Making Hive A Destination
This is something that I harped upon for a long time. To be successful, we need to make Hive a destination.
Here is a statement that most would agree with. However, we have a major problem. Few actually are taking the time to do that. Instead, the continual conversation is based upon marketing and how to get more users here.
Repeatedly, we saw this approach fail. People talk about bringing people to Hive only to see them leave. Then the conversation turns to how do we increase user retention.
Of course, you would think most understood the reasoning yet it seems to have eclipsed the majority. Instead, we keep going along the same failed path, being surprised when we get the usual results.
Perhaps we should take a bit of guidance from the CEO of X.
Providing Information
While news is not the best thing to fill a database with, it is something. This is a great deal more than Hive.
Let us take a look at how she is framing the conversation.
If you want breaking news, you turn to X. This is a destination for those seeking this information. It is not delayed which is important in this world of instant gratification. Our database is filled with it so you can always be kept up to date.
This is the message.
What is not discussed is how the news gets place upon X. Did they open up a news division? Certainly not. It is the users who post the latest info regarding what is taking place. A rather simple, yet effective concept if you ask me.
We know there are people who talk about Hive all day long on X. Obviously, they are consuming the news there. It is good we are dealing with well informed people.
This should bring up a natural question: where is the news on Hive? Why is Hive not a destination for this type of information especially for those who talk about Hive? After all, it is a decentralized, public database that is censorship resistant.
Isn't that what people use to promote Hive?
We all know the news is censored. This would lead me to believe it is an ideal subject to have posted on Hive. After all, if the platforms are going to censor, shouldn't we be a go-to option?
How come that is not discussed? Why is it not happening? If we look at the Hive Database, what kind of "breaking news" is on here?
We all know the answer to that.
Fill A Void And Fill It
We have to give Twitter credit. Due to the informal nature of microblogging, it did become the go-to platform for news. Years ago, this eclipsed Facebook. Instagram can fill this role a bit although the focus of the application is slightly different.
What void does Hive fill?
If you posed that to most people on Hive, they would not be able to answer. The sad reality is, part of the reason, is because they are not on Hive. All their time is spent on Web 2.0. Look at the biggest "influencers" and check out their accounts.
Ironic that these can be some of the same people calling for more marketing. How can you promote something that you do not even use? Certainly, there are professionals who do that. They work in the advertising field. Is that what we are basically dealing with?
Of course, if we had professionals, the first thing they would look at is what the offering is and how does it fit into the marketplace. What is the product or service?
Remember when people were posting on Hive how Elon Musk was killing Twitter and it was going away. It seems like the platform keeps growing. Now, it might end up in bankruptcy but I wouldn't bet on that one. That said, reports are they are now over 500 million MAU. This is a number that is supposedly going higher.
How about Hive? The answer seems to be more marketing. For what? To bring people to Hive so they can go back to X to get their news? This is what people on Hive appear to be doing.
Make Hive A Destination
One of the biggest problems is the biggest nodes are not here. This is something that might be a bit confusing, necessitating a separate article.
Simply put, not all nodes on a network are the same. This means that drawing in another person might not be an equal replacement for a departed user. It makes sense if one understands business. Not all customers are equal. Gaining one who spends $50 per month does not replace one who was spending $1,000 monthly.
But with networks it is more than just activity. It is the ability to draw connections. Some nodes are going to naturally establish more links to them. That means, when that goes disappears, the impact is much greater.
Let us take digital infrastructure like the Internet. Each day, million of nodes go down for stretches of time. For the most part, other than a few applications, no harm is done. The majority do not realize when the node for the largest basket weaving site is zapped.
There are, however, nodes which have severe impact. Take Cloudflare. When some of their nodes go down, we can see wipe spread outages. In other words, these nodes carry more weight than the basket weavers.
This is commonplace across all networks. Whether it is social or biological, the set is identical. With biology, there are parts of the body we can do without, such as an appendix. This node is not vital. That said, try to go without a heart or brain. Once those shut down, everything else goes the same way.
