Does Steemit want to be the Buzzfeed of the Blockchain world, because without residual payouts, that's exactly what will happen!
I understand that a major tectonic shift took place and very few are even aware of it. I know I am not the only one with the understanding that long term content monetization was the goal of this platform.
But, looking for information to share with others trying to build something lasting here, I found this post: https://github.com/steemit/steem/issues/267
I'm pretty sure no one that matters will ever even see this, but they should. As a writer, I have all kinds of easier places to make a few bucks off of creating fresh content day after day, at guaranteed rates.
That is not why I came here!
*If you are looking to create that kind of site, fine, but understand this, anyone with a brain and half an ounce of writing talent won't stay. Good luck with the beginners and scam artists that will become the new denizens, because there are too many other places to write for one time money. *
##Perhaps this is just my bad and I have spent the last four days trying to crack a code that has little use for me as a creative writer, not interested in Buzzfeed quality post creation. ##
Here is the change I am referring to: https://github.com/steemit/steem/issues/267
The way I see it, the potential for this as a content publishing platform is extremely limited if it's one or two payouts and done.
I can sell my work for one time money anywhere. In fact, it's what I do every day. The biggest reason I came to steemit, and obviously, the steem world does not revolve around me, was residual payouts.
**Here are the problems I see for writers if the platform only pays out twice. **
- You either get the attention you need in 12 hours, or your screwed. This might not be a problem if you're prepared to produce schlock daily for a living. I'm not.
- This platform creates a searchable record of that content that could outlast the author. There are several problems with this, if it is not possible to generate ongoing income.
- There's an awful lot of people counting on the fact that evergreen content will be a staple in the future, this will never be true in this environment, with 30 day max revenue development.
I don't really see an upside for authors to continue producing content on this platform if this is the way it is
- Why buy a book from Amazon, if that book is already shared free on Steemit?
- Why purchase other content from an interesting writer, if a huge volume of it is free on steemit?
- Why should we continue sharing anything on Steemit with potential future value? The answer is, there is no reason.
I don't understand the intricacies of the blockchain and the problem of storage. I realize that.
I am not arguing, even, that this is not fair. This platform is the property of those that built it, the same as Facebook, or Twitter. What I am saying is, author beware, this may not be what you think it is and some of you already have a lot of content here, searchable forever.
I wonder if authors like @EricVanceWalton are even aware of this change?
He has already posted the first chapter of his novel. I wonder if he knows, the first payout and one more are all that first chapter is worth? Hardly the revenue one could hope for from 100k sales, or more.
But again, why would anyone buy it, if its on Steemit for FREE??
Maybe I am making a mountain out of a molehill, and I am sure that no one of substance will probably even see this, but, I think authors deserve to know that the game has changed and it might not be as steady, or ongoing as they are hoping it would be.
If you find this doesn't work for you either. I suggest you post about it. Again, this is not a complaint, the developers can do what they want, now it's up to me to decide, is this worth it or not?