Steemit Suggestion Box: We Need Some Type of Referral Tracking System!
After being part of this great community for a couple of months, it seems to me there are a few basic "social tools" we need on Steemit if the platform is to ever grow beyond the hard group of pioneers currently here.
So I'm going to toss this out there in the hope that "the powers that be" ( @ned, @sneak, some of the developers?) might take a few moments to consider this idea.
Sailboat at Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival
Bringing new people to the world of Steemit... BUT...
As our little community continues to grow and features are added to make this an ever better social content platform, I have the sense lots of current users will be interested in getting friends from “off site” to come join up.
I have poked at the idea half-heartedly (so far, only my wife and sister-in-law have joined, that I know of. Oh, and one dude who signed up only so he could comments on one of my posts), but haven't yet put a lot of effort into it.
It’s becoming increasingly clear to me that Steemit is in need of some kind of referral system.
"Referrals" are NOT always what you think!
Now before you launch into a tirade about how referral systems “kill web sites,” and cause clouds of spam, let me take a moment to paint a more specific picture of the how and what.
Also, giving credit where due: this post was largely inspired by a recent post by @good-karma, and the ensuing discussions. You can read that original post here.
Sailboats at Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival
Referrals for TRACKING—NOT for money or rewards
For me, the primary purpose of having some kind of referral tracking (for all "versions" of Steemit) isn't really about getting rewards, but about a serving a social function—specifically, knowing whether anybody is "listening" when we mention or market Steemit, outside the Steemit framework.
Let's hypothetically say I write a Steemit post called something like "Why I'm no longer hanging around on Facebook, these days" and use it to write a nice introductory explanation of Steemit for the "average" social media user. Then I distribute it in the usual spaces I use to promote my writing, as I did with a "non-Steemit" related post a few weeks back, which ended up getting about 1300 reads... so I at least know that my offsite followers are willing to read my stuff here.
So, let's say I distribute this article and include an "if this sounds interesting to you, click here to come join me!" link at the bottom of the article. Most likely a few people will take a chance and click on the link. Let's arbitrarily say five people think this is a groovy idea...
Coastline near Kingston, Washington
...so they go to Steemit, create an account… and…?
That’s all nice and good, but how do I know that somebody actually signed up as a result of my efforts?
Again, this is not about “money.”
My issue is that I just want to be connected to these folks, somehow... because we're "selling" this platform as a community, and as a community member, I should at least be able to automatically follow these new people. That makes sense, right? What's more, it would be nice if they were "auto-followed" into a separate category called something other than just "followers."
So that I know that they joined. See the point?
A lot of content creators have "followers." These are like actual people I have interacted with, elsewhere, not "random strangers." I have blogs; I have Facebook pages; I belong to large active groups.
Which brings me to the next point...
Sailboats at the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival, Washington state
The need for an internal Steemit message system
I'm sure this has been brought up before, but it would be really nice if we had a message system here on Steemit (Yes, I know, busy.org has one... but I'm on Steemit, right now) so I could actually send new joinees a personal message to (a) welcome them and (b) help/encourage them to start posting and become active community members and (c) answer potential questions.
Again, that's what a community does. These are typical features in Social Media... even twitter has direct messages.
Doesn't have to be anything "fancy;" very basic, in keeping with the pretty basic user interface we already have for blogging.
I'm a Content Creator, not a Developer
Now I put these suggestions forth from the perspective of a “regular content creator.” Sure, there are external apps, or I can go on busy.org… but speaking as “an average user” that already makes the platform “too complicated.”
We have a lot of developers and "tech-y" people here on Steemit. These good folks really know code, and that's a beautiful thing. But code doesn't build communities, PEOPLE do. And-- in order to get this community to truly take wings and fly-- we need some better "social tools" not only for those of us already here, but for the many who are yet to come and join us.
Sailboat at the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival, Washington state
So finally a few words about rewards
OK, so let's discuss the other side of referrals; the side most people are familiar with-- “referrals” being something you do to get a reward.
I feel somewhat ambivalent about that. Speaking from 20+ years of experience contributing to user-generated content sites, the SINGLE BIGGEST ISSUE with "referred members" tends to be "dead accounts." That is, people who sign up, confirm their accounts, and never log in again.
