Learning from Engagement
For the past several months, I've been pursuing a project called “Lost in Translation” that attempts to choose recurring and/or stand-out themes from the vibrant and diverse KR community and highlight particular authors in English curation. The effort was designed to help newbies build their accounts and get broader international viewership while I learn more about the growing group. I called these “Cultural Translations” since it wasn't about doing literal conversions of text. Rather, they are meant to help contextualize why these posts are significant and their potential impact on the Steemit community.
These themes ranged from personal creative work to more public and political issues. I wanted to focus a little on what I've learned from this series and how Steemians can start to consider the various ways we can leverage “Curation” on this platform.
Before we begin, you can find the whole range of posts (11 as of last week) below -
1: Introduction and Connecting Communities
2: Unique New Members
3: Drinking Culture with KR
4: Young Artists Part 1
5: Young Artists Part 2
6: Muksteem and Steemit Cuisine
7: Trinkets and Steem-Powered Goodies
8: Supporting Orphanages in Korea
9: STEEM Park Seoul Forest Project
10: STEEM-Sponsoring E-Sports in Korea
11: Fundraising for Comfort Women
Giving STEEM Purpose
I've always been adamantly against the notion that Steemit should be some inherently paid blogging site. The likelihood that you'll be compensated “enough” on this website just by throwing up posts is as improbable as monetizing your Instagram account or Tumblr blog. Especially for new users, it must be overall disheartening that in fact, you won't receive any sustained reimbursement until you reach an abstractly critical amount of followers and overall support.
This is where I've learned a great deal from hopping international lines between communities. Because of the sheer size and growth of the KR community, many newcomers quickly find their niche in the “Steemit market” of blogging opportunities. And from my experience, the more quickly they dedicate their account to useful and impactful goals, the more quickly they find a footing and are properly rewarded.
Charities are obviously a great example of this trajectory. Instead of gathering up money passively then donating what you've earned, it has proven to be much more effective to actively campaign through blogposts and generate hype for those interested in the issue. @girina79's orphanage donations are without a doubt the most popular amongst his other posts and this proves the appetite for impact-oriented work within social-media blockchain networks.
Cover Image for @girina79's fundraisers
Beyond donations, building future opportunities collaboratively has also proven to be an exciting component for Steemit growth. A team in Korea has taken the momentum of our project in Brooklyn – STEEM Park – and has been organizing for a similar intervention in the middle of South Korea's capital. Since the value proposition grows with every additional member, every additional affiliate and donor, the project has already garnered a great deal of support and focus within the Steemit community.
Cover Image for STEEM Park Korea
So the point for me is this – what can YOU personally do with STEEM? Can you start a local space of community resources? Can you raise awareness of an important issue? My grandparents have always told me, “do what you love and the money will follow.” I think that hold especially true for Steemit blogs as the impact of that devotion will resonate with the internet's first small town.
Let me know what you think below. Steem on!
