More Thoughts About Self-Voting - Do You Have An Investor Mindset or a Content Creator Mindset?
Thanks to everyone who shared their thoughts about self-voting in the comments section of my article entitled @SumatraNate's Self-Voting Strategy.
I anticipated that we would hear arguments from both sides (which did happen), and I appreciated that everyone was civil (even when we disagreed).
As I continue to contemplate the issue of self-voting, I am reminded that the reason why we join Steemit might impact our opinions/views of self-voting.
In this article I am going to discuss some potential differences between an investor's mindset and a content creator's mindset regarding self-voting.
The Investor
To understand the mindset of an investor, when need to understand the meaning of the word investor.
Investor: a person or group of people that puts its money into a business or other organization in order to make a profit (source)
By definition, investors use money with the goal of making more money.
In extreme cases, someone who is only looking for a return on investment will interact with the Steemit platform but will refuse to interact with the Steemit community. Although many of us do not feel comfortable with this philosophy, we must acknowledge that financial investors play an important role in improving the valuation of Steem (even though they might not provide value to the relationships being developed within Steemit).
Investors not only want a return on their investment, they want a quick return on investment, which may lead to extreme self-voting.
Extreme self-voting ...
- is a voting strategy where a person primarily votes for his or herself
- often includes 100% self-upvotes for unengaging comments (while neglecting the writer of the posts)
- may be bolstered by the use of bots and additional Steemit accounts
Let me be clear. Our community is blessed by many benevolent Steemians who entered our community with an investor mindset. They have done a great job of seeking a return on their investment, while at the same time developing meaningful relationships with the community.
And though we might not agree with a fellow Steemian who self-upvotes (because of his or her investor's mindset), it is beneficial to understand the reasoning and thought process behind his/her motivations and goals.
The Content Creator
Content creators have grown their following and their Steem Power by creating quality content that engages their audience.
A lot of successful content creators pride themselves on starting from zero and growing into the dolphin or whale that they are today. Developing relationships and building a network of followers was an important part of their growth on the Steemit platform and within the Steemit community. And as a result, they value the opportunity to invest in others via upvotes.
Content creators are validated by the upvotes of others. They find approval and meaning when their content is accepted and praised. It might mean less for a content creator to receive self-praise (via a self-upvote) versus external validation from others.
There are content creators who have self-upvoted in the past, and there are those who still do today.
What is important to remember is that content creators have invested time and effort into creating content (instead of on a large, initial investment into Steem Power). Their reasoning for joining our community and staying engaged in our community impact their opinions and perspective on self-voting.
I am both!
I feel that I can sympathize with both investors and content creators. When I initially joined Steemit, I struggled to create content.
It was a difficult and sometimes discouraging time. I would write articles, but received little response.
But as I improved my writing skills and developed meaningful relationships I started to find some traction. And then at some point, I realized that I wanted to invest outside money to increase my Steem Power.
I want to see a return on my investment, but I also want to invest time into improving my writing ability and engaging others in the Steemit community.
I implore all of us to evaluate ourselves before we start casting stones. I also hope that we will take a few moments to consider other peoples perspectives before we start to tear him or her down.
Your Turn
Let's continue the conversation in the comments section.
- Do you think more like an investor or a content creator?
- Have you ever felt shame for self-voting?
- What advice would you give a new Steemit user in regards to self-voting?
Thanks for stopping by. I look forward to hearing from you.
@sumatranate
I agree, there are two semi-opposing philosophies on Steemit. The content producer who 'let the chips fall'. Or an invester who markets and promotes his work to gain a following of upvoters. A user can do both - as long as the motive is the content, not the investment. @ironshield
@ironshield, thanks for adding to the conversation. We can not deny that the return on investment is important but I hope that we focus more on the content and the community.
I think I'm both, and yes, at times self-voting seems a little odd.
I love to create fitness content and hope to steer my blog that direction going forward. My primary reason for participating on Steemit is as a business/income stream. But to do that effectively on any platform you have to provide value first. You can self-vote all day on a worthless post and not get very far as a business. To that end, if you provide value to the community there shouldn't be any reason not to allow a vote for your own content.
@jjudd, thanks for sharing. I completely agree that businesses need to add value.
I wish you the best in your business venture on Steemit. Hoping that both of us can develop strong income streams on Steemit and other platforms.
Definitely a content creator here.
All my steemit posts link out to my other sites and that is the real gold for me. Traffic and sales are up everywhere else I post or sell anything. My affiliate sales are way up and book sales are double from last year. I've had 2 coaching gigs - not from steemit people - from other platforms where I cross post. I'm not sure what else, but it's all great.
I came here for the alexa ranking and to promote my health and weight loss content. I had no idea about crypto or any thoughts of making money here. But now - I paid for my Jan 2018 expenses with Dec 2017 steemit money alone.
I am all in with this and posting 2-4 times a day.
But I do not trust the place for a minute. Too many shenanigans at the top. All the money concentrated at the top. Infighting with the big guys 24/7 when not circle-jerking each other. Little support for gasping minnows.
