STEEM Is Now My Lead-In When Talking To Anyone New To Cryptocurrency: A How To Tutorial
I had an instance today to discuss cryptocurrencies with someone completely unfamiliar with it other than hearing tidbits in passing about Bitcoin.
Word is getting around.
Any publicity is good publicity.
When it applies to cryptos at this point, I believe this is true. Bitcoin is the name on everyone's tongue and, even though the price is getting slammed, people are hearing about it. This is helpful. As word spreads about Bitcoin, other cryptocurrencies, by default, will also get some coverage.
Nevertheless, try explaining Bitcoin to people could be a challenge. Therefore, I use the approach of leading with STEEM which I am finding to be extremely successful.
So how do I go about doing it?
Blockchain
People do not understand how we can simply create money. Therefore, do not confuse them.
I tell them that the real technology is blockchain, which is essentially a decentralized network. On this network (this is a word people understand) are applications which fulfill different purposes. On the steem blockchain, the applications are created to serve the needs of social media.
The token on this blockchain is STEEM. It is what denotes the value this network (I know not totally accurate but it gets the point across). Over time, the value of a network increases as more activity takes place on there.
Presently, the STEEM blockchain is the most active one. Also, unlike many other tokens in the top 50 on coinmarketcap.com (I show this website) which are priced based upon potentially doing what they are designed to do, STEEM is actually doing it. There are 700K registered users with about 60K daily active users.
Facebook/YouTube/Reddit
Almost everyone understands one of these entities. I simply state that there are applications already on the steem blockchain which are similar to Reddit, YouTube, and Twitter. The one major difference is in how one is compensated.
On the steem network, people submit their content and are rewarded when people upvote the posts. Each vote carries a certain weight with is translated into money for the content creator.
Of course, the person is baffled how content can have value until I point out that almost all the value on Facebook comes from the people posting on there. The difference is that Zuckerberg and Wall Street make most of the money while the creators make little to nothing.
Link Back To Fiat
This is where coinmarketcap.com comes in handy. I explain that STEEM can be converted to regular currencies like USD, Euro, and Japanese Yen. Since I am in the US, I scroll down to STEEM and show how it is worth about $4.
I found this to be helpful since people equate tokens to ones created for video arcades or online games. Yet, in those instances, the token isn't worth anything. It is just something people use as part of the game.
Showing them that crypto-tokens have real value as money is big. Now it is something that could positively affect their lives.
Tokenized World
Over the next 3-5 years, most everyone will be getting into tokens. I mention the first cryptocurrencies required people to buy them. However, we are now at a point, especially with STEEM, where one can join without paying anything. Tokens are rewards for actions that one is already taking on social media sites.
STEEM is the first of many tokens that an individual will potentially receive. Down the road, we are going to be given tokens for using search engines, web browsers, offering our data for research, watching advertisements, and viewing films. In short, almost everything will be tokenized.
I found this a simple but effective way to gain the interest of many people.
To start, almost everyone understands social media. It is around long enough everyone under the age of 70 has been on it. Also, word is spreading about how the social media behemoths are not exactly the nicest fish in the sea. Facebook is garnering a lot of attention for the antics they are pulling from the fake news to people being tossed off. I am sure the YouTube actions will spread just as fast.
Another thing that is surprising me is people are becoming aware of the threat automation poses to the workforce. This is a situation where people are going to have to develop other streams of income. STEEM, as many of us know, fills that role very nicely.
Finally, be sure to mention that there are only about 8,500 people with over 500 SP in the world. How would you like to have been one of the first 10,000 accomplished users on Facebook? Not that it would do anything for you since they pay you nothing but that isn't the case on STEEM. Being an early adopter has huge advantages.
Try this the next time you come upon someone who is interested in cryptocurrency but doesn't know too much outside of hearing about Bitcoin. This is very effective especially if you mention D.Tube since almost everyone knows Youtube.
For me, I found it left the person excited.
If you found this article helpful, please give it an upvote and resteem.
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That is so funny I was just having a conversation with my neighbors about steemit. I wish I had read your post beforehand because you have a great outline here to help explain it to new people.