All of this leads into making Hive a destination. If it is a social ecosystem, where is the sociability? What is being offered to people who arrive here fresh? Remember, they most likely are low value nodes, at least to start. What are they going to latch onto from the start that will keep them here?
This is the quandary. If the information (and engagement) people are looking for is elsewhere, people will not remain here. So, once again, we are back to the main question of what is in Hive's database? We can evidently cross news off the list since people are getting that on X.
Philosophy teaches how the answer is often not on the outside. When it comes to business building practices, often the problem is within. People want to blame the market, competition, and an assortment of other entities for the failures.
Unfortunately, more often than not, the problem resides within the company. The positive is, for those one that realize it, they can make the necessary adjustments. Those that go blindly, on the other hand, end up dying off.
It is really that simple.
People on Hive need to figure out how to make it a destination. Contrary to the popular opinion on Hive, Elon and his team know what they are doing.
If you want breaking news, head to X.
The value of a network is derived, in part, from what is in the database. X is placing breaking news. What Is Hive being filled with?
Posted Using InLeo Alpha
I'd say the nodes are a big challenge, coming here and seeing how things keep stopping or showing errors it would be hard for anyone especially those that are new to stay.
Fixing the nodes is one thing that should be worked on even as more of this kind of Contents be promoted across hive to help true members know and think of a good way to make hive a destination. It's time we start focusing more on those already inside and give them more reasons to remain.
Nodes are more than just the physical (digital) infrastructure.
That's right, there is more to it than meets the eyes
Not to get too drawn into this topic but... one thing Hive does offer is the ability to see 'the facts on the ground' in certain areas where folks are located or visiting. Of course it is just their own truth/version of things but having that kind of uncensored (uncensorable) access is extremely potent.
Transparency does add a layer to the platform that isnt really evident elsewhere.
Yes, you hit the nail on the head - operational information from all over the world from people with reputations - this is the basis of Hive, and not an article about how I went to the village toilet.
When presenting news, you have to take part of the information from the media, which is immediately punished by Hive users - this needs to be fixed!
I get what you are saying here friend, in the process of marketing, we are in the process loosing the market. The raw source of information seems to be currently on the other side which is web2 platform like X. Just as their CEO said, they are known for breaking news. Hivers need to have what we truly stand for in the social industry which will make new users stay in the chain instead of outsourcing because in the process they might never return.
It is about information. What information are you offering is the question?
For Twitter, news is something that is prevalent.
What do you personally suggest should be our information?
The challenge for Hive lies in becoming a compelling destination with meaningful content, distinct from competitors like X. The key is to fill Hive's database with content that captivates and retains users, transcending beyond the superficial commonplace.
Meaningful is an interesting word and I agree.
That doesnt mean quality since X doesnt have a lot of quality but it is meaningful to the users.
mhmm! yeah right!! different strokes for different folks!!!
Many people like me will keep coming and going because our expectations is not meet. It's painful after spending hours creating good content you did not get any upvote or support. You will feel bad it's the upvote that keep many of us here. my article on joy of motherhood on hive is out there, I never got a upvote
And what do you get on X or Facebook?
And what are you doing to market and brand yourself?
Steem had a fairly thriving 'news' community - distilling and collecting/publishing decentralised intel for the world. There were even cases of people's work on Steem shaping world events in a variety of ways, because the information was unique and more accurate than what was in the mainstream. The community of individuals responsible for this have abandoned Hive due to a lack of whale support and because of the heavy downvoting they received here.
I was gonna say, plenty have tried this over the last 7 years, few have succeeded.
Many were intentionally run off the platform, for a variety of reasons.
The hierarchy has not changed much.
That a hierarchy exists at all is an issue on a 'decentralized' platform, imo.
Maybe when the top 100 accounts stop taking 'all they can', we will see change at the bottom line.
Maybe not.
The taking was initially under the guise of 'protecting their stake', then became 'protecting the price of Hive' (presumably because that's easier to defend). In a way it's a shift from capitalism to 'socialist excuses for capitalism'.
Thing is, this is all a reflection of what transpires in the wider world. It's easy to point the finger at the bigger accounts - but the problems tend to balance out when 'the masses' take action themselves.. That's always an option here. We need that action to be creative rather than destructive... That would be an important step into genuinely decentralised creative process/evolution
Yes, I have been encouraging powering up more hive to change the management in the hive.