Generally, the reason so many accounts end up dead as a result of referrals is that rewards are given simply for getting someone to sign up.
That is an absolute no-no!
Winter sunset, Washington state
There are numerous groups out there, on Facebook and 4chan and Reddit and beyond that exist for no other purpose than to be a mutual backscratching service where people sign up multiple referral accounts just to earn rewards from each other.
You can even hire people to do so, through places like Amazon’s Mechanical Turk or Fiverr.
Functionally Speaking, that means...
Sooooo, the net effect would be that I persuade 300 people to sign up, solely so I can get my "rewards" and none of them ever post anything... massively stupid... it's a financial drain and a waste of space.
Limited Rewards that COULD make sense
IF there were to be rewards attached to Steemit referrals, I would propose that it should be something along the lines of the referrer getting a 1% "royalty" of the referree's active posting rewards WHEN, and ONLY when they reach 1000SP (or something like that), and that reward is issued only as Steem Power, not as a "liquid" reward.
Winter sunset, Olympic Peninsula Washington state
Intended result: I would only get rewards for someone who (a) posts regularly (or invests cash) and (b) doesn't just come in and cashes out every time they have $2 to their name... which is another "plague" that often falls on reward based sites. In addition, my rewards for referring people would be locked up in Steem Power for a while before I could touch them...
Who IS this guy, anyway???
Now, do I actually know what I am talking about?
Well, my experience base is approximately 20 years, contributing to about 60 "for rewards" sites. During those two decades ALL BUT ONE SITE focusing on this type of “user generated content" has shut down. In many cases over the issue of mismanaging referrals (usually in service of wanting to grow too fast!).
That dismal track records tells me referrals and rewards are something that has to be carefully planned and implemented with the utmost of caution.
Steemit is an awesome venue, so let's not shoot the goose that's laying golden eggs!
What do YOU think? Would Steemit benefit from a referral system? Would you like to be able to stay easily in contact with those you encourage to join Steemit? Does it make sense that we should be able to send each other personal messages here... even if they are only short, and not rewarded? Leave a comment and share your ideas-- I'd love to hear what others think, on this topic!
(As always, all text and images by the author, unless otherwise credited. This is original content, created expressly for Steemit)
It bums me out a little to see a well-written post like this with good suggestions not get more interaction in the comment section. I suppose that is one issue with Steemit that is possibly being looked into/addressed by the new marketing duo.
Sometimes with posts like these, timing of the post is everything.
I think having a tracking system or a referral system, as you call it, would be very valuable to all of us. Not being a coder, though, and just an average user like yourself, I have no idea what it would take to implement such a system.
Having such a system in place would be something of a reward in itself. Rewards function as incentives, and getting feedback on the reach and effectiveness of your efforts through statistics can be very motivating, not to mention educational.
I also like your comment about Busy.org. I agree. I'm here on Steemit. I am busy. I don't want to have to fish around elsewhere to do what I'm already comfortable with and like doing. Sometimes, though, I feel like I should start doing that. And that is discouraging.
I agree we need more interaction on posts like this. I suppose people are just too busy to take a moment out to write something.
At the moment, so many talented content creators are "too busy" being on temporary hiatus because they feel unsettled by the weirdness in the rewards system. Which is rather sad...
Sometimes I think that's the case. I know it is for me, anyway. Other times, I think the conversation is just happening or already happened elsewhere. It's hard to keep on top of everything here.
Maybe we need a better way to navigate to our "favorites". I use Google Keep and have a note called favorites. All I do is click on the link to take me to their page. Works well and it is always with me on any computer I'm on.
That's a good way to keep tabs on things. I don't have any kind of system at all. I tend to just browse my feed and look for a mix of favorite names and interesting titles/cover photos. Occasionally, though, when I feel like I haven't read one of my favorite authors in a while, I look him/her up by name.
A "favorites" tab would be great!
And this bums me out too @boxcarblue
"Attain relevant & helpful interaction in the comments section of a post so well written & clearly exposed like this one.. is as hard as try that a largely worked up brothel's whore genuinely falls in love with you" ;)
Great post @denmarkguy All very good points. 100% agreed with you. Reestemed!!
Thanks for your thoughtful comment! I was hoping for a little more dialogue, too... but so it goes.
