NEM - The Promise To A Better Future
Here is a quotes from one of my previous posts: "Unfortunately the altcoin landscape is currently plagued with cheap scams and elaborate pump and dump schemes along with a horde of impulsive people enjoying playing this game. However NEM has nothing to do with this landscape. While we may well go through a cambrian crypto-explosion phase, NEM seems to be already between the fittest and is only getting stronger every passing day."
It seems to me that in order to effectively understand where we should position ourselves, we have to first understand the world around us(altcoin landscape). To be honest, I think the quote I have posted above captures both the real crisis which surrounds us and not surprisingly, at the same time, our great opportunity. In fact I think that precisely because of the obvious problems with the altcoin landscape we may have a real advantage on which we could build a solid foundation.
NEM Community Spirit
What if NEM was different, visibly different? What if in such a chaotic and uncertain place there was someone who would not only behave normally, but rather radically different then those around?
I really think that from the time I have written the quote, a change has already begun to take place. In fact, NEM could be leading as the most important catalyzer for that change.
By creating, nurturing and promoting a NEM community spirit based on respect, helpfulness and friendliness I think we could transform NEM's community into the most captivating and appealing factor of NEM. In fact, given the context we are in, if we would succeed in adopting such a spirit, it could make NEM unstoppable.
NEM - The community which goes the extra mile
It seems to me that in our position relationship marketing(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relationship_marketing) could be the most effective tool we could use, it could even prove instrumental. What I am suggesting is that if the altcoin landscape needs a change - then we have to step up and be that change. First amongst ourselves and in our community, but to go a step further, in each dealing on btt or elsewhere. We could make NEM known as the great community which goes the extra mile.
Expressing this in practice means for example that I will try to solve problems and contribute with valuable insights and posts on the NEM thread/forum and in the altcoin section. Make myself known as a valuable contributor and helper and offer information which most people would keep secret. Now the tricky part is to offer all this while somehow binding it to NEM without making it sound as spam.
We can only build such a respectful, helpful and friendly community by first being an example in those areas ourselves.
Building a reputation of integrity, respect and trust
I rarely find quality posts and insight on the altcoin section. That's not because there are no intelligent people there, but rather because most of them don't care about other people and keep most information for themselves. If I would proceed to act quite different and share quality information while showing people I genuinely care, I think I would see an interesting response to that. Surely enough, not an immediate one, but it could nevertheless have a huge impact on NEM in the long term.
Now imagine if we had 2500 people doing that! Actually we don't even need so many for the effect to be fully visible. If even a minimal of 25 people would behave in such a manner between themselves and on the altcoin section, the effect would be quite intriguing I think. NEM would establish itself for the community which everybody wants to be part of.
The change begins with each of us
There are many other ways in which we could go about and apply something like this to our context. Beside the obvious necessary change of behaviour amongst ourselves, posting quality and helpful posts on the NEM thread and altcoin section and binding it all to NEM, we could even create a ''NEM Help Thread'' in the altcoin section, where the community would answer questions regarding any other topics and stuff people are interested in knowing. While these are some simple examples I think you understand how powerful is the idea behind them.
What I am actually suggesting is not marketing but rather something more honorable and harder to achieve. The goal is to change ourselves and adhere to the community spirit, and if we can do that I have no doubt that NEM will become the greatest community in the crypto space in the process.
Taking NEM from where it is now and extending it beyond the boundaries of crypto. This could be our best shot.
Are you in for the real challenge? 
P.S. I think I have a couple ideas how we could go about and start a relationship marketing campaign which would further consolidate the image of NEM, add real value and raise awareness about NEM in preparation for the launch.
This is really great. I think like you said, if only 25 people were to work hard at helping others, it would really make a huge different in the crypto community and also give a good, healthy image to NEM.
I agree with everything you're saying.
I do think though that this will mostly give us an edge in the crypto community. I don't think this will do anything in regards to adoption. Afterall people aren't using PayPal because it's got such a great community
I agree with everything you're saying.
I do think though that this will mostly give us an edge in the crypto community. I don't think this will do anything in regards to adoption. Afterall people aren't using PayPal because it's got such a great community :)
That was a good one. :) And that's because 1) Paypal doesn't have a good community and 2)the idea of the community spirit is not meant and cannot in any way cover for the technical/utility part. It's only there to create a synergy, which means innovative technology + great ecosystem + awesome community = form a whole which is greater than the simple sum of its parts. Curious things can happen when such ingenious combinations arise.
Btw, Elon Musk and Peter Thiel were Co-founders of paypal. They did a brilliant job at their time, but after they sold it(for $1.65 B) and left, paypal has been operating with the same plan being unable to come up with something other than small incremental changes.
I agree with everything you're saying.
I do think though that this will mostly give us an edge in the crypto community. I don't think this will do anything in regards to adoption. Afterall people aren't using PayPal because it's got such a great community :)
That was a good one. :) And that's because 1) Paypal doesn't have a good community and 2)the idea of the community spirit is not meant and cannot in any way cover for the technical/utility part. It's only there to create a synergy, which means innovative technology + great ecosystem + awesome community = form a whole which is greater than the simple sum of its parts. Curious things can happen when such ingenious combinations arise.
