General
What is steemit.com?
Steemit has redefined social media by building a living, breathing, and growing social economy - a community where users are rewarded for sharing their voice. It's a new kind of attention economy.

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How does Steemit work?
Steemit.com is one of the many websites (including Busy.org, DTube, and Utopian.io) that are powered by the Steem blockchain and STEEM cryptocurrency. All of these websites read and write content to the Steem blockchain, which stores the content in an immutable blockchain ledger, and rewards users for their contributions with digital tokens called STEEM.

Every day, the Steem blockchain mints new STEEM tokens and adds them to a community's "rewards pool". These tokens are then awarded to users for their contributions, based on the votes that their content receives. Users who hold more tokens in their account as "Steem Power" will get to decide where a larger portion of the rewards pool is distributed.

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How does Steemit differ from other social media websites?
While most social media sites extract this value for the benefit of their shareholders, Steemit believes that the users of the platform should receive the benefits and rewards for their attention and the contributions they make to the platform.

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What do I need to do in order to secure my account?
Unlike most social media websites, there is no way to recover your account if you lose your password / owner key! This is why it is extremely important that you save and backup your password somewhere safe. It is strongly recommended that you store an offline copy in case of a hard drive failure or other calamity. Consider digital offline storage, such as an external disk or flash drive, as well as printed paper stored in a fireproof safe. Use a safe deposit box for best redundancy.

If you leak your private key to another user or a third-party website, that user or website will have full access to your account. This means they can steal it, as well as the funds inside of it. It is therefore not recommended to enter your private key information with any other user or third-party website. If you believe your account has been compromised, you should change your password/keys right away.

Each account has multiple keys, which each have different levels of authority: owner, active, posting, and memo. The information on the different types of keys and their purposes, as well as more information on password and key security, can be found in the section on Security.

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Does it cost anything to post, comment, or vote?
No. It is free to post, comment, and vote on content on steemit.com. You might even get paid for it!

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Can I earn digital tokens on Steemit? How?
You can earn digital tokens on Steemit by:

Posting - By sharing your posts, you can earn upvotes from community members. Depending on the upvotes you receive, you may get a portion of the "rewards pool".

Voting and curating - If you discover a post and upvote it before it becomes popular, you can earn a curation reward. The reward amount will depend on the amount of Steem Power you have.

Purchasing - Users can purchase STEEM or Steem Dollar tokens directly through their Steemit wallet using bitcoin, Ether, or BitShares tokens. They are also available from other markets and exchanges including Binance, Bithumb, BitShares, Bittrex, BlockTrades, Changelly, GOBADA, GOPAX, HitBTC, Huobi, LocalBitcoinCash, Poloniex, Shapeshift.io, UpBit, and Yensesa.

Vesting - STEEM tokens that are powered up to Steem Power will earn a small amount of new tokens for holding.

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Where do the tokens come from?
The Steem network continually creates new digital tokens to reward content creators and curators. Some of the newly-created tokens are transferred to users who add value to Steem by posting, commenting, and voting on other people's posts. The remainder is distributed to holders of Steem Power and the witnesses that power the blockchain.

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Where does the value come from?
At its root, Steem is simply a points system. However, because this points system is blockchain-based, the points can be traded on markets as tokens. People buy and sell these tokens, and many hold in anticipation of increased purchasing power for various Steem-related services.

By analogy, Steem is a game system where users compete for attention and rewards by bringing content and adding value to the platform. The rewards people earn are tokens that have market value and are readily tradable. It is similar to how someone playing a video game could obtain a limited item or currency by playing the game. If the currency or items are transferable between users, then they can sell or buy them on game item markets.

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Why are people getting vastly different rewards?
Steemit is not a "get rich quick" scheme. While it is possible to post content that goes viral quickly and earn a lot of rewards on a single post, this is not typical for most users.

Most of the authors that you see earning high rewards are users that have spent a lot of time in the network building followings, making connections with others, and developing a reputation for bringing high quality content.

It is best to have realistic expectations, without focusing on rewards when you are first starting out. Work on building a following, making connections, and developing a good reputation. Consistency will pay off in the long run.

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Is there a desktop wallet available for STEEM?
Yes. There is a third party wallet called Vessel, developed by one of the Steem witnesses @jesta. The latest release can be downloaded here.

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What are Smart Media Tokens (SMTs)?
A Smart Media Token (SMT) is a native digital asset on the Steem blockchain that can be quickly launched by anyone to help monetize online content and create incentives to encourage desired user behavior.

