@minnowsupport and the Minnow Support Project (MSP) is an interesting phenomenon and, IMO, and invaluable tool for of STEEM value creation.
Nearly 4000 minnow level users populate their discord server, seeking help and community from each other, the mods, the witnesses and the larger users who frequent the chatroom.
When I created my account about 45 days ago, I was quick to start producing content - but had no idea what the hell to do with it.
I didn't understand tags, formatting, almost anything really. I didn't even really understand the basics of password management, didn't know what steemit chat was, let alone how the blockchain really worked or how to look access the information there.
Almost all the information I now have started off in the MSP discord server, asking for help, receiving helpful DMs from new users, whales, mods and witnesses alike. It is a large community and yet stil capable of individualized assistance, which is reason enough to support it.
Let's talk upvotes
Perhaps even more concrete than communication for the very new user is the community upvote mechanic.
Once a minnow registers for MSP they gain access once daily to a community upvote. It isn't anything outlandish - I think it comes out to just under or just over a dollar now.
But to the new user struggling for any kind of recognition, the MSP community vote is a psychological life saver.
I can only speak for myself, but I use steemit in large part to replace other compulsive behaviors in my life with more positive compulsion that at least involves creativity and knowledge/community building.
I have been very lucky so far on steemit and connected with other users and communities that have been endlessly helpful. Shout outs to #steemstem and #whaleshares.
But the fact is I wouldn't have made it through the first couple of weeks without the pyschological benefits of the MSP upvote. There is just something terribly demoralizing, especially on Steemit, about making content everyday and seeing it sit at 0. The difference between the MSP vote chain and 0 is the difference between new users sticking around and new users leaving.
Which is why I am going to delegate all of my SP up to 1000, to MSP - possibly more.
Fact is I wouldn't be here still without it. Plus thanks to @aggroed and the @msp-lovebot, there is a concrete benefit to my delegation which provides more value on my material than my 1000sp upvote would anyway.
So, for other minnows - especially minnows benefiting from the community - consider a small SP delegation within your means. It isn't permanent and can be undone whenever you want.
For whales and larger sp users, I think I am example of how the project supports you all as well. It will be projects like MSP which make new users stick around Steemit - and new users mean a healthier community and, invariably, a healthier steem value.
This delegation link has proven incredibly simple to use, and I'd encourage you to give it a try.
https://mspdelegator.herokuapp.com
EDIT: Thanks @netuoso
Many thanks to MSP and the whales, mods and witnesses who continue to make it possible.
DBER...