My Steem Strategy for Success!
Today marks twenty days on the Steem platform and I've learned a lot. Some days learning was like drinking from a fire hose... I was deluging myself with random bits of information that nearly overwhelmed me. Some of this blockchain universe is extremely technical. And while I have an interest in the technical side, I'm not very learned it that area.
Three Easy Strategies for Starting Out
What I keep coming back to, though, are three strategies that I can execute for initial success on this platform:
- I will curate great posts with my best thoughts and grammar.
- I will make friends with people I share common interests and goals with.
- I will continue to learn about Steem and the strategies successful people use here.
If I fix myself on these three themes, my experience on Steem will be a positive one, and I'll realize value through making new friends if not monetary rewards.
My Stats So Far
After nearly three weeks I have raised my reputation score to 45+, posted 446 times (including edits to fix typos and bad grammar), have followed 339 interesting people from around the globe, and have been followed by nearly 200 of those people. I'd say that was a success.
I've also begun creating my own posts after two weeks of curating only. Now, while these posts may be lacking profundity or glamorous style, they are posts about things that interest me, and they are in my voice. There's no sense in trying to be something here that I am not. If I am sincere, I am being true to myself and those whom read my content.
With all of that said, I am also trying to reward myself with cryptocurrency for my efforts here. And for a noob with no Steem Power, and not much capital with which to invest on my own, I need to be scrappy and industrious. Here's my game plan and I'd be interested and grateful for any input and feedback any of your might leave in the comments.
My Steem Strategy for Success!
- Curate, curate, curate. My largest source of capital right now is time to comment. I spend several hours each day, morning and night, looking for content and authors that interest me. I read their posts and if I have something constructive to say, I leave a comment. No "Nice post" and see you later...
I take the time to deliver a thoughtful, relevant comment that adds or enhances the original post. And what I've found is that many of you will reward me with a return comment, upvote, or both, despite my adding just a penny, or less, to your wallet with my vote. Thank you!
- Make friends and follow people who share my interests, who make me think, and who show interest in what I have to say. With whom else would I really want to spend my time with, anyway?
I have lots of interests from trading to cigars; sports and beer; life, love, and philosophy. I even like the Backstreet Boys!
As my Steem Power and reputation score increases, I will reward those friends with my stronger upvotes and boosts to their reputation scores as I frequent their blogs again and again. I look forward to that day when I have a greater capacity to help those around me to be successful and actualized, and who have aided me through their ideas and encouragement.
- Create content that reflect my thoughts and interests in a way that is fun, sincere, and honest. These are my qualities in the physical world, and that's who I will be here. I am not a World Champion Blogger or a WordPress Guru. I'd like my posts to be visually appealing and coherent, but I'm not one to fancy things up too much. I would like to improve on my HTML game, but the focus is definitely on the message and not so much the vessel.
- Increase my knowledge about Steem every day through reading and experimentation. There is SO MUCH to learn. For example, I am still trying to determine what the most effective curation strategy is. For example, there's not surprisingly a wide range of opinion out there about when to upvote and on which posts. Wait 30 minutes. Be sure to cast your upvote amongst first 5 voters in the queue. Vote before a whale... Really? Is this even possible with most posts?
I have tried each of these recommendations and I've changed up my strategy a few other ways, too, to see what would happen. The jury is still out, but my learning increases each day. I keep good notes, and I review my curation rewards to determine what worked and why. Trial and error folks...
Rise Up Minnows!
In conclusion, Steem is going to be whatever I make of it. It's true of anything in life. What you put in is probably what you're going to get out. I am having fun, I'm seeing some measure success, and I am hopeful that I can one day rise out of Minnowhood and be an influencer here on this platform.
Thanks to everyone who has offered a hand and their encouragement. And please, leave your input and feedback in the comments. I'd love to hear from you and to consider your ideas and success stories. Cheers!
All images courtesy of freeimages.com