STEEM: The gateway drug into digital currencies for the masses.
Dragging normal people kicking and steeming into digital currencies
Steem is the 'normal' persons entry to Crypto!
I am a long time Crypto nerd (not as long a some) and as such i have had my fair share of attempting to explain the big picture to friends, family, plane ride companions, hair dressers, taxi drivers, shop keeps and anyone that would stay still long enough to listen!. Each present their own challenges and varying degree's of scepticism.
I have proudly enlisted 3 raging crypto nerds and have educated a large number of people that now have a much better idea about crypto currencies and there benefits to society.
Of course there are also the people that think i am batshit crazy; you can sense their lack of interest just looking at them.
I have also tried my hand at Steem/it with a few of these people and thankfully it is a much easier pill to swallow; i have even tried that latter group (the ones that are not interested at all) and they too have even come around; they only have a basic idea but without knowing the technical's they are sold on the idea of being at a reddit style social media platform and being paid to contribute or curate; F@^&ing hooray!; this makes our job 10 times easier; they like doing this stuff anyway and now they can get paid to do it.... sold!
What does this mean; people understand a USD amount against their name and they like seeing funny meme's of cats. these 'normal' people will come; they will contribute and before long they will hold CRYPTO CURRENCIES!! they might not have known what they were getting them selves into and in there mind you just earn these Steem dollars and they end up in you bank ready to purchase 'stuff' from the mall.
Once they work out it doesn't work this way yet. They will set out on their next big adventure. they may look to exchange their crisp new SBD for dirty fiat; or BTC and facilitated payment via a crypto card similar to the bank card they are familiar with. Either way they will come to learn that crypto currencies are real and they do hold value and before long they may even come to see the benefits and begin to love them as much as the current community.
They will most likely continue on the same path that paid for their shiny new thing for a while, but at that point it's too late, we got them; after a while they will come to realise there are a number of other 'project' out there and curiosity will take over.
Rabbit hole 1; normal person 0
TL;DR
From personal experience the 'normal' person who is not interested in crypto currencies see the light and can relate to Steem, it's a medium that they are already involved in and love; social media.
The added ability to 'get paid' to contribute is a motivator and i think that is where it stops; they now have a compelling reason to hold and understand crypto currencies and after that foot is in the door it will only be a matter of time before the fling it wide open and see what remarkable things have been done in this space.
I've had many of the same experiences when introducing people to crypto and the blockchain. Already i've noticed quite a difference when discussing Steemit. People are a lot more receptive and seem to get it far easier. That doesn't mean there aren't still difficulties...... What is steem? How do I get my money out? Where does the money come from? Most of the queries are about the financial aspect.....
Agree 100%; there are still questions and its' generally not from the social media side, they get that, your question sum it up pretty well; but i am yet to find 1 person that is as reluctant to listen as when you start talking about bitcoin; quite the opposite. you seed the idea and then walk away.... then they come at you with questions :) its pleasant and welcome change.
Although i still find that on a few people the close tie to digital currencies and the bitcoin media of old leaves them a bit unsure as to if they want to sign up using their facebook or reddit accounts. Luckily enough you can mine accounts and i foresee that when their is a normal sign up via email type approach the flood gates will open.
Absolutely! Normal sign-up.....as in catering to their expectations.....will really help. I can't wait. Some of the residual, i'm not sure what it is, trepidation or scepticism, seems to come from a feeling that crypto is a club. A big club and they already aren't in it. The ship has sailed and if they get involved it will be a waste of time, either because they don't really get it and all their money and efforts will be taken from them as they stumble from one scam to the next, or that all the rewards have been carved up months ago and they'll never get in on the real action.
I've really tried to break this feeling down. I talk about the risks a lot. Its the first and last thing I say.....big time. However, now, with Steemit, the only risk is ones time and effort! Ok yes in a kind of meritocracy, if you aren't creative or interesting or something (however I believe we all have gifts if we can unlock them) then you won't earn as much as the next person......but so what? You can get involved and learn and earn something for your time. Who knows where that might lead.
Please refer them to my offer of free or discounted accounts for bitcointalk community members: link
Great to know and good offer; the people i am referring to are outside of crypto all together and therefore don't have an established bitcointalk account; if i find any crypto heads in the same situation i will be sure to recommend your offer
+5%
My approach with non-crypto people is to aggressively underpromise on the money. Tell them it is a new web site and it might not work out. You get points theoretically worth money (and maybe even a lot of money), but you never know, you might get nothing. That's good enough for most people to be interested without needing too many questions answered. As this post says, it is the gateway drug. Don't throw the hard crypto drug at them right up front.