They're like Ethereum's ERC-20 tokens, but with certain built-in ‘Proof-of-Brain’ properties and a token distribution reward system designed specifically for digital content businesses.

SMTs are planned to be launched in 2018!

More information can be found on the SMTs website: smt.steem.io.

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Accounts
How do I create an account?
Click on the "Sign Up" link at the top of steemit.com to get started.

You will be asked to enter your email address and verify your phone number. After your information has been verified, you will be added to the waiting list to receive an account. You will be notified via email once your account is approved.

After you receive notification that your account is approved, click on the link in the email to finish the account creation process. Be sure to save and backup your username and password. It is very important that you do not lose your password. There is no way to recover your password or access your account if it is lost. Once your password is saved and backed up, click on the "Create Account" button to create the account.

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What information do I need to provide in order to create an account?
You will need to provide your email address and phone number.

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How long does the account approval process take?
Some accounts are approved faster than others. Most accounts are approved within 24 hours. Some may take a week or two to review.

If your account has not been approved after more than two weeks, you can ask for help in the #help channel on steem.chat.

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Can I speed up the account approval process?
There is currently no way to speed up the account approval process. If you are unable to wait, there are third-party websites listed below that allow you to bypass the approval process and pay to open an account.

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Why do I need to provide my email and phone number?
To create an account on the blockchain, it costs STEEM tokens. When you create an account through steemit.com, Steemit Inc. is supplying the tokens to pay the account creation fee. In order to prevent users from abusing the paid-for signup and creating multiple accounts, we need to be able to verify that each user is only signing up for one account.

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Can I create a Steem account without an email and phone number?
The only way to have an account created via steemit.com is to supply your email and phone number. Because Steem is an open and permissionless network, there are other ways to create an account. Any Steem blockchain account can be used on steemit.com.

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What are other ways to create an account on the blockchain besides using steemit.com?
If you are willing to pay your own signup fee, then there are other ways to create a new account on the blockchain.

There is a third-party tool called SteemCreate that accepts credit cards, or BTC to create a Steem account. You do not need to have an existing Steem blockchain account to use the service, but there is a charge on top of the blockchain account creation fee for using the service.

There is a third-party tool called BlockTrades that accepts bitcoin, Litecoin, STEEM, SBD, BitShares, Dash, Dogecoin, Ethereum, and more to create a Steem account. You can also send extra tokens to pre-load the account with additional Steem Power. You do not need to have an existing Steem blockchain account to use the service, but there is a charge on top of the blockchain account creation fee for using the service.

There is a third-party tool called AnonSteem that accepts bitcoin, Litecoin, STEEM, or SBD to anonymously create a Steem account. You do not need to have an existing Steem blockchain account to use the service, but there is a charge on top of the blockchain account creation fee for using the service.

There is a third-party tool called SteemConnect that allows you to create accounts by paying or delegating the account creation fee. There is no additional fee to use the service, but does require an existing Steem blockchain account to pay the account creation fee to create the account.

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It is not letting me create an account with my phone number. What should I do?
Ask for help in the #help channel on steem.chat.

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What happens if my email or phone number changes?
Currently there is no way to change the email or phone number that is linked to your account. Though once your account is created, you can continue to use it even if the email or phone number that is linked to the account has changed.

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Am I allowed to create more than one account?
Each user is allowed only one paid-for account created via steemit.com, however users are allowed to create as many accounts as they want on the blockchain. Creating additional accounts on the blockchain requires users to pay their own account creation fee using one of the third-party services listed above.

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Can I change my username?
Account names can not be changed. If you would like a new account name, you must pay to create a new account using a third-party account creation service.

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Can I delete or deactivate my account?
Accounts can not be deactivated or deleted. The account along with all of its activity is permanently stored in the blockchain.

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Community
Is there an Etiquette Guide for Steemit?
There are no official rules for participating on steemit.com, but one of the users @thecryptofiend has created an Etiquette Guide for the community. While it is not required to follow the suggestions in the guide, they are standards that many users in the community choose to follow.

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Am I required to verify my identity?
Verification is a process where users give evidence to show that they are the person that they claim to be. This is to reduce fraud and people impersonating known figures. If you would like to remain anonymous, that is perfectly fine. However if you claim to be someone specific, the community may expect that you verify you are who you say you are.

There are a number of ways to do this. The most common way to verify your identity is by posting a link to your Steemit profile on a website or social media account which you are already known for having such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, a blog, or photography site.

