The US as a nation-state society, like the Romans, have fine tuned how to appeal to the masses because it itself is a mass-based society. Of course most countries around the world are now on that path or on its way, the US was the catalyst in this realm. Michel Chevalier, during his travels through the US in the 19th century made some astute observations about American society noting that Americans have the mentality of an "army on the march" built upon the doctrine of expediency as its sole philosophy. The urge to be a go-getter and find the practical way is the end all, be all, of this mode of thinking.
Appealing to the mainstream audience or consumer requires an idea of how these people think. If we are to see how that can work we must judge the conduct of why the mass-man has come to build the material world, subsuming everything it touches. A lot of the developed world have since been emulating the previous economical success of the US which requires a distinct appealing to the masses. What has been the realization as to why the wealth of societies grows on a large scale?
The only thing a civilization geared toward mass usage of certain systems in place wants is incentives. How can they all benefit or what is the most amount that the average individual can get out of it—in a purely economic sense. The early adopters, radicals, pioneers of systems or ideas have other concerns at hand then just financial gain. Yes, it's an important factor but these individuals also come to things by a disinterested curiosity and a good sense of an ideal such as freedom or innovation.
Steemit is a platform that works in this manner by offering incentives to content creators and curators. This model can work in all areas of cryptocurrencies, indeed for any mainstream growth the masses need to see what is in it for them directly. To increase adoption of these potentially paradigm changing technologies, understanding the majority is necessary.