Dablock

Blueprint to Becoming a Top 1% Content Creator

DablockDAO — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Today I reviewed a friend’s video. He wanted to level up his content game and monetize it.

If you apply even half of what’s in this guide, you’ll already be ahead of most creators. Here’s the exact blueprint I shared with him to get more clicks, views, and watch time.

1. Packaging: Thumbnail & Title 🎯

Keep thumbnails clean — max 3–4 key elements.
Main text: 1–4 bold words, big and readable.
High contrast so titles pop.
Show your face (not full body).
Add familiar icons related to your topic.
Skip long intros — use a 2-sec transition or 5-sec hook.

2. Content Structure 📚

Start with the promise — what’s in it for the viewer.
Deliver solution 1, then solution 2.
End with extra value: tips, tools, or resources.

3. Production Quality 🎤

Prioritize audio over visuals.
Use soft key lighting and gentle fill, plus backlight for separation.
Fix what gear can’t handle through editing.

4. Workflow & Publishing 🚀

Publish consistently and review analytics after each upload.
Keep an idea log of hooks, thumbnails, and outcomes.
Change one variable at a time to learn what works.

5. Hooks & Intros 🎬

Hook in under 10 seconds: state the win, show proof, or set a challenge.
Use pattern interrupts every 15–20 seconds (cut-ins, graphics, questions).

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Today I reviewed a friend’s video 🎥 <br>He wants to improve his content game and monetize it.<br><br>If you apply even half of what I share in this beginners post, you will already be a top 1% content creator.<br><br>Here is the exact blueprint I shared with him to get more clicks, views and… <a href="https://t.co/23CPKcYUJm">pic.twitter.com/23CPKcYUJm</a></p>— LV (@LVweb3) <a href="https://twitter.com/LVweb3/status/1955813679070634014?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

6. Scripting & Story ⭐

Use a simple arc: Problem → Promise → Plan → Proof → Payoff.
One idea per sentence.
Show the step, then show the result immediately.
Add micro-stories to hold attention.

7. Editing & Pacing ✂️

Tighten gaps between sentences.
Use straight cuts for speed; speed ramps only for emphasis.
Add 3–5 pattern interrupts per minute to reduce drop-off.

8. On-Screen Design & Captions 🎨

Simple fonts with strong contrast.
Lower thirds stay in the bottom third of the frame.
Avoid clutter — guide the viewer’s eye.

9. Calls to Action & Retention 🔁

Pin a comment with timestamps & next video link.
Place the verbal CTA after the payoff.
End screen: 1 next-step video + 1 popular video.

10. Analytics & Iteration 📊

CTR: Aim for 5–10%, fix if under 3%.
Retention: Lose <15% in first 30 sec.
Watch audience graph for dips and plan interrupts accordingly.
Run A/B tests on thumbnails & titles — one variable at a time.

11. SEO & Metadata 🔎

Title formula: Outcome + Audience + Curiosity.
First 2 lines in the description: restate promise + keywords.
Use 3–4 specific search tags.
Name the video file with clear terms before upload.

12. Cross-Platform Distribution ♻️

Cut a 30–60 sec teaser for X with hard captions.
Post a carousel of main ideas + link in the first reply.
Turn your script into a newsletter or blog post.
Collect audience questions to fuel the next video.

13. Community & Social Proof 🤝

Ask a question in the first reply to spark comments.
Pin a viewer success story on future posts.
Feature 1 viewer’s question/build at the start of each video.

14. Pre-Publish Checklist ✅

Clear, curiosity-driven title.
Thumbnail works at small sizes.
Hook under 10 sec with proof moment.
Captions on first 30 sec.
End screen ready.
Pinned comment with timestamps & links.

15. Reusable Template 🧩

Cold open → one-line win
Logo sting / 2-sec transition
Promise in one sentence
Step 1 + proof
Step 2 + proof
Extra value & tools
Call to action → next video

Final Note: This works for any niche — Polkadot, Ethereum, or even vintage toasters. Every video is a product. Ship value, study the graph, tweak one thing, and ship again.

Stop Comparing YouTube Views to X Impressions

DablockDAO — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Why Long-Form Creators Should Stop Comparing YouTube Views to X (Twitter) Impressions

If you’re creating (or curating) long-form videos, here’s a truth bomb:

500 YouTube views ≠ 500 X impressions.

In fact, they’re measuring completely different things. And if you’ve been using those numbers interchangeably, you might be undervaluing the real impact of your YouTube content. Let’s break it down.

1. 📊 What “Impressions” Actually Mean

On X (Twitter)

An impression means your post appeared in someone’s feed, search results, or on a profile view.
It does not mean they watched your video—or even paid attention.
A high impression count can happen even when engagement is minimal.

On YouTube

An impression means your video thumbnail appeared on someone’s screen inside YouTube’s platform.
YouTube also tracks Click-Through Rate (CTR)—the percentage of those impressions that lead to an actual view.
It’s a structured, intentional metric tied to actual user behavior.

