Late Night Musings on the Tricky Business of Telling People About Hive

Lately, I have been thinking about "that thing" that often go through people's mind: What is the best way to approach "outsiders" with the idea of becoming part of Hive?

It's a bit of "an odd fish" because it really shouldn't be a big deal, right?

I mean, it's not like you're asking something to join your network marketing group. You're not asking them to spend a bunch of money to become a "member" of something.

So why is it so difficult?

I ask that because most people don't give even a fraction of a second thought to asking someone "Are you on Facebook?"

"Are you on Hive?"

We all know that it's true that Hive is a bit of a different kettle of fish...

We don't like to admit it, but it is a lot harder to use than your basic random web site. And there's a learning curve that's well beyond the fundamental "log in with Facebook/Google" standard most people are used to.

And whereas "cryptocurrency" is pretty much a household concept by now, the fact that people are familiar with crypto doesn't mean that they actually want to be involved in it.

So we end up with all these "reasons and rationalizations" for why we feel like we "have to be careful" about who tell about Hive.

Location, Location, Location...

The other thing I find myself considering is the question of whether it even makes sense to write an explanation of "What Hive Is," on the Hive web site. Let's face it, we already know what Hive is... so this isn't where the story needs to be told.

I have written about Hive on the blog attached to my artwork... which is on a completely different web site. So it's an external link pointing to Hive.

I'm still pondering that.

Somehow, it almost makes more sense to promote Hive in writings that have nothing to do with Hive.

But I don't like "promoting" as much as I like "coincidental invitations."

A "coincidental invitation" is some kind of post/article somewhere, that is not about Hive but which ends with something like "If you're interested in reading more of my work, you can find it here:" and then linking to my Hive blog.

The Problem With That...

... is, of course, that it's an approach that might work for me, but a lot of people in this community came here with no previous blogging/social media experience.

I have a half-dozen web sites elsewhere I can use as "anchors" to send people here. Most people don't.

Which brings me to the important point that there really isn't a single right way to tell people about Hive. We all have our individual niche markets and interests... and each might have its own unique approach.

One approach I have recently been thinking about is parlaying the fact that I have been part of Hive for over seven years — and thereby substantially absent from other venues — into some kind of "Dear Facebook, I've been cheating on you" post.

Makes me think back to my previous days in the marketing biz, and how important it is to know who your audience is, and then to speak directly TO them.

Sometimes I think we make the whole business of telling people about Hive far more complicated than it needs be!

Ultimately, it boils down to (a) What do I DO on Hive, leading to (b) who do I know who might also be interested in that.

In my case, dozens — if not hundreds — of people I was previously part of social blogging communities with, back in the late 1990s and up until about 2010.

That's my market. It may not be yours.

Which brings me to the next thing I've been contemplating: There's far less of a "sales pitch" involved when approaching a niche market.

What I mean is this: It's easier to point a garden enthusiast to a gardening community than it is to point them to Hive. So perhaps what matters in making the process of sending someone to Hive via a community needs to become more seamless.

Here's the thing... I kinda like this gig, and after seven years, I feel reasonably qualified to tell people to join it!

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great Sunday!

Comments, feedback and other interaction is invited and welcomed! Because — after all — SOCIAL content is about interacting, right? Leave a comment — share your experiences — be part of the conversation! I do my best to answer comments, even if it sometimes takes a few days!

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Created at 2024-05-19 02:20 PDT
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