Gets my vote!
A quick summary of what I voted on and why
https://steemit.com/steemit/@anonymint/it-s-so-easy-to-become-a-millionaire-with-steem - got in early on this. I'm going to go away and study the math. If @anonymint is waxing positive about an issue it's worth taking notes!! If he's waxing positive about something you're doing (i.e. curating) then take twice as many notes. I going to read this post a number of times.
https://steemit.com/dolphincurator/@ladypenelope1/re-nanzo-scoop-chronicles-of-a-dolphin-curator-oi-bigwigs-use-powered-down-steem-to-create-sub-steemit-accounts-let-s-get-this-party-20160721t202906592z - agreed with this comment
https://steemit.com/steemit/@blueorgy/steemitchat-com-major-update-beta-phase-2-private-messages-trending-chat-topics-new-ui-secure-login - Took a punt on this one. Although if the user you create on that site is not linked to your STEEM credentials, I don't see the benefit.
https://steemit.com/steem/@cryptogee/great-content-and-only-cents-it-s-all-in-the-headline - it seeems I can never get in early on a @cryptogee! Not fair. CG hit me up man!!
https://steemit.com/shopping/@fyrstikken/why-i-freaking-hate-ikea-a-time-consuming-hell-of-a-maze-men-be-warned -took a punt on this post.
https://steemit.com/steem/@steemitblog/steem-version-0-12-0-released - Some interesting changes proposed here. They kick in, in a few days. Need to meditate on how they affect my voting strategy
https://steemit.com/steemit/@anyx/cheetah-bot-the-fight-against-spam-and-plagiarism-continues - A useful service provided here. Taking a punt that this will go high on the trending page
https://steemit.com/steemit/@positive/how-to-avoid-reward-frustration-short-read-1-min-steemit - Took a punt on this
https://steemit.com/witness/@cryptoctopus/witnesses-exposed-what-witnesses-has-done-for-us-this-week-first-edition - VERY interesting piece by @cryptoctopus on a subject that I'm going to look deeper into. I've put off spending too much time thinking about witnesses and mining. Posting and curating is more enjoyable. Now may be the time for me to take closer order. Thanks @cryptoctopus and @clains for pushing this up the agenda
https://steemit.com/steemit/@heiditravels/how-to-write-a-quality-steemit-post - I'm not giving up hope that @heiditravels will come good again. Change of pace on this one.
https://steemit.com/photography/@kristylynn/stoked-about-steemit - Took a punt on this post, I think it will do well
https://steemit.com/art/@jlwkolb/what-it-was-like-working-on-a-book-with-julie-andrews - What a fantastic talent @jlwkolb is! Upvote well deserved.
https://steemit.com/steem/@roelandp/steemtools-com-indexing-all-tools-and-services-for-steemit-users - With so many fantastic STEEM apps popping up,it's great to have them all in one place
https://steemit.com/introduceyourself/@positive/i-could-ve-sold-crack-but-i-didn-t-exposing-myself-1-min-read-introduceyourself - took a punt on this 'pluck-at-the-heartstring' post
https://steemit.com/travel/@lindee-hamner/i-m-a-professional-truck-driver-who-wears-a-bikini-while-driving-my-big-rig - inventive take on the 'bandwagon-jumping' phenomenon
https://steemit.com/photopraphy/@sean-king/nsfw-can-you-spot-the-whale-in-this-pic - NSFW, great pic, even if a bit naughty
https://steemit.com/photopraphy/@loveofprofit/re-sean-king-nsfw-can-you-spot-the-whale-in-this-pic-20160722t022822527z - NSFW, I liked this mock up... you got the answer correct it seems!
https://steemit.com/steemit/@steemitblog/steemit-to-update-password-policy - I think I'll give lasspass a go, thanks for putting me on.
https://steemit.com/steemit/@dana-edwards/re-joelinux-re-steemitblog-steemit-to-update-password-policy-20160722t023325376z - agreed with this comment
https://steemit.com/steemit/@truthtaco/the-secret-to-getting-a-million-upvotes-on-steemit - hail mary vote
https://steemit.com/bitcoin/@grolelo/why-bitcoin-is-just-kinda-boring-and-steem-is-kinda-fun, got in at a good time - worth a shot
https://steemit.com/money/@thecryptodrive/steemit-whales-stockpile-sp-government-spending-analogy-and-the-solution-revealed - I was late to vote on this but worth a punt.
https://steemit.com/introduceyourself/@ricegum/hi-steemit-i-am-a-young-fashion-model-and-a-makeup-lover - this could do well and I got in at the perfect time. Be interested to see how this does for me.
https://steemit.com/life/@mauricemikkers/steemit-addiction-may-be-as-hard-to-kick-as-drugs - first step to dealing with a problem is to admit you've got one... I'm not ready to admit it, still getting high of the STEEM vapers!
https://steemit.com/steemit/@positive/how-a-dolphin-can-single-handedly-promote-content-short-read-1-min-steemit - Good news story, although bold move to give away half your STEEM in one day.
https://steemit.com/steemit/@akareyon/how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-steem-from-a-newbie-for-the-newbies-part-ii - Great post if a bit long. Got me thinking I need to make the magazine a bit more snappy.
https://steemit.com/steemit/@generalspecific/dolphins-riding-whales-in-the-ocean-and-on-steemit - Decent post. I got in early to hold a large percentage share. If on-boarded I could get good rewards.