2. 🎯 How CTR Converts to Views

On YouTube:

5% CTR → 5 out of every 100 people who see the thumbnail click to watch.
Example: 500 views at 5% CTR = 10,000 impressions.

That means a YouTube video with just 500 views could have been seen by 3,000–15,000 people before clicks, depending on the CTR. On X, the same “view” number could mean dramatically less actual engagement.

3. ⏱️ Watch Time = Real Impact

Here’s where YouTube pulls ahead.

On X:

Most users watch only a few seconds before scrolling past.
Engagement is fleeting—good for quick awareness, but not deep connection.

On YouTube:

The algorithm rewards time spent watching.
Even an average-performing video can deliver hours of watch time, which is a major growth signal for your channel.
More watch time = more recommendations = compounding growth.

4. 🏆 Why YouTube Usually Wins for Long-Form Creators

Long shelf life: Videos can bring in views for months or years.
Discovery engine: YouTube uses both search and recommendations to surface your content.
High audience intent: People open YouTube ready to watch—versus aimless scrolling on social media.

5. ✍️ The Takeaway

Don’t get discouraged if your X post “only” has 2,000 impressions while your YouTube video has 100 views.

Those 100 views might represent:

Thousands of impressions
Far more minutes of attention
Longer-term audience value

If you create content—whether it’s about Polkadot, Ethereum, or even vintage toaster collections—make videos worth sharing with a friend, not just scrolling past.

Any niche can go viral. The key is focusing on platforms where watch time compounds, not just where impressions inflate.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">For long-form creators (& curators) 🤫<br><br>‼️ 500 YouTube views ≠ 500 X impressions.<br><br>- If organic, they came from 3K–15K impressions (CTR).<br><br>- YT consistently delivers more watch time (= real impact) than X.<br><br>Is your effort worth it? Let's dive in 👇<br>If you’re just starting with… <a href="https://t.co/9gocL3nslL">pic.twitter.com/9gocL3nslL</a></p>— LV (@LVweb3) <a href="https://twitter.com/LVweb3/status/1955603806190022774?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

💡 Bottom line:

Platform: YouTube drives deeper engagement and lasting visibility.
Format: Long-form videos outperform shorts for sustained growth unless your shorts have a proven viral format.
Audience: On YouTube, viewers arrive with intent—on X, they’re just passing by.

If you want real, measurable growth, double down where attention sticks.

YouTube Video Creation Guide 2025

DablockDAO — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Creating a high-performing YouTube video requires more than just hitting "record." Every decision—from topic choice to editing—can mean the difference between a video that gets ignored and one that dominates search results and recommendations. This guide breaks down each stage of the process so your content can rank well, attract clicks, and keep viewers watching.

1. Choosing the Right Topic & Concept

Your topic is the foundation of your video’s success. A strong concept should:

Have high search demand — Use tools like Google Trends, YouTube Search Suggest, and vidIQ to find queries with strong interest.
Be interesting for a wide audience — Even niche topics should have a hook that appeals to curiosity.
Be evergreen or timely — Balance timeless content with trending events for sustained and instant traffic.
Work for first-time viewers — Every video should feel self-contained and welcoming, even if it’s part of a series.

💡 Pro Tip: Frame each topic so a completely new viewer can understand it without prior context.

2. Crafting a Click-Worthy Title

A title should be short, emotionally engaging, and psychologically compelling.

Create intrigue — Make the viewer feel like they’ll miss out if they don’t click.
Keep it short — Aim for 45–60 characters so it’s fully visible on all devices.
Use human psychology — Numbers, curiosity gaps, and emotional triggers work wonders.
Balance keywords and curiosity — Include SEO keywords naturally while keeping the title conversational.

Example: ❌ "Guide to YouTube SEO" ✅ "You’re Losing Views Because of THIS YouTube SEO Mistake"

3. Designing a Thumbnail That Gets Clicks

Your thumbnail is the billboard for your video.

Spark intrigue — Make people curious enough to stop scrolling.
Use 2–3 main elements — Avoid clutter; clarity wins.
Big, bold text — Only if necessary, and keep it to 3–4 words.
High contrast — Bright colors and distinct subject separation grab attention.
Emotional expression — Faces with clear emotion can improve CTR.

💡 Pro Tip: Test multiple versions using YouTube’s A/B thumbnail testing.

4. Nailing the Video Hook (First 30 Seconds)

The opening determines if viewers stay or leave.

Get to the point fast — Avoid long intros or unnecessary greetings.
Set the promise — Clearly state what the viewer will learn or see.
Preview the journey — Tease what’s coming to keep curiosity alive.
Avoid filler — Every second counts in the first 30 seconds.

5. Script & Story Structure

A great script turns casual clicks into full views.

Storytelling beats data — Structure content like a narrative.
Give a reason to watch until the end — Promise a payoff or reveal.
Open loops — Ask questions early and answer them later.
Fear of missing out (FOMO) — Make viewers feel they’ll lose something valuable if they leave.
Smooth flow — Transitions should feel natural, not forced.

6. Editing for Engagement

Editing isn’t just about polish—it’s about keeping viewers hooked.

