each other might only be worth a few cents, but that wasn't the true purpose; the purpose was more about the support and the idea of growing together. One day our votes would be worth more, but in the meantime, it was the commenting and developing genuine relationships that became truly valuable. That is what steemit is about.
And the beautiful comments that you received are a true testament to you as a person, and to your ability to care and to your genuine commenting. In the end those comments are worth more than any upvote from a whale. They are the comments, that at the end of the day, allow you to rest your head comfortably on your pillow, knowing that you made a difference in someone's life, instead of focusing solely on making money. The fact that we can all do that on steemit, makes this an unbelievably beautiful platform!
I love this one as I felt exactly like that when I first joined and the veterans in a group that I would not name made newbies feel like that. They were the cool kids and we could not sit with them. Then they would get all the upvotes and lord it over.
I'm glad that when you started you had someone like Dave and the thing that everyone has done is just awesome.
Growing together is the concept that I really like and I have gravitated to people who thought the same.
Yeah IT is someone really special :)
I love our groups who find and support the newbies, and show them their worth without trying to be a latching barnacle on a whale!
Growing together is a beautiful thing; I'm glad I found you by the way ;) You're my favourite Sugar Red Fish lol
So far I am the only Sugar Red fish yet hahahha
haha yes that's true.
You reminded me of something my father used to say to me when I was little: "You're the best Lynn I've got" :)
All praise the Queen of Engagement ahha
Absolutely nailed it! You've explained every aspect that needs explaining. Glad to have you as a follower and fellow buddyup friend! Not one thing to disagree on in my opinion.
Yeah it took me awhile to figure this out but when it clicked in my head it was a face-palm moment but I have learned and I want as much as possible to share with people :)
I see great things for Buddy up and looking forward to grow with all of you.
Mave, even now I can't figure out how you get the time... Are you sure you sleep?? Or you are two persons or perhaps four using the same login?? :D dude you are awesome and that comment from @itinerantartist captures what you are... A great human being...
He NEVER sleeps! EVER!
I see him on here just as much as I am... he's a whirlwind!
Yeah, exactly... He will become a whale someday and he will give me $100 upvotes :D
I'm behind 2 days in comments already because work is so hectic these days that I tend to fall asleep as I get home!
Thank you so much Svk! In fact I do sleep a lot and I'm replying to this as I am about to hahaha.
You are great too!
So far I haven't met anyone that came here for the reason of making gold from tar pits. If I do I will send them here to this post so they can see things for what it is. As everyone said here, you are on point. Resteeming so more can see!
Thank you so much FS! It means the world to me when I see good comments like this.
You are welcome, but as I say this, I should be the one saying thank you for posts like this as many others should. Not in the purpose to flatter you , but talking with all honesty.
I think the most important thing is simply highlighting the importance of engaging with your fellow Steemit users regardless of their voting power.
Personally, I will comment on someone’s post if I enjoy it and want to support them. I don’t care how much SP they have. If they produce great content then they deserve attention. It’s really as simple as that.
Indeed I agree with that sentiment although at the beginning I was blinded to it because the people that were guiding me had the same kind of thinking before that only the whales deserve the engagement.
Yeah I personally find that trying to get a whale's attention is much like running around and chasing celebrities to get their signature. It's just too much effort and lacks integrity.
he cares for everyone that is what he is
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