Many users also like to post a photo or a video which shows them holding up a sheet of paper with the current date and their Steem account name handwritten on it. This is a great way to add a personal touch to verifying.

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Site Navigation
How do I upvote a post or comment?
To upvote a post or comment, click on the "upvote" icon at the bottom of the post/comment.

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What do the Home, New, Hot, Trending, and Promoted links show?
These are various ways to sort Steem posts.

Home - The most recent posts of the accounts you follow (your feed).

New - Posts are sorted by the time posted, with newest first.

Hot - Popular posts at the moment.

Trending - Posts with the most amount of votes, stake-weighted, recently.

Promoted - Listings that are boosted by Steem Dollar payments get promoted for greater visibility.

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What information is available in my account menu?
You can get to your account menu by clicking on the avatar icon in the top-right corner of a steemit.com page.

Feed - Here is where you go to see the most recent posts from the people you follow.

Blog - Here is where you go to see all of your posts and resteems. It is also where you go to see your profile page that is viewable by other users.

Comments - Here is where you go to see all of the comments and replies you have made.

Replies - Here is where you go to see all replies other users have made to your posts and comments.

Wallet - Here is where you go to see your wallet balances, make transfers, exchange STEEM or Steem Dollars, and Power Up.

Change Password - Here is where you go to change your password.

Settings - Here is where you go to update your settings.

Logout - If you'd like to logout.

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How do I see my recent rewards?
The Rewards drop-down menu is available on your profile/blog page. Click it and there are two links:

Curation rewards - Shows the rewards earned for upvoting posts and comments.

Author rewards - Shows the rewards earned by your own posts and comments.

You can also view the same information for other users by visiting their profile.

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What information is shown in my wallet?
Your wallet shows how many STEEM and Steem Dollar tokens you have in your account. It shows how much Steem Power it has, and how much SP is delegated. It also shows how many of your STEEM and Steem Dollar tokens are being held in the savings account, which is a balance that is subject to 3 day withdraw waiting period. The wallet page shows any the progress of any Steem Dollar to STEEM conversions as well as the status of a power down. It also shows an estimated value of all the tokens in your account, based on the recent market price of STEEM.

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How do I transfer my STEEM or Steem Dollars into savings?
Your savings balance is STEEM and SBD tokens that are subject to 3 day withdraw waiting period. This is an extra security measure in case your account credentials are compromised. To transfer STEEM or SBD tokens into savings, click on the drop-down arrow next to STEEM or STEEM DOLLARS in your wallet, and select "Transfer to Savings".

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How do I send money to another user?
From your wallet page, click the STEEM or Steem Dollar balances with the down arrow next to them.
In the drop-down menu, click 'Transfer'.
Type the username of the account you want to send the STEEM or Steem Dollars to. Double and triple check the spelling.
Enter the amount of STEEM or Steem Dollars to send.
Enter a memo to go along with the transaction (optional).
Click Submit.
You will be prompted for your password. You will need to enter your master password or active key.
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Will I receive notifications when there is activity with my account?
When there is new activity in your feed, you receive a reply from another user, or there is a new transfer in your wallet, you will receive a notification in your account menu. It will show a little red number showing the number of new notifications.

Steemit also allows you to subscribe to receive additional notifications when users mention you in a comment or post.

Currently, there are no options to receive notifications for votes directly on steemit.com. But, there is a third-party application https://steemstats.com/, developed by @jesta, which has an option to set up additional notifications on your computer.

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What is shown in my profile?
At the top of your profile is your display name and reputation score. Below your display name is the number of followers you have, the number of posts and comments you have written, and the number of people you are following. It also shows the month and year when your account was created.

You have the option to change your avatar and display name on the Settings page. There, you can set additional information such as "about" information, your location, and add a link to a website of your choosing. You also have the option to set a cover image for your profile.

You can view your own profile by clicking on the link to your Blog in your account menu.

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How do I change my avatar image and other profile information?
Your profile info, avatar image, and cover image are set in your Settings page. In order to update your avatar picture and cover image, you will need to host the images somewhere. This can be done by uploading it to a Steemit comment or post, or using a third-party image hosting site such as Postimage. Once your image is uploaded, copy its URL and paste it into the "Profile Picture URL" box for the avatar, or the "Cover Image URL" box for the cover image. Then click the Update button and enter your password or active key.