Btw, Elon Musk and Peter Thiel are Co-founders of paypal. They did a brilliant job at their time, but after they sold it(for $1.65 B) and left, paypal has been operating with the same plan being unable to come up with something other than small incremental changes.
Yes, innovation is a key element for a holistic offering that will see high adoption and use rates.
Very good post xtester. It would be good to make sure other people on BTT read this as well. Did you already post this over there?
Very good post xtester. It would be good to make sure other people on BTT read this as well. Did you already post this over there?
Yeah, I posted there as well. With the above mentioned spirit in mind, I am now thinking about the first such initiative to engage in along with some more Nemsters from the community.
There has to be more than simply a 'nice community' there must be technical innovation too and lots of it. A community can certainly help, but feathercoin was built on a nice community and it did not save the coin from oblivion. Go to feathercoin forums now and there is no one there. Sad but true.
There has to be more than simply a 'nice community' there must be technical innovation too and lots of it. A community can certainly help, but feathercoin was built on a nice community and it did not save the coin from oblivion. Go to feathercoin forums now and there is no one there. Sad but true.
Look at Doge. 0 innovation but a community that is at that is borderline obsessed with the coin.
You'll find examples for failures that had greate communites and for some that didn't. Even great innovation can't save you if noone gives a rats ass.
You need both if you really want to play in the big boy league.
We need people to spread the word. People that are excited about NEM and that get others excited. The marketing team can "market" their asses of - people will always be more inclined to believe another person than some video or article.
There are imho quite a few factors that will decide the faith of NEM - a strong community is certainly be one of them.
There has to be more than simply a 'nice community' there must be technical innovation too and lots of it. A community can certainly help, but feathercoin was built on a nice community and it did not save the coin from oblivion. Go to feathercoin forums now and there is no one there. Sad but true.
Look at Doge. 0 innovation but a community that is at that is borderline obsessed with the coin.
You'll find examples for failures that had greate communites and for some that didn't. Even great innovation can't save you if noone gives a rats ass.
You need both if you really want to play in the big boy league.
We need people to spread the word. People that are excited about NEM and that get others excited. The marketing team can "market" their asses of - people will always be more inclined to believe another person than some video or article.
There are imho quite a few factors that will decide the faith of NEM - a strong community is certainly be one of them.
I guess at the end of the day, the bottom line is usability - cut the crap of being too technically inclined for users when 99% of the population don't know how to use it simply - innovation, great marketing and huge community.
Ofc it is a given that the platform itself must be technically sound. But the general populace don't need to know about it. The technocrats will need to give the thumbs up for that.
BTW, Doge is experiencing falling numbers and has merged with LTC for mining. Looks like there is going to be consolidation of major coins into merged mining in order to survive.
Actually, these are signs of failing - failing of those just mere coins. IMHO, coins will not see daylight. Ecosystems and platforms will be the order of the day. And when platforms and ecosystems are increasingly being created, we will see market confusion again. The winner will be the most innovative one, strong marketing and easy to use.
Some centralization has to come in at some point and the eventual winner will be a centralized entity riding on a decentralized platform like NEM. A totally decentralized approach is too ideal and the shortcomings far outweigh its goodness and adoption rate.
Great programmers get excited about a project. They get all pumped up to complete a project. After the project is launched, they are often left with having to maintain the project, most of the time, in desperation because the market has come and gone, like a hurricane leaving little behind that will incentivize the devs to continue.
This has happened time and again in so many of the coin roll outs. Developers must realize that at the end of the day, no one will appreciate them. These opportunists are only there to rip the profits off the initial euphoria of a project. Thereafter, it will be left to rot after that.
That's why it is very important that some centralization exists to look after the continuity and sustainability of a project.
In conclusion, these are the elements for the continuity and sustainability of a project - innovation, usability (and value proposition for the masses to adopt), strong marketing, community support, some degree of centralization (i.e., a commercial vehicle that is solely dedicated to the betterment of the platform and ecosystem) and mainstream real economy acceptance.
I personally believe we have what it takes to be one. Although we are trying hard to work on it, our weakest point currently still is a strong marketing machinery. But that should change after launch.
I fervently hope that the unclaimed stakes be used to hire a professional marketer to bring this to the global stage. With due respect to all of us here, I do not believe we have the capability to do so ourselves. We are after all, more technocratic than salesmen. ;)
There has to be more than simply a 'nice community' there must be technical innovation too and lots of it. A community can certainly help, but feathercoin was built on a nice community and it did not save the coin from oblivion. Go to feathercoin forums now and there is no one there. Sad but true.
Look at Doge. 0 innovation but a community that is at that is borderline obsessed with the coin.
You'll find examples for failures that had greate communites and for some that didn't. Even great innovation can't save you if noone gives a rats ass.
You need both if you really want to play in the big boy league.
We need people to spread the word. People that are excited about NEM and that get others excited. The marketing team can "market" their asses of - people will always be more inclined to believe another person than some video or article.
There are imho quite a few factors that will decide the faith of NEM - a strong community is certainly be one of them.
Doge is dying. Notice I wrote 'too' and 'more than simply a nice community'. I didn't say community wasn't important. But it is only one spoke of the wheel if you want full spectrum dominance. Besides, judging from the activity on this forum we have a long way to go before community is one of our strengths.