When I looked around for information on this topic, I saw that Steemit may be implementing a referral feature, but not until the website has moved past beta. The question is, how should it be set up?
On my short time on Steemit, I've already been sold on the value of the platform. However, when I pitch the idea to prospective users, there is definitely an optics issue for those outside the know. I am seeing terms such as "ponzi scheme" and "multi-level marketing" thrown around, which is amusing given that Steemit's lack of needing to buy in renders it categorically neither of those things. Heck, even Bitcoin still gets these sorts of complaints in mixed company.
A referral feature would be valuable for many users, but I think we want to be careful about attaching any features that even remotely have a whiff of MLM. Sign-up bonuses for referrers may, unfortunately, fall into this category. If we want to maximize the features utility, we may need to consider some options to make the referral system particularly restrictive. Here are a few possible options:
- Restrict referral rewards to only the new user, not the referrer. There are a variety of options for giving the referrer a small bump other than direct monetary reward - for example, referred accounts could be locked into following the referrer's account for a period of time.
- Make the referral reward another form of bonus - for example, a bump to both user's reputation or voting power, free sponsorship on each other's posts, etc.
- Restrict referral's to a second type of verification - such as, have to be friend's on Facebook (admittedly, a poor temporary substitute), etc. or another option for verifying non-spam connections.
I'm sure the last thing we all want to see is the revolving door for users that the online casinos and their large bonuses have become. What else could be done with the referral feature to render it abuse-proof?
If you know anymore on how the referral system is proposed to be setup, please reply!
allowing it to grow naturally is the better way!
having a referral will just kill the project...
and people will just come for money...
instead you can refer people without getting any rewards..
because in the long run it will benefit all of us....
Do you really think most of the people who come to Steemit today do not do it for the money?