Cut ruthlessly — Remove every unnecessary pause, tangent, or filler.
Pace the story — Use faster cuts for excitement, slower for emphasis.
Visual variety — Switch between A-roll, B-roll, graphics, and text to keep attention.
Support the narrative — Every effect or graphic should enhance the story, not distract.

7. Production Quality

Better production increases perceived authority and watch time.

Clear audio first — Viewers forgive average video but not bad sound.
Good lighting — Natural light or softbox kits work wonders.
Framing — Keep the subject centered with headroom.
Consistent style — Color grading, font, and branding should match your channel identity.

8. Optimization for Maximum Reach

Even the best video needs strategic placement.

End screens — Link to related videos to boost session time.
Playlists — Group related content for autoplay chains.
Pinned comment — Add extra resources or related videos.
Description SEO — Include keywords, a summary, and timestamps.
Tags — Use relevant tags, but don’t overstuff.

9. Edition vs. Connection

While Edition (polish, visual effects, pacing) matters for presentation, Connection is what makes people remember you and subscribe.

Edition keeps them watching the current video.
Connection makes them watch your next one.

Prioritize building a relationship through authenticity, shared values, and direct viewer engagement.

Final Checklist

✅ Topic with high search demand and curiosity ✅ Short, click-magnetic title ✅ Clean, high-CTR thumbnail ✅ Strong 30-second hook ✅ Engaging storytelling with open loops ✅ Tight editing to maintain flow ✅ High-quality production standards ✅ Smart SEO optimization & playlists ✅ Balance between professional polish and authentic connection

Comprehensive Content Review Framework

DablockDAO — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Video Content Review Guide

This guide is designed to help reviewers assess video content by clearly categorizing each piece by its purpose and format. Use the following framework to identify and evaluate the strengths and areas for improvement in each video.
This template can be replicated for written content, whether for long blog posts or short social media posts on platforms like Twitter/X.
This guide is also useful for anyone looking to start creating content in a more formal way.

1. Types of Content by Purpose

A. Informative

📰 News Compilation:
Videos that summarize current events or deliver timely updates.
Look for clarity, factual accuracy, and conciseness.
🧠 Analysis/Opinion:
Videos offering in-depth perspectives and insights on topics.
Evaluate the quality of argumentation, the depth of research, and the balance of opinions.
🔢 List/Ranking:
Videos that provide ordered lists comparing products, ideas, or concepts.
Look for clear organization, logical sequencing, and the justification for rankings.

B. Educational

📚 Tutorial/How-To:
Step-by-step guides aimed at practical learning.
Reviewers should check for clear instructions, visual aids, and overall usability.
🎓 Explainer Video:
Content that simplifies complex topics.
Assess how well the video breaks down difficult concepts into easily understandable segments.

C. Engagement-Based

🎤 Interview:
Videos featuring conversations with experts or influential figures.
Consider the relevance of the interviewees, the flow of dialogue, and audience engagement.
🎧 Podcast:
Long-form discussions or storytelling sessions.
Evaluate the depth of discussion, audio quality, and the ability to keep viewers engaged.
😂 Entertainment:
Skits, storytelling, humor, or fun content intended to entertain.
Review the creativity, pacing, and overall production quality.
Examples: Vlogs, Gameplays

2. Types of Content by Format

A. Long-form vs. Short-form

Long-form:
Videos that provide an in-depth exploration of topics, typically longer than 10 minutes.
Evaluate narrative structure, depth of content, and viewer retention.
Short-form:
Brief, engaging videos designed for quick consumption, often under 10 minutes.
Consider the ability to quickly capture attention and deliver concise messaging.

B. Series vs. Standalone

Series:
A collection of related videos that build upon each other.
Assess the consistency of quality, thematic continuity, and how well each installment links to the overall narrative.
Standalone:
Independent videos that do not rely on previous content.
Check for completeness in the storytelling or explanation, ensuring the viewer doesn’t need prior knowledge.

C. Live Content

Live:
Real-time broadcasts that may include Q&A sessions, live interviews, or interactive discussions.
Evaluate the technical quality (stream stability, audio/video clarity), interactivity, and how effectively the live element engages the audience.

3. SEO & Discoverability Optimization

🔴(Highly relevant) / 🟡 (Secondary)
🔴 Title:
Does the video have a clear, concise, and engaging title? Ensure it includes relevant keywords for searchability, accurately representing the content while enticing viewers to click.
🟡 Description:
Is the description informative and detailed? A strong description provides context for the video, explains its value.
🔴 Thumbnail:
Does the thumbnail catch attention while remaining relevant to the content? A visually appealing and appropriate thumbnail can significantly impact click-through rates.
🟡 Subtitles and Captions:
Are subtitles or captions available for accessibility and SEO benefits? Search engines index captions and subtitles, which can improve the video’s reach.
🟡 Playlist and Categories:
Is the video categorized correctly and added to relevant playlists? Being placed in the right category and playlists can improve visibility and engagement on platforms like YouTube.

