I don't really love the idea of milestone posts, and yet...
Here we are. This year has started with a bang for every Steemian, new and old alike. Prices are up across the board, projects are launching and accelerating, big changes are on the horizon, and more people than ever are becoming aware of what it means to contribute positively to the platform, vote for witnesses mindfully, and participate in the community meaningfully. The past year has shown us a lot of nasty and difficult as well, but for the purposes of this post, I choose simply to label those as important improvement goals to guide me moving forward. I've had a number of really awesome, successful Steemians pushing me to post about this (and more often in general); I think that writing outwardly about it is something that pairs well with introspective thought.
Sometime in the night, I passed my 1500th follower. Sometime last week, I passed my 200th day. Sometime last month, I passed rep 60.
What do all these numbers mean? Are they the mark of a great Steemian? Maybe a little. What I see in these statistics and measures, frankly, is perseverance. Hang around Steemit long enough, and you'll rack up follow bots along with new friends. Once your account is on the chain, it becomes a time capsule — the days will pass from inception whether you use your blog or not. And provided every now and then you interact with someone in some way, you'll get a few upvotes, big or small, to keep your rep inching upwards. So while in the scheme of things, from then to now, these numbers are achievements and milestones, I don't think they adequately sum up the way that I've approached the time behind and my work ahead here on the platform.
A few tips half a year on, from someone who's always been a bit of an odd Steemit duck. 🦆
Short posts, long posts, more posts, less posts, best posts, shit posts
I need to post more to grow, but the more support for my work increases, the more I feel uncomfortable churning out work just to get paid. When I was a smaller account, I felt such pressure to prove and produce, every day. It honestly began wearing on me, and the worry about money and votes and quality and not disappointing made it even more difficult to get motivated. Now that I'm a slightly wrigglier minnow, I've found that one or two really high quality posts is my wheelhouse. I'm going to try to do more, but I'm not caving to the temptation to post just to post and take the money. Everything I put on the chain is worthy of the love my voters are giving it. I respect them by doing my best, and I respect my limitations by understanding that I can't do more than I am right now at the level I want to do it at.
I still don't use voting bid bots.
I understand that compared to a great number of accounts, my average payout is pretty great. I think I deserve it for the work and words I share here. I also understand that for brand new accounts, the ability to get noticed, trending, get help with rep and make a bit of money, is where voting bots can be helpful. However, I also know that in many cases, the biggest ones are getting hammered for competition, minnows get the short end of the stick, and the distribution of wealth remains from the higher paid to the highest paid. That's an oversimplification of the issues, but I'm not able to be Robin Hood, winning SBD from the rich to power up to vote the poor. So, I personally choose to power up as organically as I can, curate active minnows, devs, and movements with what I have, and earn at the rate that is naturally coming to me. I may grow more slowly, but more of what I'm paying out goes directly to others on the platform, and not into one of these big accounts. Not choosing some of the ethical bid bots, or bid bots just starting out may be hampering my chances at higher rewards, but better to leave the smallest ones for the minnows who choose to use them, and to give (and take) what is freely given. Your mileage may vary; don't let people tell you what to do. Think about it critically, look at the costs, and think about the balance of your own rewards versus the health of the platform in the long run.
KINDNESS 👏 COSTS 👏 NOTHING 👏
There is no downside to being kind on this platform. None. I interact with everyone, even the comment spammers and the borderline idiots, as kindly as possible. On the other end of that desperate account is someone who is struggling to get their hands on crypto at any cost and is choosing the wrong ways to do it. I don't tolerate scammers or those trying to do harm, but for those who are facing some perceived 'disadvantage' — not well versed in English, culturally insensitive, habitually lazy, a lack of platform knowledge... so many things — the idea of getting rich quick attracts those who are in difficult situations. Instead of treading on them and nuking them offhand, or writing to them as if they are stupid or worthy of abuse, I try to explain why what they are doing isn't going to work, and how to improve in a way that will show actual rewards. While I can't fix or influence everyone, for some, it's the first steps on the path to contributing positively to the chain and being kinder to others themselves.
Community is important. We all chose to be here, and we all choose how to be.
Joining a smaller subset of the overall Steemit community; finding one, building one, encouraging one: it's all part of what makes up the overall values of the chain. Banding together with others in your country, who have your hobbies, who work in the same field, or who post in the same niche are all ways to find content you genuinely will enjoy upvoting and will more than likely make you actual friends in a strong network. Voting for what you have some bond to, and being voted for by those who connect to you and your content is an organic, sustainable method of building a following and giving and getting rewards, as well as the most out of the content here. Communities off platform, in places like the myriad of Discord servers, are just as important. I spend most of my time in MSP, the Writer's Block, SteemDevs, VOTU, and working with veterans and women and artists and addicts and memelords and radio stations and travellers...
This is probably the biggest impediment to my posting, so I don't suggest you do as I do, but I do suggest you find one or two that really attract you. I cannot overstate how much this will expand your knowledge of the platform and bring you solid connections to the real people behind the accounts you love and follow.
I spend twelve or so hours a day each day simply talking to and helping as many people as I can in these communities. Being able to do this and give this is the most important part of being here, for me. It takes precedence over my posting, and has become what I am known for and how I make a direct impact on the chain for the better — maybe even more so than the opinions, tools, and skills I offer and share willingly. Taking a small step towards connecting others together (maybe you know two ping pong enthusiasts who haven't seen each other's posts) or to connecting to others (maybe you can collaborate with someone on a song, or to create some code) is valuable in rewards, in spirit, and in experience. If you're going to be here, succeed at all of it.
Are you still here? This turned into a sort of preachy novel about how I've found some success and my place, and how I plan to continue. Since you made it, let me reward you.
While the milestone numbers on my account may or may not mean success in traditional promotional social media ways, I feel as though in the time I have been here I've honed my writing, my knowledge of myself, and my service to others; combining that with being a partner in a successful witness and being able to directly talk to and serve as many people as I do, I am content with the path I've chosen. Yes, I could be much bigger. I could have many more posts. I could probably (definitely) have a ton more followers. All that will probably come, along with the time... but I don't feel in any way lacking. So don't plan to see many changes in the way I do things, or another "milestone" post from me for another year or so. 😊Now about that reward...
I want to give away TWO more prints of any of my photography or art, free, no strings attached.
This may or may not actually mean anything of value to you. No offense if it doesn't. No catches. No mandatory resteems, no mandatory upvotes. Simply comment saying you're interested in a print, and I'll draw two randomly from whomever asks for one. The only thing I ask is that you are able to give me an address to mail to by contacting me privately on Discord.
For those of you here every day, hitting personal milestones, growing your accounts, voting and interacting and building and contributing to a stronger economy and technology and community, thank you. For those of you who are not sure if you're going to be able to: you can, and you will. The numbers here will add with the effort and the path you choose for yourself.
These photos and words are my own work, inspired by travels all over this pretty blue marble of ours. I hope you like them. 🌶️