Implementation would not be all that hard. Each user's ID is already part of the unique URL of every post... so all that's needed is a temporary tracking cookie tying a visitor's actions on Steemit to whatever username is in the URL they click on somewhere. It's a fairly standard way to track affiliate activity. The trick is creating a new database field that links a new member to the username within the post that brought them here.
I see. I would think that collecting statistics like that would be very helpful for all users. We could each learn where the best place to promote Steemit is and get pointers on techniques that work.
Plus, as you said, it would be nice to know someone signed up on account of your actions so that you can follow them and help with their onboarding.
Good points! I'm also a "Content Creator, not a Developer!"
I have nothing against developers; I'm just suggesting we all work to our strengths... and we have some "social geniuses" on Steemit who should be given the tools to build community, simply because that's what they are best at.
Yes to this post! Yes to @denmark guy, direct messages and to affiliate links! I have been successfully affiliate marketing from my blog and other social for media sites the past 5 years.
It's what allows us to live outside the system, be location independent and MLM/affiliate/network marketing is an ideal solution for steemit's growth in my opinion.
Devs please let's address this and have open discussion about something being offered along these lines. Great post, upped and resteemed!
Wholeness.
@kenistyles, thanks for the support and the resteem!
There's a good reason why affiliate marketing is also known as "relationship marketing;" we need to be able to interact with people if Steemit is truly going to make its mark as a viable social content site. We need to have "social tools;" otherwise it will be quite difficult to grow the community beyond a small core of dedicated contributors.
Really good thinking. Referral reward for an active user!!!. Reminds me of the brighter side of multi level marketing where you take care of your down-line and help them thrive and have success.
Yes, similar principle... which is also why the legitimate versions of MLM are often referred to as "relationship marketing."
Mentors for new steemians!
Yes, @denmarkguy, of course.
Rewards are extrinsic motivation.
Before referrals would suggest gamifying introductions/referrals, for intrinsic motivation
A number of referrals tab for total number of people signed up through an individual, with an active referrals number, next to the reputation score, colour code, for levelling up as appropriate, @sneak
If interested, I can develop a framework for gamifying newbie acquistion, engagement & retention.
Yes! I completely agree with the gamification of referrals... make it another "social accountability score," similar to reputation. However, @nigelmarkdias, I do think there needs to be some kind of "scale" worked into it to avoid the issue of "dead accounts." Maybe the value needs to be linked-- somehow, I'm not a developer-- to the reputation score of those a person refers... so if you bring in 200 people but they never move off reputations of 25, you don't get much reward. Let's face it, bringing in 10 people who become active community members is worth a LOT more than bringing in 200 who never post a thing.
A really wonderful idea. Let's make this happen! Hopefully the right people will see this post. Resteemed with this intention :)
Thanks for the positive words and the resteem! Maybe some people with influence will read this... maybe not. I'm trying to stay philosophical about it... and just trying to "put the idea out there."
I found this Steemit referral code explained in an old @future24 tutorial post: How To Use The Steemit Referral/Affiliate Program? (English/German). But I'm not sure if it continues tracks the clicks or will give rewards someday.
@wagnertamanaha, thanks for finding this and pointing it out... as far as I can tell, this was never developed beyond the "proposal" stage... I tried a few different searches, but could not determine that this was actually implemented and added to the code.
I really warm to the idea of being able to find and connect with anyone I have introduced to Steemit.
I personally don't need any sort of contrived incentive to support those who I feel will benefit by being here, as well as contributing to the wellbeing of the Steemit Community.
Precisely! I am not looking for an incentive... but the ability to connect. If I do my best song-and-dance to persuade people to sign up... but then I can't actually follow up with them... that seems kind of silly.
All good points. I just hope the powers that be are seeing such suggestions.
A bit off topic, but as hard as it is to get people here, the flagging of good users to the point that they quit needs to be stopped too.
Agreed... although I haven't stopped writing, I do find it a little depressing to experience myself as occasional "collateral damage" in other people's internal battles. I try to not go to a "Why do I even bother?" place with it, but at the moment Steemit is not as much fun as it used to be.
The idea of referrals is not bad, but how to deal with a large number of inactive referrals?
This is why we need a "message system" of some kind... so we have the capacity to contact those who sign up and encourage them. If that doesn't work for a couple of tries, maybe there needs to be some kind of "inactivity purging" after 6 months or so...