How Steem empowers entreprenuership
So the other day
I was networking with a recently found acquaintance over a cup of coffee, originally it was supposed to be his sales pitch to push an insurance product to me. Later on we found some common interest topic and soon what turn out to be supposedly a 20 minutes direct sale session turned into a 5 hour discussion over various topics..
So as we were talking about millennial facing the economic situation in Malaysia, and about how new businesses are taking over the traditional. The subject of social media marketing somehow slithered its way into the conversation.
We were then talking about how social media is addictive and unproductive to the average user.. but later on It got me thinking.. Social media is a tool, but how did it became a nuisance and how do we get back our power and users of these tool.
It's been public knowledge that the mainstream Social Media is designed to get people addicted to it. Signing up to these Social Media is free because we the users are not the customers - we are the product. These Social Media are selling our time and attention in exchange for advertising space. And the more time we spent on these social media, the more advertising "slots" can be packaged and sold to advertisers. One way these social media tries to increase our time spent on there is to introduce "hooks" to get us "addicted" to going on there.
There's an interesting video by a Youtube channel explaining how this was designed to get us addicted.
What to do
Yea, these social media are like fire, very useful tools, but will burn us with abuse. And we wont even notice the addiction unless we're very aware of it. Though... it's not really all that bad.
Rather than being succumbed to it's influence and addiction, we can empower ourselves to engage in the platform. Rather than be content consumers, we should all ought to be content creators. In context of speaking with that professional, I came up with an example of using what I feel are 2 essential Social Media that a content creator should utilize, especially in a B2B environment that the person I talked to with are involved in.
The networkers' social media
If you are working in a business environment, and does not have a Linkedin Page yet. You should get one RIGHT NOW. Simply said, LinkedIn is what Facebook tries to be if everyone on Facebook isn't shallow and all the users are there to network with fellow professionals. A person's chance of upping their online social networking game increases immensely just by having a LinkedIn account. Personally I feel LinkedIn to be the best way to getting in touch with an industry expert in whatever industry one is in. And what if there are no expert in one's industry? Perfect, it means the ocean is blue.. Linkedin is the best place to position oneself an an industry expert and a thought leader.
And then of course there are social media like Quora and Medium. Which are absolutely wonderful platforms to exercise the creation of content. Quora is social media that is built around curiosity, someone will ask question, and people will answer it. So say you are dabbling in the extremely niche B2b market of selling RFID logistic tags. How will Quora help you? Easy, someone will be curious about how does a box of fresh salmon gets sent from Norway to far flung countries like Chile... Well you're the logistics guy, go share your expertise! the trick is to answer questions after questions that people will be familiar with who you are and what you do. SEO will make you the number 1 result when someone is interested to start a shipping business or maybe a large conglomerate is looking for a new consultant. You already have the years of experience, you just need the right kind of marketing, SEO is often better than putting banners on the street.
And then of course there is Medium.com, the author's social media. For the past few years more and more prominent authors has incorporated Medium as part of their outlets other than their own websites or books. Medium is a place where people share insights and ideas, where the bulk of the online intellectuals browse through daily for a good read. Every online social networker should have a Medium account. I personally have gained amazing knowledge and insight through people's writing that is usually only found on there.
And this is how Steem comes in
The Steem Blockchain already a working platform. For the most parts, it incentivizes people to create content rather than consume it. Before joining Steemit.com and be a part of the Steem blockchain, I have never written a single original article. I have always thought it to be highly complicated and time consuming, and that "only expert writers or blogger have time and skills for that". Everything changed with Steem. As the platform is permission-less, everyone can start. Everyone can train their writing skills (heck, even English skills) and build a repertoire of content creation experience while participating in a network that empowers it's user.
Entrepreneurship is about daring to test out an idea and putting it out there. Rather than limiting oneself to the four walls of a cubicle. Much like writing.
Talking to the acquaintance and playing around with the idea really got my juices flowing, it may not be the perfect idea, it may not even the right.. But the thought that it's so much more easier now to opt-out of the 9-5 life makes me giddy on behalf of the people that are looking for that opportunity. When people say "Steem Blockchain empowers people", this is what they really meant. While it wont be a welfare handout, Steem presents an opportunity - and with hard work and doing the right thing smart at the right time, a chance to reach one's goal in life.
I'm @awesomianist
Stay Awesome.
I fully agree with everything you wrote! Steem really empowers everyone and makes the treshold very low. I myself started with steem a couple of weeks ago (got to know it thanks to a colleague) and really enjoying it. I'm still looking what I should write about and what not, but more and more, I am realizing that it doesn't matter and If I feel like writing something, I just have to do it!
That's the exact mindset that we should have! Really there's nothing holding us back or limit us. Personally i feel that as someone who is just starting out writing in general. Don't limit yourself, literally express your thoughts and opinions whatever it may be.
The point is to get creating regardless the content to train oneself and benefit from the empowerment that comes in the form of "holy smokes, people actually read my stuff" moments. It's an amazing feeling.
If we can get into the habit of writing even1 blog/article post a week, that's 52 more posts that we've never did the year before.
Hahaha! I had just posted about the bad effects of social media yesterday. This is like a proper sequel.
What a coincidence! I guess it's becoming more and more public knowledge now. Steem Ahead and leave all other social media to the dust!
The only regret would be not joining earlier and buying some SP but better late than never :P
Insta and FB present more and more advertisement to the users these days. They are like the TV on the internet to push whatever content they want to the user. One can easily 'kill the time' by scrolling news feed brainlessly.
Steem, Medium, Quora now suit my reading need best.
I've been noticing my social media habits have been drifting more and more towards these sites.. and compared to 2 years back, my time on FB/insta/twitter have been significantly decreased.
I just somehow feel cheat that these social media are messing the way my brain works just to make themselves money.
I've been away from FB especially for 6 months starting the day I joined Steem. Went back to chekc out how thing is going on there, was greeted by tons of videos and ads.
And yes, the worst part is all we gain over there is the pointless likes.
One platform gets you addicted, another gets you addicted but also pays the bill. No brainer!
This surely is an eye opener of how we spend our time on facebook and other sites without any reward both financially and even intellectually. Steemit as you have said takes care of this, one gets to improve ones style of writing and ones intellectual capacities and cognitive ability. This(steemit) is a light in the dark
it is! And to expound your analogy, the Steem Blockchain is the bright field we see as light at the end of a dark tunnel.
Yea
That's true
lets tell more people to jump ship! :P
Jump Jump Jump!!
Steemit.com is really empowering. You nailed it. I have been having problem of what to write almost everyday on the earlier part of my involvement in steemit. But steemit platform encourages you to be more creative everyday.
Keep thinking creatively.
A lot of creative people in this platform @sndbox, @curie, @aggroed, @adsactly and many many more.
We can join and learn from them.
Thank you for sharing.
Cheers.
Writing is like a water tap. If it's not on for a long time, the few few seconds of the tap being opened will result in drips of brown dirty water..
But leave it open after sometime, clean water will gush out of it.
That is what I've noticed.. The first posts I made took me days. Now it's much easier with less effort.
Thank you. That's inspiring.