A lot of talk lately has been about what does and doesn't "add value" on this system. While all of us have an initial gut reaction that of course our own posts add value, it is important to look at this from the other side. As @rhondak put it, we need to "think like a whale" (Thinking Like a Whale).

This article isn't going to discuss anything that has happened already. My point is to look forward at what we can do, as authors and Steemians, to help the platform. I hope working on the points mentioned here can help prove that fiction does deserve its place here.

What @transisto helped me consider on a recent visit to The Writers' Block was how I could add value to Steem while at the same time proving fiction is a good fit for the platform. I don't have spare money. I can't be a big Steem investor. But I do have some time and I am willing to put in work to have a place here. The trick is finding a way to make that time and effort translate into value in the eyes of the investors.

@thinknzombie had the perfect summary of the discussion (paraphrased):

Instead of trying only to focus on getting a bigger piece of the pie, focus on making the pie bigger, so your piece will also increase.

Most of the points here are applicable to any genre. It's just my personal focus that is primarily on fiction, and fiction that has been attracting a lot of attention on the platform. Remember that these comments are based on my understanding of the discussion and are not an attempt to clarify the position of others.

Attract Readers

We can add value by attracting readers to the platform. Although the views display isn't fully reliable (it doesn't seem to take all the front-ends into account and isn't saved to the blockchain), the views helps show whether a post is being looked at or has merely acquired autovotes or votes from a feed or a new or trending listing. Comments also show that people are actually reading and appreciating a post.



Image credit: Reinhardi on Pixabay

A lot of people get caught up in trying to recruit new people to use the platform and often push the idea that you earn money for posting. All this is great, but people who are primarily interested in getting rich quick or living off Steem aren't necessarily the ideal fit. The people who get more caught up in money than quality aren't going to help add value to the platform.

But adding readers--this adds value. You don't need an account to read the content. According to someone who tested for me, views from someone without an account still register as views. So getting people from off the platform coming in to check out your work will help with your views to upvote ratio.

Create Quality Content

Readers aren't going to come if there isn't stuff here that they want to read. However, if readers looking for something on the site are constantly wading through junk, they may give up in frustration and go elsewhere.

We can't control what everyone else does, but we can control ourselves. We need to put our best foot forward when we post.

Spend the time to clean up and polish your work, even if it is a trivial post. Not everyone has the same skill set, but do your best and work to improve your skills where you can.

Use art that reflects the content. If possible, use custom or customized art that will attract a reader's attention. Be sure to use only art that may be used legally and to attribute it properly.

Do your best to format your post effectively. Using proper block formatting and using headings where appropriate makes articles more comfortable to read. Avoiding overuse of emphasis and other special formatting helps keep things looking professional.

Choose tags based on the content of your post, not based on what tags seem to attract a lot of upvotes. Tagging your post with something unrelated to your content is likely to attract negative attention. Improper tagging is confusing. If you promise a story with the fiction tag but instead give a political lecture or talk about football, I'm likely to be upset. No one likes to be confused or to fall prey to what they may consider a "bait and switch."

Use Pre-existing Social Media to Push Steem

It isn't about the sheer volume of registered users here. It's about getting attention and views to content that is housed on the block chain. So if you post your original content on Steem first (which is the best way to avoid issues with Cheetah anyway) then share it to other media, you are encouraging your readers elsewhere to check out your work on Steem. You then help to establish the site as a home for great content.

Also share quality posts you find from other users. It doesn't matter if the reader is registered to upvote the post. It doesn't matter if it's a new post or an older one. What matters is to get people paying attention to posts on Steem. Accepting them as a possible resource when they turn up in Google searches. Looking at the blockchain as a resource. Getting curious about everything.

Add Steem Links on Other Sites

Add your Steem profile on your other social sites. Facebook doesn't include Steem as a social media you can link to, but it is easy to add the link to your blog as a website link. Similar options exist on other platforms, and if you have your own blog or website, you should easily be able to incorporate links to your Steem account and content.

If you are using Facebook, be aware that some people are reporting that Facebook appears to be burying Steemit content with their display algorithms. I'm not technical enough to understand what all this means, but I think it means that if Steemit links are posted directly through a page, that post may be lowered in priority for viewing, making it less seen by readers than your other content.

If you've gotten yourself a Steemshelf, this link is excellent for adding to your Facebook profile as a website and to other forums and social media. For those not familiar with the project, the idea is to allow you to create a bookshelf promoting your own best work, which simplifies the process for readers who want to look at your portfolio. If you are working on some sort of series or serial, you can create a subshelf that provides links to each segment in order. For an example, look at my own Misty Vale shelf. If I use this link to send a reader to Misty Vale, they get easy access to each segment in order and I can have the shelf updated when I release new segments. Also notice the bit at the bottom about other suggestions, which might help point my reader straight to the work of someone else, also hosted on Steem.

My Own Actions

I previously posted about thinking more about whether things I consider posting are worthy and making sure I add quality to the block chain. I'm trying to use more original art, even if it is customizations of creative commons art when I can't create something myself.

Yesterday I added my Steemshelf to my personal Facebook profile. I also added my Steem blog link. I've decided that instead of often reposting photographs I've shared on Steem on my Facebook account that I will focus on sharing the links instead.

When some of these topics were discussed on the Block earlier, I resurrected my long-neglected Twitter account. The book reviews I post on Goodreads are shared there automatically, but now I will work more on sharing and commenting on the great fiction and writing articles I find here. My Steem reading has replaced a lot of book reading, so only fair I work to share the great content with others.

I'm working with other members of The Writers' Block to expand the Block's social media presence. I believe we can gain more attention working together than working alone.

In the weeks ahead, I want to add more of my best stories to my Steemshelf and I'll be volunteering some time to help maintain the website. I believe it is a tool that can help fellow authors, whether of fiction or nonfiction, present their best work more efficiently, making it a sort of portfolio. I also want to work more on sharing great Steem posts to other platforms instead of just curating them either myself or through the programs I'm involved with.

I am trying to use my earnings to help power up my account, so I can better support other posters of quality content. A day will come when I need to withdraw some funds, but I hope I can continue to grow my investment in Steem, even if it is an investment of work and time instead of cash.

Finally, I plan to spend more energy trying to understand how the system works and learning more ways I can contribute instead of just gobbling up my slice of the rewards pool.

Please remember that these opinions are my own. Although I am inspired by conversation with Transisto and recent events, I am still communicating my own understanding and speaking only for myself. Please do not attribute my words to others. Also remember that I am not commenting on past events or implying approval or disapproval of the actions of others, but only focusing on ways in which I believe we can contribute moving forward.

Although I am a mod on The Writers' Block, this post is a statement only of my personal beliefs, which may not align with those of the organization or its other members. If you disagree with my statements here, remember that I am speaking only for myself and that no organization with which I am affiliated has any responsibility for my statements.