Hey Everyone, It's been a while, and I know I pop in and out these days. I'm not going to promise to be more consistent, because I know I will not be. I've been around curating and watching Hive through the Bear Season, but I'm having difficulty focusing on it right now in my life. Still Hive or the former version of Steem was my first Crypto Love and I always want to see it be successful
Why Hive Needs a Makeover.. Branding, Marketing and Making Friends
So, you know Hive, right? That cool, decentralized place for all sorts of web 3.0 shenanigans? It's got a lot of potential, but man, it's having a rough time getting the attention it deserves. Our community was recently upset by a Graph published by CoinGecko which ranked the SteemIt App above the variety of front-ends on Hive.
Instead of recognizing our tragic marketing and branding, expecting CoinGecko to understand our complex Social Economic Community and how it all fits together is absurd.
A similar issue took place when a Twitter Account run by Andrew Quinn, who identifies as a Web3 expert, didn't even know what Hive was, but mentioned he had heard of Steem. That's not on him, that's on us. However, it did provide an opportunity to present Hive to him and his audience, and boy did a few members of the community step up to do that!
https://twitter.com/ACQuinn_/status/1650533878090571779?s=20
- ACQuinn_
Let's Talk About Looks and Noise
First off, Hive could use some swagger. In a world full of blockchain platforms, it's just not standing out from the crowd. It's like that quiet kid at the back of the class with all the answers, but no one notices because he never raises his hand. The name, makes it difficult to stand apart from other projects with the same name. It needs a pinch of zest, something that makes people stop and say, "Hey, what's this?" If we want people to understand the most popular apps we have are on Hive, where is that being presented? (It isn't)
And then there's the marketing. Hive's got some fantastic features under the hood, but it's like they're a secret. You've got to spell it out for people, especially the non-techy folks. If they don't know why Hive is awesome, they're not going to hop on the bandwagon. The recent Hive race car was cool and a nice start.
Making Friends and Keeping Them
Let's talk about making friends. Hive's not the easiest kid on the block to get to know. It's like trying to join a conversation about quantum physics when you've only just mastered long division. The learning curve is steep, and it scares people off. They need a guide, a friendly hand to show them around and make them feel at home.
And once you've got friends, you've got to keep them. Hive needs to make hanging out more fun. Maybe its educational Quests, or some cool token rewards, or just the feeling that you're part of something exciting. Right now, it's not really hitting the mark. At least stop treating every noob that joins like they are the enemy of Hive and only motivated to scam tokens. Hive and the content front ends work differently than any other Social Media site out there, maybe try education instead of shaming, downvoting and attacking. This issue doesn't just impact the noobs, I frankly dislike posting these days,because there is an underlying tone of, "Dear Whales, am I allowed to earn today?, how much? for how long?" I'm just not that hungry for tokens and it feels humiliating.
There's also the issue of growth. People want to see progress, change, innovation. It's all happening behind the scenes at Hive, but they've got to pull back the curtain and let the audience see the magic, understand the roadmap and help feel like contributors.
Cue the HDF
This is where the Hive Development Fund (HDF) comes in. It's like a treasure chest, just waiting to be used to bring in fresh talent from outside the Hive's social economic circle. Imagine what they could do with a little financial boost from the HDF. Developers could come in, spice things up, and take Hive to the next level. Many are going to respond that the apps need to market not Hive, I argue that every thing has a target market, while Hive doesn't want to or need to market to "End Users" it certianly should be trying to attract developers and apps. I haven't seen any efforts in attracting NEW talent to the chain.
Understanding the Issue
So, there it is. Hive's got a ton of potential, but it needs a makeover. It needs to jazz up its look, shout about its features, make friends easily, and keep them entertained. And with the HDF in its back pocket, it's got a real shot at bringing in some hotshot developers to shake things up. It's going to be a journey, but man, it could be one hell of a ride. It can only happen if people realize the rest of the world isn't getting Hive wrong, the rest of the world knows nothing about Hive, and that's on us.
-- Simplify the Message
The core value proposition of Hive needs to be communicated in a simple, concise, and non-technical manner that can be easily understood by the average person. Developing clear messaging that highlights the benefits of using Hive as a development platform, such as its speed, scalability, and decentralized nature, will make it more attractive to a broader audience.
-- Storytelling and Use Cases
Storytelling is a powerful marketing tool. Hive should focus on sharing success stories of projects that have been developed on its platform. Highlighting real-world use cases and the problems solved by applications built on Hive can inspire potential developers to explore what they can do with the platform. I think of Peakd, Leo, and of course Splinterlands, these stories from the App Developers would create Win/Win situations for both the App and Hive's platform as well.
-- Engage with the Community
Community engagement is critical in the blockchain space. Hive should host regular AMA (Ask Me Anything) sessions, webinars, and virtual meetups to build stronger relationships with its community. This will also provide a platform for users and developers to ask questions, provide feedback, and suggest improvements.
-- Collaborate with Influencers and Thought Leaders
Influencer marketing can help Hive reach a larger audience. Collaborating with influencers and thought leaders in the blockchain and cryptocurrency space can help increase Hive's visibility. These influencers can help spread the word about Hive and attract more developers to the platform.
-- Developer-Focused Content
Creating content that is specifically geared towards developers can help attract them to the platform. This could include tutorials, developer guides, and technical blog posts that delve into the details of developing on Hive.
-- Hackathons and Developer Contests
Hosting hackathons and developer contests can be a great way to attract developers. These events provide a platform for developers to showcase their skills and learn more about the Hive platform. They also provide an opportunity for Hive to identify and reward top talent.
-- Improved Documentation and Developer Resources
Comprehensive, easy-to-understand documentation is crucial for attracting developers. Hive should ensure its documentation is up-to-date, thorough, and well-organized. Additionally, providing resources like SDKs (Software Development Kits), sample code, and development tools can make it easier for developers to start building on Hive.
-- Partnerships with Educational Institutions
Hive could establish partnerships with universities and coding bootcamps to incorporate Hive development into their curriculum. This not only provides students with valuable real-world skills but also exposes Hive to a new generation of developers.
Conclusion
By implementing these suggestions, Hive can significantly improve its marketing strategy and attract more developers to its platform. However, it's crucial to remember that success won't come overnight. It requires consistent effort, continuous iteration based on feedback, and most importantly, patience. But with the right approach, Hive has the potential to significantly expand its developer community and user base.
I haven't written a constructive post on how to improve for a few years, because it mostly feels like just another voice in the crowd yelling, but going on and off the Hive Scene really makes me see and feel the potential again, especially where we see such a need to decentralize journalism and give people options in both content creation and discovery, we have so much potential!
What are your thoughts? Let's discuss in the comments.