Benefits and Best Practices for Writing on Steemit: Part Two

In the previous post, we discussed the first benefit to writing on @Steemit: it helps you process, reflect, and ultimately learn. If you are a leader, you must be intentional about creating a process and a system for learning. Blogging is one of the best ways to accomplish that. In this post, we will discuss the second benefit and best practice: to teach and dialogue.

The first level of learning, as discussed in the first post, is something that can be done on your own. You read something, think, process, and write out a synthesis that helps you learn.

Is this level valuable? Certainly. But the truth is that it is rather limited. It is often said, if you really want to learn something, you need to teach it.

There are two reasons why teaching helps you grow. First, it forces you to learn the subject matter. Second, it creates a valuable feedback and dialogue loop through comments and questions.

In her article, “The Real Reason You Learn A Lesson Better When You Teach It,” Annie Murphy Paul of Business Insider, notes the following:

Students enlisted to tutor others, these researchers have found, work harder to understand the material, recall it more accurately and apply it more effectively. In a phenomenon that scientists have dubbed “the protégé effect,” student teachers score higher on tests than pupils who are learning only for their own sake.

For example, a student might ask you a question you have never heard before, which forces you to research the topic even more. Or perhaps a student introduces you to a new concept or angle you have never heard before, which deepens your own learning.

Whenever I teach a seminar or lead a discussion group, I usually keep a pen nearby to write down the “aha” moments that come as a result of comments. On a blog, this mechanism is built in through the comments section. For example, you write a blog post on something you might know fairly well, but you end up learning even more as a result of the comments that are added.

I consider the comments section on a blog to be one of the most important features because it helps everyone learn. That’s why I finish every blog post with this question: “So what do you think?” I purposefully invite dialogue and questions.

I also include several other questions related to the topic because the answers help me learn more. I have even discovered times in which the comments on a blog post can be of greater value than the post itself.

This is done really well on Steemit. Like I said, I've been blogging on Wordpress for about 8 years, and in a matter of a few days, I've gotten quite a few comments on some posts on here. This is an eager and a motivated community, which is great with comments.

As an aside, I highly agree with this post on Steemit by @truth-be-told. I've only been on Steemit for six days, but I've noticed a lot of people trying to make a quick buck, it seems. They write a few low-quality sentences with a picture and think that's the ticket to financial freedom on Steemit. Is there an opportunity to make money? Of course. But produce something of quality. It's not about the length, per se, but about the quality of something. Don't be cheap. If you're just posting one picture, post a quality picture; something that adds value to people. Don't rush it. Create something beautiful.

I believe the first consideration to being involved and writing on Steemit is to learn and share. In a future post in this series, I'll discuss some financial principles I've been learning, but for now, focus on quality.

Build a reputation. Take your time. There is an opportunity to make cash, but don't cheat and cheapen the process by posting trash and lazy content, unless, of course, you want to be known for trashy and lazy content.

No thanks.

So when you write, teach and invite questions and you will greatly expand your learning in the process. (Image source 1 2)

Did you find this post helpful? If so, please Upvote, Resteem, and follow me @leaderinsights to receive every future post. This is part two of an important series called Benefits and Best Practices for Writing on Steemit. You won't want to miss any future post.

So what do you need to be sharing and teaching on Steemit? Share in the comments below.