4. Additional Considerations

Interactive Elements:
Identify if the video includes interactive features such as polls, live chats, or call-to-action segments. Consider how these elements enhance or detract from the viewer experience.
Case Studies/Real-Life Examples:
Check whether the video uses practical examples or case studies to illustrate key points, especially in educational and informative content. This can greatly enhance credibility and viewer understanding.
Hybrid Formats:
Recognize that many videos blend elements from multiple categories. For example, a live interview might also serve as an in-depth analysis, or a tutorial could be part of a larger series. Evaluate how well the video balances these different elements.
Quality and Consistency:
Regardless of type, assess the overall production quality including editing, sound, visuals, and pacing. Consistency in style and tone is also important, especially for series content.
Audience Engagement:
Consider the video’s ability to capture and maintain the audience’s interest. Look at viewer metrics (if available), feedback, and the level of interactivity during live sessions.

5. Evaluation Criteria

💪 Difficulty Level

Evaluate the complexity of the content. Is the topic or the production challenging in terms of technical or intellectual effort? Consider the following:

Low: Simple content, basic explanations, or light editing.
Medium: Some depth, moderate complexity, or intermediate editing.
High: Complex concepts, advanced production techniques, or in-depth analysis.

🎨 Creativity

Assess how innovative or original the content is. Is the video unique, or does it follow common templates? Consider the originality of the ideas, storytelling, or presentation:

Highly Creative: Fresh perspective, unique approach, engaging visuals or narrative style.
Moderately Creative: Standard format with some creative elements.
Low Creativity: Conventional content, minimal creativity, or overused approaches.

✂️ Editing Quality

Evaluate the production quality and editing skills. Focus on the following aspects:

Transitions & Pacing: Are the transitions smooth? Does the pacing suit the content’s style and tone?
Audio & Visuals: Are the audio and visuals clear? Check for background noise, music, and sound balance.
Consistency: Does the video maintain a consistent editing style, visual theme, and narrative flow throughout?

📚 References

Evaluate whether the video cites reliable sources, provides references, or uses evidence to back up claims. Consider:

Well-Researched: Proper citations, use of sources, and evidence.
Moderately Referenced: Some references or mentions of sources, but not extensive.
Lacking References: Minimal to no references, which might reduce credibility.

💬 Commentary

Evaluate the presenter's commentary or analysis. Does the commentary provide value and depth to the content? Look for:

Insightful Commentary: Provides deep insights, encourages critical thinking, or sparks discussion.
Moderate Commentary: Offers basic commentary but doesn't add much depth to the content.
Surface-Level Commentary: The commentary is shallow, unoriginal, or adds little to the content.

Bonus Evaluation Criteria

🌟 Current Impact

Evaluate the current reach, engagement, and overall impact of the content. This includes views, interactions, and how relevant it is to the audience at this moment. Consider whether the content is performing well, in terms of engagement (likes, shares, comments) and how much attention it's attracting.

High Impact: Content that is currently generating significant engagement, discusses trending topics, and is resonating with the audience right now.
Medium Impact: Content that has moderate engagement, relevant to current trends but not going viral or addressing an immediate need.
Low Impact: Content that is underperforming, outdated, or lacks meaningful engagement in the present moment.

♻️ Evergreen Content

Assess whether the content will remain relevant and valuable over time, regardless of changing trends or news cycles.

Highly Evergreen: The content remains relevant and valuable for a long period (e.g., educational tutorials, timeless concepts).
Moderately Evergreen: The content will stay useful for a moderate amount of time but may need updates (e.g., industry overviews or trends that change periodically).
Not Evergreen: The content is time-sensitive and loses its value after a certain period (e.g., specific news events or product reviews).

Diversify Your Content Marketing Strategy

DablockDAO — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Content marketing is evolving faster than ever. Projects and creators are increasingly tempted to treat platforms like X (formerly known as Twitter) as the heart of their outreach strategies. However, while X is an exceptional tool for engagement and quick communication, relying on it exclusively can be counterproductive in the long run. Let’s explore why balancing your content strategy with long-form platforms is essential, and how to build a workflow that leverages both immediate impact and lasting value.

The Short Lifespan of X Content

X is renowned for its rapid pace. On average, the shelf life of a tweet or thread is roughly 2–3 days—a blink of an eye in the digital content world. This short lifespan means that while you may generate immediate buzz, the deeper value of your work may soon be lost in the relentless feed of new posts. Think of X as a digital town square where conversations are lively but transient. The fleeting nature of content on this platform makes it perfect for:

Real-Time Engagement: Sharing announcements, quick updates, or sparking immediate dialogue.
Content Teasers: Offering snippets or highlights that drive users to your more comprehensive content.
Community Interaction: Building relationships and engaging in direct conversations with your audience.

Yet, as much as X excels in these areas, it falls short as a primary repository for your content.