Now witness idea that they "need" to cut post payouts by 75% asap. Right as the Alexa drops beneath 500. No initiatives to make the place more welcoming - instead - cut post payouts. OK.
I will be here until they pry the alexa ranking from my cold, dead hands, but no - I am most definitely not an investor beyond what I have to be to succeed here.
@fitinfun, thanks for sharing with us some of your business strategies and concerns. Something I hear from you is that you have a plan and you are executing it.
I believe that is important regardless of how comfortable or not you feel with the platform and leaders. If we don't know where we want to go, we rarely make it there.
Thanks for stopping by. I apppreciate!
Yes, I am using this place to the best of my abilities and hoping the big guys don't kill it. If I wake up one day and steemit is gone (like 3 other platforms I have tried in the 10 years I have been doing this work) I will not be surprised in the least.
First, I have never self-voted; look it up. Secondly, Steemit is about "sweat equity." To achieve results, one must invest in him/her self and the requisite skills. Thirdly and connected with skills, one must engage with pensive and quality comments; not expecting anything in return.
There are numerous tools and even folks who will teach the use of those tools for free. There are few posts which I will upvote, because of blatant spelling, grammar, and syntax mistakes. Hello? If you are serious about being on Steemit, Grammarly Premium is a must.
Furthermore, all thoughts must be connected with bridges and street lights. Nomad pieces belong in the desert. Tell your audience as if they were sitting in your living room with you.
On Steemit, one is a businessperson. To succeed in a business one must fulfill a need and possess integrity. So go ahead and self-vote. However, you won't get my vote and from those like me. Now that is a bad investment.
@aedroberts, thanks for stopping by. There are so many nuggets that I appreciate from your comment.
I starting checking out Grammarly because of your comment. I appreciate all of the sound advice.
it's curious to me that content creators don't look at this as more of an investment. we get 20% regenerating amount of voting power daily. i am here to make money and as a consequence of coming here and sharing, i have also met incredible people and made valuable connections. i am still here to make money and i am also amazed at the connections.
in some way i feel it's taboo to say that, as if we shouldn't self vote. out of my 20% regenerating voting power, i have always voted up every single post i create. i frankly don't understand why it's so taboo. People seem to bring their ideas about money and that we shouldn't be self interested to this platform. If my account grows, my voting power grows and everyone I upvote gets a higher vote from me. I fully disagree with going to someone's post, not voting it and upvoting your own comment. To me that is just rude and that person wont achieve a good connection with me very easily, but upvoting your own posts- no brainer! Especially if I had money invested in the platform. It's a basic ROI. Where else can you invest money, write articles, upvote them and continue growing your initial investment?
Thanks for the thoughts!
@mountainjewel, thanks for adding to the conversation. You are spot on about making every voting opportunity count. We miss out greatly if we just sit on our votes (and we are no help to other people).
Points that stood out from your comment:
Always nice to meet someone living in the Ozarks. Thanks for stopping by!
Well, I’ve not invested monetarily into Steemit, but I’ve done as much content creation and curation as I can. I see the time that I spend contributing to and supporting the community as an investment. So maybe I’m both investor and creator?
I haven’t self upvoted because from the time I began here I’ve seen quite a few posts about it, and the majority of them shine a negative light on it. I read some that are almost apologetic or defensive explainations as to why the author has self upvoted. So I guess I haven’t done it for fear of being shamed.
@powellx5, you are definitely a great contributor to Steemit. It has been nice to get to know you on our platform and in our community.
I agree that as content creators we also are investors of time and effort. I wish I would have made that distinction better in the original post.
In regards to self-voting you have to find a place that you are comfortable operating from. But I agree that pressure from outside forces can have an impact on what we do (and that is not always a bad thing).
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the post is very remarkable. I learned a lot from your posts. sorry if my language is not too true because I do not understand English .. and I find out your post via google translate .. regards from me @andhika12 steemian indonesia.
@andhika12, thanks for the comment. I hope that I can continue to help you out.
I see content creation as a -means- to investing, interestingly enough. Regardless I am both, through and through. I definitely try and reserve self voting for getting my comment noticed...self voting on my own content is a no brainier as it takes me insanely long to produce a track and paying myself .15 sbd is the least I could do. :)
@drumoperator, I agree with the idea that we can create content which in turn provides an opportunity for investing. I have pulled some of my SBD to purchase other cryptocurrencies. Steemit is a unique income stream.
Thanks again for you Mr. @sumatranate who has been trying to develop ideas that are profitable for all of us.
I am grateful to have friends like you. You write a smart article that is very profitable for us this beginner. This is the very reality we need.
I agree with you !
let me share your articles for the good of us all.
@sayedahmadsabi, thanks for the kind words. I hope that I can continue to provide value to you and others. Let's keep moving forward and growing together.
You're welcome .. thanks alot for your support for me . I'll do the same think as you do for me.. keep spirit and do your best