Reviving this old thread so we can come to a consensus on what the smallest unit of BTS is called.

Unimpressed with those above I just wondered Shard.. as in a glass like splinter of a Share.

Incidentally.. I expect the colour BitShares choose is a coincidence as it's a different spelling:

Larimar, also called "Stefilia's Stone", is a rare blue variety of pectolite found only in the Dominican Republic, in the Caribbean. Its coloration varies from white, light-blue, green-blue to deep blue.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=larimar&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&bih=840

Quote from: davidpbrown on March 28, 2015, 10:00:34 am

It's perhaps worth noting, any reward, whether it's from transaction fees or from a delegate, will have have the same effect on BTS value.. it's a dilution. Perhaps it's a small one but the math needs to be considered.

Transactions fees are not dilution.  They are the opposite of dilution.

How is it the opposite?.. Transaction fees that would be otherwise be burnt, are instead paid to the promoter; surely it's the same as paying out to a 100% delegate rather 3% delegate, in the sense that more BTS become available.


I think bringing new users is worth spending on but the balance has to be right and the timing too. If you're getting $1000 for $10 investment, it's worthwhile.

 

How much is a new user worth?

I think this is then a very important consideration that @bytemaster @stan and others need to consider carefully. The cost of marketing will follow from that. The method of compensation to whoever is doing the marketing is to my mind incidental.

So, my reaction to the idea of MLM, besides its reputation, is simply that it costs more because you not only need enough to attract the first level activity but you also need to compensate the ancestors. It might make sense but for the wider reaction to that relative to the value of a principal being communicated clearly.

Personally, I think that we are at a point where the voice of bytemaster has been more valuable than any marketing. I'm not knocking Max's effort, which are important but marketing is a tool; and that tool will work when there is natural traction. Take MaidSafe as example, their attraction right now is 100% idea and allusion to capability. When they launch they likely will explode without much effort from sales but a gentle push from marketing that gets the message out.

So, perhaps put effort to make the message simple.. Privacy; Freedom; Security, is taken my MaidSafe but Freedom; Flexibility; Confidence perhaps could be BitShares or any other that reflects the initial idea.

I've done sales before but I'm no expert marketeer; I just know what I value. BitShares is valuable and has great potential. So, I'm not against paying for new users but perhaps paying too little, might work best? Those who have voice and can bring large number will get a fair return on that? Perhaps a separate reward for the pros who evidence that they have brought volume=numbers*value..and perhaps that is only evidenced by the marketcap rising.. but the market cap will not rise, if we dilute too strong and get too focuses only on the numbers of users and not the value of BitShares.

 

Incidentally, I wonder posting more of what blogs there are to reddit might be worthwhile.. it seems /r/BitShares has 840 readers.

Last I saw of Ethereum was talk that they were burning through money and it seems that have a long way to go. If there are no hipcups with such ambitions, I will be very surprised. I always liked the proposal but never invested as seemed a stretch too far. Simple projects are struggling with the basics and Ethereum proponents that I've seen appear hellbent on confronting the establishment and kicking up a storm.. who needs laws etc. So, I've a mind to sit a watch that one and learn from it, expecting it'll evolve later perhaps by partnering with another effort like BitShares.

eDollar also reminds me of the comedy that is eMunie

So, .. pay from the transaction fee and not any overhead on new users; avoid the pyramid sharing of those fees for several generations or tiers; and pay a short term burst of real reward, rather than a long term commitment. 

We seem to be moving away from MLM, which is a good..

I would suggest in promoting this, that the tone should be noting the principal motivation is all about promoting BitShares and attracting those who understand its potential and become active users themselves, rather than this being considered just "the next big thing" for marketeers to leech dry.

Again I'll suggest, I wonder a short burst reward will drive this as hard as any MLM motivation. A short perhaps 1 year - 18 months time limit, will avoid unanticipated regret via compounding complexity etc; and will avoid new users resenting payments to a point they might just opt to start a new account and dodge that.

Lastly, I don't see why the reward for bringing new users could not be topped up from a delegate.. obviously, we want to avoid too much dilution and rewarding false accounts but where it is clear accounts were real and actively turning over transaction fees, the promoter who brought them in could claim their reward relative to that, after a time. Afterall, delegates get their profit from the transactions, so I don't see why a delegate couldn't be assigned to support this effort and perhaps other marketing, whatever else is seen to be making a positive contribution - though I can't think of any better atm than attracting active users. Just need to find the right balance that makes the effort worthwhile and yet see the benefits flow into BitShares rather than simply into the pockets of ambitious marketing types who adopt BitShares only for that $"opportunity".

This then is a great introduction, which adds a bit more background to the through behind it..

The Story and Vision of MaidSafe