If someboy missed - im an oldschool SEO/marketing guy. Check my nick and my initial post here if you want to check my credibility.
So during last days i have been checking STEEM and here is what STEEM needs IMO to go really good and bring money in.
Fix writing editor.
I know you are all techy, but people are not. We need rich editor, we dont want to know whats running below it. Heard of BTC killer app? Its the one that people dont even know BTC is on the inside.
You dont want people to know how complex coding is below the posts.
Fix duplicates
Steemit and steemd duplicate each other. Please use canonical links. They allow to copy content while actually giving power to 1 source.
Signatures
Thats how forums get traffic this days - signatures. We are something between Reddit & Forums. Please add signatures - you will see more posts, because people will be able to advertize easily.
Ref links
I know site has them, i know you dont have ways to monetize this but.. Let people have the numbers in their account of people referred.
Also.. i know this will be centralized a bit - but allow known users to get somethign for refs. I dont mean all users, but you guys chill on some channels - if some user is known to you an legit, let him some stuff for referals that are active.
Even if he made his own accounts - as long as they are active - its good for STEEM.
STEEM USD
Why ther is no spot in "wallet" saying how much i have from my posts now? I know it changes, people downvote or upvote. But reall - people love numbers. Make this available in wallet part.
Ads
Let people buy ads on site by paying with STEEM. This will make price of STEEM better. Later on let people having enough SP to not see ads.
IMO there is enoguh users to sell ad space.
Inter-linking
You should follow Wikipedia a bit and allow ease internlinking between sites part. Ie make some tag that interlinks to STEEM. For example $SEO would interlink to steemit.com/seo
Avatars
Let people have avatars, i understand there is some barrier in technology but let it even be centralized. People love to have their looks this days.
Get merchants to accept STEEM
I could accept STEEM for half-year subscription to my blog - http://blackhatpwnage.com/why-to-subscribe/ would anybody be interested?
Even if not, merchants are good. Even if nobody pays - this is extra advertisment.
This points should be your roadmap and if you fill them, IMO this is gonna go big.
Do not treat this as info of guys who knows it all - as i do not. But i have seen many new sites and took profits (read original post how we made 1st Pinterest bot) of them, so i know what i am talking about :)