https://steemit.com/marijuana/@nanzo-scoop/re-kell234-berniesanders-make-crazy-upvotes-again-20-upvotes-with-cost-10k-sdollars-in-article-about-marijuana-who-is-he-and-why-is-it-done-20160722t134305182z - upvoted own comment as people need to pay attention to the key players in this game if they're serious about gaining rewards from scratch.
https://steemit.com/steemit/@cass/re-positive-re-nanzo-scoop-re-positive-tits-matter-more-than-exploits-wtf-revealed-hack-made-usd5-quick-read-1-min-steemit-20160722t133004111z - agreed with this comment so upvoted
https://steemit.com/steemit/@ricegum/from-depressive-bullying-victim-to-upcoming-fashion-models - Voted at the optimal time for this. If any Dolphins or Whales onboard this post, this could net a decent return. It's debatable though given the subject matter.
https://steemit.com/steemit/@nanzo-scoop/re-positive-tits-matter-more-than-exploits-wtf-revealed-hack-made-usd5-quick-read-1-min-steemit-20160722t121148019z - upvoted own comment
https://steemit.com/steemit/@positive/how-a-dolphin-can-single-handedly-promote-content-short-read-1-min-steemit - took a punt on this one
https://steemit.com/funny/@nanzo-scoop/boss-i-came-too-early - upvoted own blog post
https://steemit.com/funny/@akiregor/re-nanzo-scoop-boss-i-came-too-early-20160722t094126266z - upvoted comment on my blog
https://steemit.com/funny/@warrensteem/re-nanzo-scoop-boss-i-came-too-early-20160722t104321341z - upvoted comment on my blog
https://steemit.com/funny/@nanzo-scoop/re-warrensteem-re-nanzo-scoop-boss-i-came-too-early-20160722t111416147z - upvoted own comment
https://steemit.com/steemit/@rok-sivante/on-the-politics-of-down-voting-trending-posts-when-is-it-fair-to-knock-down-the-top - whales @itsascam, @steemed, @steemroller, had all voted before me. However I've checked steemd and I'm due to net at least 1 STEEM ($917.63*0.11%) as @recursive jumped on after me.
https://steemit.com/steemit/@rok-sivante/back-after-the-hack-over-usd2796-01-in-the-bank-in-48-hours-on-steemit-and-how-i-did-it-by-understanding-and-creating-value - whales @itsascam, @steemed, @steemroller, @recursive had all voted before me. However I've checked steemd and I'm due to net at least 1 STEEM, with only @stellabelle with significant STEEM Power jumping on after me.
https://steemit.com/steemit/@publicworker/why-steem-is-better-than-akasha - three whales in the pool before me on this one. I've checked steemd and I'm on course to net at least 1 STEEM ($357.74*.29%). I'm banking on a couple more whales jumping on-board to increase my payout.
https://steemit.com/steemit/@positive/tits-matter-more-than-exploits-wtf-revealed-hack-made-usd5-quick-read-1-min-steemit - just jumped on after a few whale. I've checked steemd and I'm due more than 1 STEEM... this is great for me. Not sure this is how curation was supposed to work... for dolphins to simply ride the coat-tails fo whales for easy profit?
https://steemit.com/anarchism/@kierkeguardian/introducing-myself-from-buying-500-bitcoins-at-usd3-in-2011-to-today-here-s-my-story - again another post I just jumped on after whale for 1+ STEEM reward
Voting observation:
As I was revisting these votes to write this post, it was clear that just jumping on content that was hot (as a dolphin), is a more rational strategy than searching for "hidden gems." You don't even need to think, just vote after one or two whales have gone. This wil be obvious from the payout amount.
Curation summary
A quick look at previous curations that came through with decent payouts today (over 1 STEEM)
5.352 STEEM POWER
for crystaljenn/life-as-a-female-otr-truck-driver-why-i-don-t-want-to-drive-again
approx value = $18.70 (at 3.516)
approx pot = $834.53
approx share = 2.24%
Interestingly I didn't vote early on this. However I was the second highest STEEM holder when I voted. The fact that @rainman, @summon, @roadscape and others jumped in after me, helped boost the pot.
1.880 STEEM POWER
for katecloud/4g1n5s-what-i-m-taking-to-survive-a-6-month-hiking-trip
approx $6.61 (at 3.516)
approx pot = $7,985.62
approx share = 0.08%
I voted after whales @enki, @xeldal and @summon. However other whales including @smooth and @berniesanders voted after boosting the pot and giving a decent return in the circumstance.
Curation Analysis:
Voting on posts where there is a good chance of whales onboarding is the name of the game. However this seems to apply even if one or two Whales have already upvoted. It's not too late for a Dolphin to also get fed. Not sure if this rule applies to the Minnows.
I'm going to try to test the hypothesis that dolphins are better off riding the coat-tails of whales/ other dolphins than seeking out hidden gem themselves.
Something to also bear in mind is the rule change that means that payouts will be every 12 month. As most of the Whales are North American, timezones will play an important role in determining whether a post is likely to be on-boarded by Whales or not. Will need to keep an eye on how this plays out.
Final word
Hmmm... I'm left with the somewhat sobering feeling that all I need to do (as a dolphin) is hang out in the "hot" page and vote on emerging posts. Even if a few whales and dolphins have gone before me, I still stand to make a decent payout.
Perhaps this helps to explain why whales and dolphins flock around a few posts rather than seek out 'hidden gems'. One activity is time-consuming and mentally taxing. The other is quick and requires little thinking or consuming of content. Dolphin curating may be an easier gig than I'd hope it would be.
Let me explore more... it will be interesting to see how today's curation rewards pan out when they filter through tomorrow.