The importance of minnows, or even new users seems like a misunderstood important factor in the lifecycle of steem and it's growth.
While many chase the whales, and write posts to lure them over, hoping to have a big payout, the importance of new and small users seems abscent. But what if we could look, let's say 2 years ahead and try to reverse engineer Steemit and it's users? We would come to this conclusion
Extrapolation
Whales like we know them today will no longer exist. At this very moment, most whales - if not all - are powering down their SP and distributing it amongst newer users. With targeted curations, they try to give birth to a new wave of whales that will soon join them. Looking at the paste my account is growing, and making an extrapolation, i should reach 100k SP within the next 6 months or so, and further extrapolation brings this close to 550k SP within the next 2 years.
But if my account can make such a progress, so can any account. The minnows or brand new users that are following me today may not have the weight needed to give me a big payout. But if we extrapolate their accounts, they will have some serious power within a year, or two years. This means that every small vote i get today, giving me a 0.01SBD reward per upvote, has the potential of making 10SBD and more per upvote. In reversed order, today's whales powering down, would give me less SBD per upvote in two years than it is today.
Right now i have some mighty whales that follow my posts and upvote them. This is mainly because my posts are related to contributions on this platform, not because i write exciting stories or organise fun stuff. Analyzing my post rewards, it's safe to say that out of 600 votes, only a handfull make the big difference in rewards today. But in two years from now, all those small votes will be worth a massive amount compared to a handfull of powerfull voters today.
Time for a change
All i'm trying to say is that we should care more about the future, and less about today. Treat new users like you would treat whales. The future will most likely depend on them, and not on today's whales. This is the biggest reason why today's whales are distributing their powers to have a more balanced system. When they retire, it's up to todays new userbase to continue their work.
Do you want powerfull whales in the future that make negative curations because you threated them poorly 'back in the days' ? Do you like to have whales driven by hate towards a specific part in this community? If the answer is no, it's time for a change and threat new users like your childeren, because one day you'll depend on them.
Keep the steem flowing
No matter how influential someone is, there's no greater honour or compliment than someone taking the time and energy to read my work. I remember when we released the first episode of our podcast, and my podcast partner was so amazed and grateful when he found out that someone listened through the whole episode. That person could be doing anything in the world, but they're there listening or reading your post... that's amazing.
"Even though I write about the human race, the further away from them, the better I feel. Two miles is great; two thousand miles is beautiful."
Thank you all for the feedback and grammatical corrections :-)
One more...
I believe you meant pace.
I think this analysis is missing a big piece of the puzzle. While whales are currently powering down, they are also currently earning more SP as well. It isn't like the whales are giving away all their SP. Yes, it is true that some new users that come on board will become whales themselves, but if you don't get votes from current whales, your content won't get seen enough to even pick up followers from minnows.
Insightful.
yes and totally true !! i saw instantly the great clairvoyance present in this text and proud to say i was one of the first to up vote it !! this has to be one of the most important posts i,ver seen here so far as this is the future and truest translations of Steem perfectly explained !
I agree with you.
@steve-walschot
Excellent analysis. I wrote something along your rhyme of thought earlier today.
https://steemit.com/steemit/@kyriacos/last-night-i-dreamt-about-steemit-10-suggestions-to-make-the-platform-grow
This is a philosophy I believe is also important, and one that I share with you. Bravo.
Great Content you have here , i believe in everything you have to say and agree with you . Think less about today anf focus on the Future .Steemit is in our Hands , so don't spread the negativity because you can't make a few bucks on this platform . Go back to Facebook! or ask Mark Zuckerberg to financially reward you. Perhaps Whales are Powering Down because there a bunch of lunatics after them , it would suck to be Whale in such a Toxic Environment. Love the Content on Steemit , how user-Friendly it is , it's Open Source so expect many updates in the Future and there is the potential of being Reward. You're still a Winner in the end for Joining Steemit.com
The evolving world of steemit... I dig your vision (and facts). We are all in this together, so it makes complete sense to keep an eye on all users, powerful or not (yet). The ride is just beginning!
"Treat new users like you would treat whales"
Well said Steve.
@steempowerwhale 🐳
🌞 upvoting your lifetime dreams!
The Steemit "Golden Rule"?
i agree
Upvoted to give you my 0.0001 cent's worth! I like your reminder that we need to keep looking at the big picture here at Steemit. Right now I am rolling in the pennies, but I am slowly adding Steem Power to my account when I am able. Two years from now (or sooner) I hope to be one of the Whales...the one with the machete. :-)
Thats well said Steve, one thing to add. I would like to see more users (especailly the dolphins in the 5k-25k range) to participate more. Now most of those users have a very narrown circle of users they follow and dont participate in the life of others (not all of course)
I voted for you for witness because of the work you are doing for the platform, and it's staying because of the additional value you bring with this perspective. Beyond whale stuff, it's also just more exciting to meet new people with new talents and ideas. For example, i just learned about A funky electronica/jazz form of poetry called Sound Poems from a brand new user named @greatdabu who's also doing some awesome work with musicians and creative types in MN. Awesome stuff, and awesome people new and old
Ever since I started I felt invisible. My votes don't feel like they matter much so I guess I have to build myself up.
I am a minnow
I am Krill
I'm a mackerel
Holy?
Some call me that.
as in Holy Mackerel?
Late to the party, but I Am Groot
Yeah more of these more likely if this is really happening. I think during next 2 years current wales dump their steem and move on to next projects. Steem can be near wortless in two years, never know.
Great post man!!! We need to think it through. These are all assumptions @steve-walschot
yes this is a great post to read and i hope encourages everyone in the Steemit Ocean Big and small. We are all connected through Steem, so yes every action has a consequence and hopefully reward be it now or the future !! Steem on !!
totally agree. I might get a few bucks but i love the number of upvotes in my posts :)
Good article - suggestion - change "threat" to "treat" in this sentence
same thing here "threated them poorly" - change to "treated them poorly" :)
Secret to success: Threaten everybody equally.
I get what you are saying.
But....it is not always about upvotes. This platform should be rewarding users FOR their posts. Not just who upvotes and who comments.
It needs to be a platform for users to contribute TO.
That is the reason many folks are discouraged.
Thanks for reading.
Yes so true. Go for the long haul. Nice reverse engineering. :) Oh while you have time change the word paste to pace.
Yes. Things are planned out quite well in the Steemit design, and things will progress further.
I see far too much whining and complaining in the community directed towards the current whales. It's like some people are of lefty liberal socialist "entitlement" mindset and like to complain about how "unfair" things are.
Thanks for the insight on the distribution of power that progresses.
Take care. Peace.
Your observation makes perfect sense to me.
I'm not greedy, I just want to be a dolphin.
Viva minnows, I could say anymore...just say thank you to whales who give a chance to grow. :)
Thank you for the information
Treat minnows like whales, because one day those minnows will become whales.
My problem still, is the whales/minnows relationship. Yes the powerless users today are the power users of tomorrow, but perhaps the idea of power users is what truly needs to be addressed.
Thanks for the thoughtful article!
I've come to a similar conclusion. The real asset here is followers. I celebrate each one like it's 100 upvotes. I'm up to 48 in just one month :)
Gene determines success or failure. The possibility of minnows grow to whales is zero.
I think we should go about life in general like this...and not just because we might need that relationship in the future, but simply for the fact that it's good practice to be generally appreciative and respectful of others around us. I like this post. Good thoughts.
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@steve-walschot Yes! Exactly my train of thought. Good to see someone else thinks the same. Upvoted and followed. Thanks Steve