It seems to be working.
We escape this top down management scheme when we have enough stake to make those folks' time better spent elsewhere.
It's not easy to get folks to give up power once they have had a taste of it.
But, the way to mass adoption is in coin distribution, not hoarding it by those that already have too much.
Decentralisation requires actual decentralisation in order to be effective, yes.
So.. we market! :)
Unique content certainly is a part of the equation. Even some basics of what is going on is important too.
But you are right...we are our own worst enemy.
Decentralisation requires that the community makes its own checks and balances for measuring the effectiveness of those with the most power. Unfortunately, with Hive, if complaints are ignored and denial overpowers the situation - the outcome is that until things change, the community dwindles around those who are left smirking for their own reasons.
You highlighted a lot of things that Hive needs to thrive. But I don't think trying to compete against Twitter is good. If we are offering the same things as twitter, regular users will go to Twitter most of the time. I think Hive needs to offer more short form content. The success of Tiktok shows how popular it is, and YT and FB are trying to imitate it with their own versions.
Isnt Twitter basically short form content yet you said dont mirror it.
Yep, but it is already established. Meta's Threads is a good example on why it is difficult to deal with Twitter. Meta is a big company and already established, yet they weren't able to do anything to topple Twitter, and have pretty much gone to obscurity. I mentioned Tiktok too, and that is one that the other social media platforms are trying to beat. That's why I said short form content, maybe short videos, short posts of pictures with description.
That is true although users have no stake in Facebook. Web3 is something entirely different.
Making Hive a destination is what we all should pursue. But the fact is that articles like this which educates on sustainable policies in the system are just treated as read-and-comment contents, or probably upvote.
HIVE should be treated uniquely. It should be run differently from other media like X and the likes.
For instance, your contents, that of @farmgirl and a few others are destinations to me! I interact with them because they are educational (i.e. something to learn: whether on new tokens or economic issues).
Most communities aren't encouraging new comers. The truth remains that most people are here for earning. They want to make money from it. So, if they try to play along and the communities don't support them, they certainly quit!
In summary, let the warlords of the Blockchain simplify the policy and make it accommodating to new and old users.
Blocking for money is a failed premise. We know that.
So far, we have not replaced the concept with anything since we have few services.
The initial force of attraction to Hive has been to earn crypto tokens, especially Hive and HBD. This is a hidden reality in the minds of natives.
So, thinking that people can blog not for money look like a false assumption.
The problem with posts like these is that they address a problem, without providing a solution. There's a suggestion of of a solution - what people should be doing, but that's it. That's not the fault of the authors like yourself (and me in the past) specifically - what can one individual do other than point out an issue? For most people, not much, if anything.
But then, the only outcome is simply a comments discussion where a variety of people who think they know better say 'the reason is more because of THIS, and we should do THIS'. And then nothing happens until the next suggestion blog.
You might think making hive a destination, or a news source, or filling a void, will make all the difference. But other people will say
Others will say
Others will insist
and others will argue
or
ad nauseum.
Fact is, there just isn't one simple idea that we need to iron out, and there isn't any clear leader who can show us the way.
In a comparison, it's kind of why small tribes remain small tribes... unless they go to war. They all fulfill a nice, comfortable role in the tribe, why stick one's neck out into the wilderness to expand when you could get your head chopped off? If you really want to grow, take the initiative and grab your spears. Go to war with the next tribe. Any survivors join us or die = success! Tribe has doubled in size. This is the classic game of empires.
Unless an identifiable leader takes us into battle, the tribe of Hive is just gonna continue sitting around in its little safety hut, peeling pistachios and sunflower seeds on a rocking chair until the sun goes down. Honestly, I'm fine with that. I like it small and tribal. So much less toxic than the greater social media world. But I guess most people want more money so there's that.
Platform like X should have really be a suitable place to grow the hive platform rapidly if only we know how to make proper use of it though
Till now, I am still surprised how X is still been sustainable to this particular point. Quite astonishing