The Lasting Impact of Long-Form Platforms

In contrast to the ephemeral nature of X, hosting your main content on platforms like a blog or a YouTube channel provides longer shelf life and sustainable growth. Here’s why long-form content should play a central role in your strategy:

Search Intent & Discoverability:
Long articles and detailed videos are crafted to answer specific questions or solve problems. They rank well on search engines, ensuring that your content continues to attract organic traffic months—or even years—after publication.
Ease of Reference:
Comprehensive guides, tutorials, or case studies are easy to reference. They become valuable resources that your audience can revisit, share, and cite, further enhancing your credibility and reach.
Depth & Value:
In-depth content allows you to explore topics thoroughly, building trust and establishing you as an authority in your field. Whether you’re detailing technical enhancements, sharing community best practices, or providing nuanced insights into industry trends, long-form content offers the space needed for meaningful discussion.

X as a Powerful Distribution Channel—Not the Main Stage

While it’s clear that long-form platforms offer enduring benefits, dismissing X entirely would be a mistake. Instead, consider it a complementary distribution channel rather than the primary stage for your content. Here’s how you can integrate X into your broader content marketing strategy:

Repurpose Your Content:
Create engaging threads or visual snippets from your blog posts or videos. This approach not only keeps your X audience engaged but also directs them to your more detailed, long-form work.
Drive Traffic with CTAs:
Every tweet or thread should include a clear call-to-action (CTA) that guides your audience to your main content repository. Whether it’s reading a full article on your blog or watching an in-depth video, use X as the gateway.
Engage in Conversations:
Use X for real-time feedback, answering questions, and fostering community interactions. This engagement can provide valuable insights that inform your long-form content creation.

Balancing Immediate Impact with Long-Term Growth

The challenge for both projects and creators is to strike a balance between the immediate impact of short-form content and the lasting value of long-form materials. Here are some strategies to consider:

Develop a Dual-Channel Workflow:
Create a workflow that positions your long-form content as the core output while using X to amplify its reach. For example, write a comprehensive blog post and then create a series of tweets summarizing its key points, encouraging readers to delve deeper on your website.
Understand Your Audience and Objectives:
Not every creator or project will benefit from the same content mix. Assess your audience’s preferences, the nature of your content, and your overall objectives. Some might find success with a heavier focus on X, but most will benefit from a hybrid approach that also invests in content that stands the test of time.
Measure the Right KPIs:
When evaluating your marketing efforts, it’s crucial to look beyond the surface metrics like impressions or tweet engagements. For long-term success, track metrics that reflect enduring value—such as website traffic, keyword rankings, and engagement duration on your blog or YouTube channel.
Avoid Over-Reliance on Trends:
The current marketing landscape is inundated with “fast-food” content—quick, impactful, but ultimately transient. While these formats are valuable for initial engagement, they should complement rather than replace more thoughtful, in-depth content.

Conclusion

In an era where every digital interaction is a potential touchpoint, projects and creators must be strategic about where they invest their time and resources. X is an invaluable tool for distribution and engagement, but it shouldn’t be the sole platform in your content marketing arsenal. By balancing the immediacy of X with the enduring impact of long-form content on blogs and YouTube channels, you create a robust ecosystem that not only captures attention in the moment but continues to drive value long after the initial post.

Ultimately, the best marketing strategy is one that is simple, sustainable, and designed for genuine engagement. Remember: treat X as a dynamic communication channel—not as your primary content repository—and your audience (and your project) will thank you for it.

Marketing 420 For Decentralized Networks

DablockDAO — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

"Good documentation as the best marketing"

I have recently been learning new stuff to migrate the dablock.com portal to a new framework with SSG support, moving away from the current CMS. This will make everything completely open-source, allowing everyone to easily collaborate in managing the site and its content from a public repository on GitHub.

While browsing the documentation of new frameworks, I came across this note that I simply loved and inspired :evergreen_tree: me to start this topic.

Today we're going to focus on my experience and povs around a few interested topics related to digital "marketing", a word that unfortunately has gained quite a bit of popularity, not in a good way, and has been overused alongside others overexploited and trending, but not new, concepts such as "community", "experts", "kols", etc. etc.

This topic is being written from the point of view of an individual and indie creator, not a a fancy mkt agency or a big company's in-house team. In particular, from the pov of LV 😤.

Make it Simple: Culture & Hardcore Niches
- Technical Enhancements
- Social Dynamics
The Problem with Distribution Channels
- Twitter as a double-edged sword
- Audience Who? Influencer Who?
KPIs and On-chain/Off-chain Metrics Manipulation
- Identifying Metrics Manipulation
- Understanding the Real KPIs

Make it Simple: Culture & Hardcore Niches

Blockchain is hardcore, Polkadot is more, both in the technical side and social side.

Our mission as an ecosystem should be to make this as simple, accessible and friendly as possible for new and regular participants.

Technical Enhancements

On the technical part, aside from good documentation, the best marketing will always be good, easy-to-use products and tools. That’s where some of the most important initiatives in the ecosystem today come into play, from the Polkadot-API (PAPI) and POP Network / POP CLI to improve the developer experience, to the Unified Polkadot Address Format and DOT as Unified Gas Token to improve the general user experience (covered by the UX Bounty).

