Taking the leap to Steemit.com is quickly rewarding with a little persistence, humor, and community spirit. Here are the benefits realized and challenges overcome in the first several weeks. Good luck on your fulfilling journey !!
FROM VIDEO TO PICTURE/NARRATIVE/ MEME
When I started Steemit, I was still relying a lot on video links for the main content. I quickly learned this was a mistake as most Steemit viewers expect posts developed around some combo of photos, narrative, charts/graphs, and clever memes/graphics. Getting in the swing of it took a week, and my formatting is still relatively primitive, but I find this new social media more engaging. Yes, in many ways it was easier on youtube to get a few thoughts together, hit record on the camera, and punch out a video. But on Steemit I find the process of composing a story is more rewarding and quickly becomes MORE PERSONAL as the combo of pictures, words, and other images, when effectively composed, tells a more intimate story.
MORE INTERACTION / FEEDBACK
I feel like it's been easier to get rolling and meet people on Steemit. Maybe that is because the community is smaller, or because new people are frantic to make connections, or that the space is evolving so quickly and everyone is sharing info about how to navigate and properly curate the community. Although the follower numbers are somewhat fluff (and not all people that are truly engaged), the responses to posts, comments, and replies have been more numerous and vigorous than what I experienced on youtube. I think as the format matures it will be even easier to maintain our presence long-term. Also, compared to youtube, the extensive trolling, negativity, and bickering is largely absent.
INDEPENDENT SPIRIT / CRYPTO REWARDS
There is a strong streak of independent spirit and authenticity on Steemit which is refreshing. Posts about joys and passions from travel to technology, from creating to investing, and unique perspectives about finding one's own path in life. Overall, the community is positive and focused on a sense of growth and building each other up. Yes, there are a few tacky posts about superficial culture or celebrity gossip crap, but those are a minimum and don't get much traction. And of course, many are here due to their desire to be sustainable outside a corrupt and daily degrading system of government fueled by oligarchic funds, exploitative debt, and ever-growing media monopolies!
So keep tuning up your posts and exploring more outlets for your creativity. There is plenty of space here to explore, to imagine, and to burn off a little STEEM !!! Good luck on making that successful transition !!
