So I recommended a friend to sign up for Steemit. In the old days you signed in with your Reddit account and you were given a private key. Those days are long gone.
After entering in a few details we got to the SMS section (putting in your phone number). This wasn't a problem - however - even after jumping through all the hoops - receiving the SMS message and entering in the code - we got wait listed.
I'm not sure what the wait is for - but the time invested explaining how the whole system works - combined with the disappointment of being duped into filling out account information left my skeptical friend - skeptical.
My friend is concerned with what Steem is going to do with their personal details now. I wish I could reassure them - but Steemit has none of my info and to be honest I dont trust anyone in the crypto world at this point in time (I didn't tell them that). The whole process is duplicitous and should either be removed from the site until Steem is ready to accept new users or it should expressly say that it is saving them a place in line rather than creating an account. Did Steem really hire someone to pour over every user signup to ensure that the email and phone number are accurate? I sure hope not.
I would buy my friend an account - but at this point - they are figuring out how to get their info back (which they of course can't).
I have been thinking of implementing Steem transactions for an arts/craft/home decor business. I have the modules built out and ready to go. The clientele both online and in store are the same artsy people who post on here. I have the idea to introduce people to Steemit and let them use their earnings to buy product from me - in Steem. I am located in a downtown area on the lake and get tons of foot traffic. I have a few press media interviews lined up over the next few weeks where I will discuss crypto. Unfortunately Steem at this point is utterly useless to me as a currency for my shop if nobody can get an account. I'm not walking people through the process of buying BTC to buy Steem or acting as a FIAT to Steem exchange - it makes no sense if they can simply pay with FIAT.
The community is the only thing that will push this project forward - there is no paid advertising, no revenue to speak of, no affiliate program of any sort and as of today - no way to sign up.
If Steem dedicated a portion of the reward pool to affiliate revenue the number of active users would grow exponentially. People don't bring others to Steemit for many reasons - today its because they can't sign up - but in reality everyone is worried about their own earnings. If you allow people to bring their competition and existing followers - by allowing them to have a meaningful cut of their affiliates curation - Steemit will not only become a bigger site - it will be a high quality site everyone who has contributed to the project so far can be proud of.
I will continue to watch the project unfold and hope that one day I can leverage my business to help establish a use case that doesn't exist currently - people post their art on Steemit and earn Steem - when they need art/craft supplies they buy them from me in Steem. No conversions to other currency, no fees, a 100% Steemconomy.