Social Dynamics

On the social part, this maybe should be better a extended discussion for another future post. In any case, in my honest opinion, it is all a question of incentives, tools, culture and good practices. The goal would be to achieve a greater gamification of interactions in the ecosystem, especially with governance.

More gamified systems that are as non-debatable as possible and fewer management systems and bodies. Replace meetings with tools, clear guidelines and more automated workflows.

Encourage a culture of tips that tries to incentivize all active and productive participant in the most automated way possible. With a culture maybe similar to how WagMedia currently operates with content creation, but in a more general way and range of activities. Clear online reputation systems instead of popularity contests. Open communication channels... This is definitely starting to be a different and broader topic, in any case on the following links you can find a little more of my point of view about it (post 1 | post 2).

The Problem with Content Distribution Channels

Twitter as a double-edged sword

Please, just dont treat Twitter as a content platform, because it is not.

Twitter is, without a doubt, the best communication channel to chat directly with your audience in this industry, generate "engagement", share announcements, and fast sell a new token or memecoin if you want, but definitly is not the best platform to host long-form content for many reasons: no archival or easy reference, limited discoverability, fast-paced nature...

I may not be entirely right about this (ofc I am), but to optimize the use of resources as best as possible when generating content for a project in the long term, I think it's important to treat Twitter always as a secondary platform.

Twitter = communication channel for content distribution
Twitter != content hosting platform

So, at the end of that fancy thread everyone likes to write, you have to know that it's always a very cool idea to add a fancy CTA too to the complete content piece at the real platforms prepared for that. And if the thread is generated with AI from the original extended piece, workflow 10/10 my friend 👍.

Short Formats Fever

And also don't be mistaken with the current fast food marketing world. Modern, fast and short formats are not the solution to adoption of nothing.

Of course they can be put to excellent use! And there are currently media teams in the ecosystem that have added it well to their workflow and are trying to obtain good outputs with them.

But specifically in the case of current and new project teams, don't be fooled by the new generation of marketing agencies trends... A blog, while it may seem less attractive, is often the best thing to prioritize before doing TikToks. Web 1.0 Good Practices > Everything.

Audience Who? Influencer Who?

Recently, I heard a comment from Guillermo on a podcast. He stated that Vercel doesn't engage in sponsorships because they have more to lose than to gain. This is why they stopped sponsoring Theo—their only deal in that area.

The latter would seem like the best possible creator and brand ambassador to this type of business, but incredibly, with no clear benefits to both parts from their collaboration, it's true that they actually had more to lose than to gain.

The same logic applies to large blockchain ecosystems when working the brand awarness area, especially when their deals are public.

From now on we are going to refer to the term "influencers" as creators. Since these two concepts are similar, but different.

This was simply an example I wanted to share to mention the importance of selecting true brand ambassadors or creators. Of course Polkadot needs more brand awareness, marketing, outreach in general, etc. etc. But by whom and for whom?

And btw, since we mention the amb thing... why was it thought in the latest ecosystem craze that trying to turn the HA role into an artificial popularity contest directly related with the old program and try to form a coordinated team of senior BDs from it with more regular meetings can be the solution to outreach anything? o_O Maybe I'm the one who is too radical, but so far it seems I'm not wrong about the less meetings = more action thing :/.

I got the next part of the text from an old conversation, so I asked chatgpt to summarize the 3 main key points of it for you:

Empower Developers and Founders as Authentic Creators:
- Leverage the developers and founders within the ecosystem as the primary promoters and brand ambassadors.
- Provide them with resources to create personal and informal content that resonates with the audience.
Collaborate with Technically Proficient Creators over the Traditional "Crypto Influencers":
- Engage with creators who have strong technical backgrounds, even if they are outside the traditional crypto industry.
- Avoid agencies as intermediaries and creators who lack understanding of the product.
Focus on Long-Term, Genuine Engagement Over Direct Promotions:
- Be cautious with direct promotions and sporadic sponsorships which may pose more risks than benefits.
- Establish long-term partnerships with selected creators who share the mission and can deliver tangible outcomes.

KPIs and On-chain/Off-chain Metrics Manipulation

After curating hundreds of project profiles and auditing dozens and dozens of creator, media initiative, and influencer social channels, I've come to the conclusion that metrics manipulation is the general rule in this industry.

Don't get me wrong, there is both legal and not-so-legal manipulation. Both are equally important to consider when trying to estimate the true impact of any type of content, marketing action, whatever.

Identifying Metrics Manipulation

The best way to assess the true value of a project's traffic without an in depth analysis is by examining its traffic sources on it and its associated publications. This approach is often the most straightforward method for detecting a manipulation in the metrics across various distribution channels, especially when considering historical data, patterns, and anomalies.

We could go into much more detail on this topic depending of how to identify this manipulations depending on which platform we are referring to.

In any case...

Is the manipulation of these metrics really a bad practice?

The short answer is that it depends.

Without a doubt, if the objective of the manipulation is malicious in order to present results that are not true, then obviously it is.

