I completely agree that user retention has been abysmal on Hive, and anyone that wants to know why I think that is can look at my posting history, or ask any of the biggest downvoters, because I discussed it with all of them at least once.
One of the most successful user retention programs was called the 'Stewards of Gondor', and it required only modest delegations (~5k Hive IIRC) to trusted curators, which they then used to upvote good posts from new authors. When the curators proved to be unworthy of trust and started self-voting or circle-jerking to profit from their delegations, all that was necessary to end their scamming was withdrawing the delegation. No actual DHF or fund expenditures were required, simply a sponsor with a phat sack.
This was a great success, so of course the sponsor was flagged off the platform.
Anyway, that's really all it takes to create a formal program to recognize and encourage new creators that create quality posts.
Speaking of new creators, here's the first post on Hive by @drjudywood, author and activist of some note, onboarded by our very own @mes. So folks that want to encourage Dr. Wood to stay on Hive and contribute her professional quality writing to our ecosystem, now's your chance. Dr. Wood has a considerable following and generates interest in her content constantly, so I consider her perhaps the best new user to join in terms of generating interest in Hive in a long time, because her content published here will generate more new users, great engagement, and benefit the platform with her every post.
Thanks!
Thanks for your feedback!
I didn't know about 'Stewards of Gondor'. Sad to read they abused the delegations.
I don't think we need a service like that to improve the spread of votes. And I also don't think we should rely on whales to solve it either. I think if more a matter of us, dolphins and orcas to diversify our votes and have some eye for newcomers.
Thanks for mentioning @drjudywood. I'll put her on my newbies list to follow.
I don't think we necessarily need way more users. I think it would be better to have a few users that a either have interesting things to share or a following already.
Writing extemporaneously sometimes lacks precision. Only one of the Stewards self voted IIRC. I should have stated that more clearly. Most of the Stewards did exactly what the delegator wanted them to do, and didn't do anything shady at all. I only meant to convey that scummy scammers were easily and quickly dealt with by simply withdrawing the delegation. I vaguely recall they were flagged hard, but I might be fantasizing of the perfect world I wish Hive had created.
I think if Hive were done right, everyone in the world that can type or dictate would be a happy user. That's a world I'd like to live in.
Thanks for doing what you do.
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