What's with the dancing whales? I'll get to that part soon.
Many of us have been sharing Steemit with others (and it’s working!). This site is growing more successful by the day. New users are posting great content and sharing it with their friends. People are starting to see Steemit as a must read site. Forget “the front page of the Internet” (Reddit’s trademark slogan); Steemit is the freaking FRONT DOOR of the Internet. I'd like to discuss a way to make it even better.
Discussions About Incentivizing Referrals
Since Steemit steemed out of the gate, there has been a lot of discussion about referral links and how to reward Steemit users for bringing in new visitors. Below is a sampling of some posts (also see the reply comments below some of them) requesting or arguing for referral rewards; the same questions also have been raised in Steemit’s Slack channel. A few commenters on those posts complained that referral links are too spammy, and I agree they can be when used incorrectly, but the overwhelming evidence from the Internet’s history suggests that incentivizing referrals should help to fuel growth.
By the way, Steemit does have referral links; they just don’t come with any direct incentives (yet). The format looks like this: https://steemit.com/?r=donkeypong (substitute your own screen name for mine).
Some posts requesting or arguing for referral incentives:
https://steemit.com/steem/@william-noe/referrals
https://steemit.com/steemhelp/@lafona/does-steem-have-a-referral-program
https://steemit.com/steem/@robelneo/are-you-going-to-offer-referral-rewards
https://steemit.com/steemit/@jerome-colley/why-should-anyone-do-steemits-job-of-advertising-without-compensation
https://steemit.com/steemit/@pfunk/grassroots-advertising-for-steemit
The answer from Ned and Dan is that referral rewards are coming eventually, but cannot be implemented while the site is in beta. In the meantime, refer people to your own posts and you can get additional upvotes as an incentive. This response is understandable, but I wonder if there’s a way we can incentivize referrals while also adding to the fun factor on Steemit (read on).
Save the Whales
The other big issue with paid referrals, if I understand correctly, is that someone has to fund them. Presumably, that would be the founders themselves. Perhaps witnesses or other whales would chip in also. I’ve even spent a little money myself on outreach, and I’m definitely not living in whale habitat. Fortunately, my suggestion would not cost anyone a dime. Save the whales and their STEEM! A paid referral system could still be implemented later, but it may or may not be needed.
Follow Lists will be Fun
Follow Lists are being added to the site. We have seen the “Follow” and “Block” buttons. I don’t think the lists are live yet, but soon we will have the ability to follow other Steemit users.
Following someone is not only a practical change; it adds to the fun factor. There have been studies done about this, because some people are truly motivated by fun and games. Others are very motivated by earning badges and ribbons and joining a community that lets them have status symbols such as a big followers list. Sites that incorporate fun, status symbols, and friendly competition are going to attract more users and retain them for longer periods of time. It also can be profitable to have a big follow list if they vote on one’s posts.
Proposal
After discussing idea this with a few other Steemians, I was encouraged to make the following suggestion: I propose that when someone clicks on YOUR referral link, YOU are automatically added to that new user’s Follow List. Yes, they can delete you later if they so choose, but for starters, you are their host and their guide to Steemit. And damn it, you either told them about it or worked hard or spent your own money to bring them here. You should be rewarded by having them follow you.
It’s a reward without direct payment. But it should provide a great motivation and incentive to utilize referral links and bring people to Steemit. And maybe, just maybe, there won’t be quite as much spammy use of referral links if there is an indirect (as opposed to direct) payment incentive attached. Best of all, this suggestion can be implemented without any net cost as far as draining the founders’ or anyone else's accounts.
It could help fuel growth without costing a dime.