If the manipulation of these metrics is due to transparent campaigns to promote the content and product producing, then it can be a good strategy for any team searching to growth their reach, but not a final solution at all.

For example, there are a couple of media teams in this ecosystem that are making great use of these types of platform-native promotional campaigns to grow their impact on platforms like Twitter/X and YouTube. Both are examples of good use of these tools. Just as there are others projects that could perhaps make better use of them. In any case, when analyzing the growth of these media products, it is important to analyze them taking into account these promotional campaigns to understand the real organic impact of each individual publication and initiative growth.

Understanding the Real KPIs

KPIs vary based on the goals of each campaign or initiative. For brand awareness, such as a product launch, we should focus on metrics like impressions and tweet engagement. When aiming for long-term technology adoption, key indicators include GitHub stars and the number of downloads. To assess the growth and impact of a mature portal, we look at traffic sources, keyword rankings and the quantity and quality of backlinks. When evaluating a creator's impact, we can even consider both off-chain metrics like organic or social traffic and engagement, as well as on-chain metrics such as the number of individual delegators...

We can look for all kinds of KPIs depending on the objective of each publication and initiative. In any of the scenarios, at a macro level, of course, the real KPIs that interest us as an ecosystem are logically not the number of impressions of anything, but the value of the token, the liquidity, the number of ~~projects~~ products...

And that is a joint effort that must be achieved through a system that works properly, with its clear mechanics, accessible resources, easy-to-use tools and a collaborative environment. So the best marketing is perhaps try to not being an idiot (?) :thinking:, simplify everything, know how to value the available resources (especially the human ones) and crafting the best way to encourage and use them in the field where they are most productive.

To finish this topic before it gets too long, here you have a random cool tweet maybe a little bit related: <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-theme="dark"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">- Optimistic project funding is good.<br>- More standards, tools and guidelines are good.<br>- Gamified systems over managed systems are better.<br>- Clear online reputational systems instead of popularity contests are the way.<br>- Dont be a dick is the mood. <a href="https://t.co/Tyl08nGGeA">pic.twitter.com/Tyl08nGGeA</a></p>— LV (@KusamaNFT) <a href="https://twitter.com/KusamaNFT/status/1845534067485561307?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Btw, any team or developer/creator who needs help or advice on any related topic, my email is always open for you: lv@dablock.com.

Thanks for reading, good night and good health to everyone :beers:.

Written by LV, originally posted on the Polkadot Forum.

Content Initiatives Framework

DablockDAO — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Content Creation Initiatives (CCIs) play a vital role in promoting ecosystem growth by producing, translating, and disseminating information. Over time, different types of CCIs have emerged, each with distinct objectives, scopes, and deliverables. Formalizing these categories can help streamline their operations and clarify expected results.

Types of Content Creation Initiatives

1. Project-Focused (CCI-A)

Overview:
CCI-A initiatives encompass general tasks typically associated with ambassador programs. Their primary goal is to support official project efforts in various regions and languages.

Typical Activities:

Translating project documentation and official publications
Dubbing or subtitling official video content
Moderating regional Telegram/Discord groups
Replicating or amplifying project news on social networks
Disseminating updates

Examples (2022–2023, Kusama):

Bounty in Spanish (Kusama)
Portuguese Content Guild

---r

2. Focused on Creators and Original Content (CCI-B)

Overview:
CCI-B initiatives aim to reward and support content creators who produce original materials about the ecosystem. These programs often include milestone-based structures for creators and teams, providing guidance and feedback to help them refine their skills.

Key Characteristics:

Straightforward methods for distributing tips to consistent creators
Serving as a training ground (or “dojo”) where content creators can receive advice and enhance their work
Fostering a network of creators who can grow into established roles within the ecosystem

Examples:

Paraverse Content Creators
NFT Content Creation Guild
Creadores Web3 (Web3 Creators)

3. Independents (CCI-C)

Overview:
CCI-C proposals finance the activities of individual creators or teams with extensive ecosystem experience. These independent creators typically operate on their own, answerable directly to token holders rather than community-led programs. The aim is to enable focused, high-quality content creation at scale.

Examples:

The Kusamarian (original content)
Cryptonitas (original content)
Polkadot en Español (dubs)

The Need for Formal CCI Categorization

Clear, well-defined CCI categories help ensure each initiative focuses on what it does best, avoiding the pitfalls of overloaded or unfocused programs. When a single initiative tries to cover a broad range of tasks—particularly within language guilds—it often dilutes the quality and impact of original content creation, to the detriment of the ecosystem.

Goals for Redefining CCIs:

Increase efficiency in both funding and operations.
Avoid overburdening initiatives with tasks outside their expertise.
Optimize results by clearly defining the responsibilities and deliverables of each CCI type.

Redefining Content Creation Proposals Based on the General Model

To achieve scalable outcomes, it’s important to keep refining existing content creation models. Instead of focusing on minor details, like treasury management, CCIs should strive for greater creativity in how they support content production.

Suggestions for Improvement:

Move away from a strict “reward X piece of content” approach.
Emphasize the development of creators through innovative methods (e.g., gamification).