It does make you excited to think that you could be one of the first 10,000 people to get 500 SP it motivates me. I am at about 130 SP. I want to be in that group of 10,000. Great post. Keep them coming.
You will get there @bowntroyer. Being a dedicated commentor on my posts is greatly appreciated.
Maybe this will help your move towards the first 10,000.
I am not sure what to say. That was so generous of you. Thank you!! I really do enjoy your post. You have a great way of explaining things. Thank you again.
Thank you for the kind words.
I am glad that what I right is helping you and bringing some value to the blockchain.
We all help each other out and nothing excites me more than seeing people who are putting in the effort and wanting to make this place spectacular.
This is why steemit is awesome! Supporting people who contribute. Also, no longer need to explain to people about steemit. Just send them your post here. That should do the trick.
You're doing a good job!
Even if you don't tell all the above, they wouldn't even know they would be using a blockchain... :P
Now it is something that could positively affect their lives.
So true my friend!
Thank you very much for this post. Its a great one!
Yes, I can't stop promoting Steemit, too :D
Upvote simply for getting cheerleaders in the comment section.
That is always welcome.
hehe you are welcome :D
Steem is such a better crypto but bitcoin brings in alot of new users who arnt familar with cryptos yet in and once they have bitcoin most people learn more and get into alt coins after. I started in crypto that way with ethereum. That is why we need bitcoin to do good. To bring new users.
If someone asks what I recommend as a good altcoin, steem is #1.
I agree. Nothing wrong with BTC taking the lead. It has the attention of the media and the masses. It also takes the shots from some of those same entities. There are many forces who are in attack mode and BTC bears the brunt of it.
That is great because it allows STEEM to operate in the background. Many are anxious for it to take over...but I am of the belief the longer STEEM is under the radar, the better.
The development on this blockchain is forging ahead regardless of what is going on with the price action. That is going to help us when apps start appearing left and right.
SMTs will really take this entire blockchain to another level.
Yeah even with this dip in the market steem is still up over 400% since November.
Steem has the highest transactions perday and is only operating at 1% capacity.
2018 is going to be a great year for the steem blockchain.
Also most people that have steem have it powered up, so you wont see any major selloffs you might see with other cryptos.
This is bang on. People get gloss over their eyes when you start trying to explain blockchain and how it 'creates' money...Heck I know it makes me scratch my head too lol
But breaking it down to the real world use of Steem like Steemit, Dtube, Dlive etc....People understand that.
I think this is the perfect platform to introduce people to as their first experience in crypto. I agree with you 100%. This will help the every day person understand how powerful Steem will become.
And only 8500 with 500 SP huh? Dang, I need to get to work then :)
Do you really thing any publicity is good publicity? Bad publicity of bitcoin might make people why away from it and even tell others not to participate .
Well this is a sad truth and steemit as a decentralised blockchain has come to set that right. Never again will people waste their time for nothing . It's time to add value to talent and good content. Thanks to steemit and steem for changing lives .
Your outline is great and makes for an easier explanation. One of the challenges I have had in telling people about steemit is what you have trashed out in this post. Thank you
Although I have very little knowledge of crypto, Steem is still my go-to discussion point and I believe it would be even if I was much more knowledgeable.
My friends are more wary of it than expected. Over the past month of promoting Steem and crypto in general, I have gotten nothing but condescending grins accompanied with "well, good luck with that man", or at the very best, vague interest.
One question: you mention 60K daily active users. Where do you find stats like that? I use SteemWorld to see user count, but activity is something I don't know where to find. I'm still fairly unaware of a lot of utilities for the site, and that's a statistic I've been interested in seeing. Also, the amount of users with what amount of SP. I understand if you don't have the time to respond but if you do I'd very much appreciate it :)
The best part: Steem is actually doing what others either plan or intend to do in near future.
Even more interesting aspect is that spending time on Steemit isn't spending as such but an investment in the platform.
Far more interesting is the fact that by investing your time, it's not the company (like fB/Insta) that's getting rich but the one who's investing time is actually earning value and $$$
Steem On!!!
Love it! I've been subconsciously forming my own spiel about steem. I definitely sold it short explaining it to friends due to lack of knowledge. This is very well-written and will definitely help me the next time I pitch steem.