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What is the recommend size for the cover image?
The cover image will be resized/scaled depending on the device being used. Therefore it is recommend to use an image that will still look good when cropped or resized. A 2048x512 image is the optimal size to work for most devices.

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How can I control whether I see "Not Safe For Work" (NSFW) content?
By default, content that users have tagged as "NSFW" will be hidden, but a link will be shown to reveal the content.

You can update your display preference with the Settings page so that NSFW content is always shown by default, remains hidden until clicked, or is completely hidden with no option to reveal.

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How do I search for content?
In the upper right corner of Steemit, there is a magnifying glass search link where you can find posts using a keyword search.

There is also an Explore link in the main menu, where you can browse through posts based on tags.

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Can I see which users I have muted?
Yes. This can be seen under the Settings page.

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Can I see which users have muted me?
No. This information is not presented on steemit.com.

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Can I see the list of users I am following, and who is following me?
Yes. You can see the list of followers or people you are following by clicking on the links on your profile page.

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What languages are supported?
Currently steemit.com supports English, Spanish, Russian, French, Italian, Korean, Polish, and Chinese. There are also many communities using the platform that speak other languages. If you are interested in joining our translation team to add additional languages or help support the ones we have, please email us at [email protected].

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Posting
What can users post to Steemit?
Steem is an open platform meant to host and welcome any legal content. Users can post anything they want, whether it be phrases, quotes, blogs, anecdotes, photos, videos, memes, songs, and more. Be creative!

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What are the different choices for post rewards (50%/50%, Power Up 100%, Decline Payout)?
50%/50% - This rewards in half Steem Power, and half liquid STEEM / Steem Dollars. The ratio of liquid STEEM to Steem Dollars rewarded is based on network conditions at the time of payout. This is the default payout option.

Power Up 100% - This option rewards the post in 100% Steem Power.

Decline Payout - Use this option to receive no post rewards. Votes will affect the post's position on the trending ranking but no rewards are paid from Steem's reward pool. Replies made to the post are still eligible for rewards.

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How do I add images and photos to my posts?
You can browse your hard drive to add an image by clicking on the "selecting them" link from within the editor.

If you have an image copied to your clipboard, you can simply paste (ctrl + v) while in the post/comment editor, and your image will be uploaded into your post or comment. Due to the file size of these pasted images, this method is only recommended for simple graphics. Photos (.JPG) should be uploaded from your disk.

Pictures can also be hosted on an external site. Paste the image's web address (URL) into the editor and it will automatically be added.

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How do I set the thumbnail image for my post?
The first image in the post will automatically be set as the thumbnail image.

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What is the recommend aspect ratio for thumbnail images?
The recommend aspect ratio for thumbnail images is 16x9.

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How do I add videos to my posts?
To add a DTube, YouTube, or Vimeo video to your blog post, simply paste the URL link to the video into the post.

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Is there a way I can make my images smaller?
Yes, but the picture must be resized before it is uploaded into the steemit.com editor. This can be done in your favorite photo editing software, or online by uploading to a third-party website that features editing such as imgur.com.

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What are tags?
Tags are a way to categorize your content, so that others can find it. The more relevant the tags are to the post, the more like-minded people will come across it.

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What tags should I use?
Try to use tags that are relevant to your post, and that will be popular for other people to browse. For example, "mytriptoalaska" may be relevant to your post, but readers are probably not going to go searching for that. Using "travel" would be a better choice for a tag in this case.

You can browse through commonly used tags using the "Explore" link, in the main menu.

Be mindful when choosing tags. If your tags aren’t related to your post, your post may get downvotes for mistagging.

All tags must be lowercase letters. Spaces aren't allowed, but hyphenated words with a single dash are.

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How many tags can I use?
You can use up to 5 tags per post.

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Why is the "Post" button grayed out?
A post must have a title, body, and at least one valid tag. If any of these are missing, then the "Post" button will be disabled.

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How do I format text in Markdown?
Some common markdown syntax is:

bold bold
italics italics
cross out cross out
Text can be sized using headers:

H1

H2

H3

H4

H1
H2
H3
H4
Instructions on how to justify text, as well as wrap text around images pulled to the left or right can be found in this guide.

For more advanced formatting, a guide describing the common markdown formatting syntax can be found here: Markdown Cheatsheet.

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How often can I post?
You are allowed to post almost as often as you like. Currently, posts must be spaced 5 minutes apart. However, the community may not find value in users that are posting too frequently. Keep in mind what your audience will be interested in viewing, so that you do not overwhelm your followers with too much content.