Addressing Common Issues in Content Creation

Early reward mechanisms in Polkadot and Kusama (e.g., tips model) sometimes incentivized bad practices among creators.

Examples of Bad Practices:

Dubbing or subtitling videos for unofficial/local YouTube channels.
Translating content without appropriate context for unofficial/local blogs.
Overproduction of irrelevant content, such as repetitive interviews or news compilations.

These practices often result in unoriginal, repetitive, and uncompetitive materials that do little to grow channels or blogs.

Differentiation for Optimization

A clear distinction between project-focused CCIs (CCI-A) and creator-focused CCIs (CCI-B and CCI-C) is crucial. Proper differentiation will:

Enhance the effectiveness of each CCI.
Clarify the scope, deliverables, and expectations.

By defining these categories and their objectives, the ecosystem can incentivize meaningful, impactful content, ultimately benefiting both the creators and the broader community.

Navigating Polkadot Content Niches

DablockDAO — Sat, 02 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Navigating Content Niches: Recipes for Polkadot Success

TLDR: This document outlines all the progress, milestones and future plans for the Dablock initiative, related to the Polkadot OpenGov proposal #240. It includes all the related resources that are being generated and detailed reports, along with the author’s experiences, recommendations and point of views on how to approach content initiatives and the Polkadot OpenGov as a niche ecosystem.

In these initial months, along with several additional achievements detailed in the subsequent reports, we have successfully completed and extended the main milestones:

✅ Curated a comprehensive directory of the Polkadot ecosystem.
✅ Published and organized over 500 URLs of content on Dablock.com.

Index

All main headings in the index link to the corresponding section of the document.

CONTEXT, REPORTS & FUTURE
1. Introduction to Dablock
  1. Dablock Brain Sheet
2. Report 1: Dablock as Polkadot Resources Hub
  1. A Comprehensive Directory and Research of the Polkadot Ecosystem
  2. An MVP for a Niche Content Portal Covering the Polkadot Ecosystem
3. Report 2: LV as Content Creator
  1. Workflow for Individual Content Creators
  2. Content Produced During 2024
4. Report 3: Dablock as Content Agency
  1. Product vs Business
  2. Product First, Business Second
5. Future of Dablock
  1. Phase 1: Survive
  2. Phase 2: Resurgence
EXPERIENCE & PROJECT TIMELINE
1. Main Errors to Avoid, Lessons Learned & Advices
2. Dablock First Steps & Fund Management
  1. Set-Up for Independent Creators
  2. Management, Activity and Legal Entity
  3. Team and Delegation of Tasks
  4. Contributions to other initiatives
3. LV Tech Talk at Sub0
4. DaBlock DAO community and approach
  1. So, Where is DablockDAO?
VISION, OPENGOV & CONTENT INITIATIVES
1. Input/Output Management for Creators
2. Experience with current OpenGov Mechanics
3. Facilitate Access to OpenGov for Small Initiatives
4. Bounties and the figure of Curator
5. Pending Words
6. Polkadot OpenGov Trends
7. Content Isolation & Niche Communities
8. Use of AI in Initiatives Funded by the Polkadot Treasury
9. OpenGov Vibes

1. CONTEXT, REPORTS & FUTURE {#1.-context,-reports-&-future}

1.1 Introduction to Dablock {#1.1-introduction-to-dablock}

On November 25, 2024, we received a first funding thanks to the proposal #240 to the Polkadot DAO Treasury to support the Dablock initiative and its activity by directing/creating content, managing web portals, and advising/training creators and marketing teams that are already native or entering the Polkadot ecosystem.

In this topic I will share the progress with DaBlock and document my experience as an active creator, educator and continuos learner focused on the Polkadot ecosystem over the past and next years:

Working with Dablock as a content agency specialized in Polkadot.
1. Educate ambassadors, developers and advanced users of the Polkadot ecosystem in good practices for content creation.
2. Advise professional creators, project teams and native ecosystem initiatives.
3. Generate free-use guides and resources aimed at creators and media teams in the web3 industry.
Scaling Dablock.com as an informational portal and Polkadot ecosystem directory.
1. Categorize & link:
  1. All the elements that make up the Polkadot ecosystem.
  2. Resources of interest to all types of profiles.
2. Manage and direct content strategies to achieve organic visibility.
Generating content under my personal brand LV for YouTube channels and secondary social networks.

— Side quest: Form DablockDAO to involve the community in maintaining DaBlock.com content and directories and DaBlock decision making (see Dablock Community).

I hope that these publications, the experience and points of view shared serve as a reference for future ecosystem initiatives.

1.1.1 Dablock Brain Sheet

Before starting, you can find more details of the initiative's progress along with thousands of useful links, all the resources and all the curated elements of the Polkadot ecosystem at the following link: 🧠 Dablock.com brain.

This resource is for all creators, portals, agencies, and teams in the ecosystem to take as a reference and starting point, since it can save you dozens if not hundreds of hours of work.

It also serves as a central document where I am organizing all the ideas and work related to Dablock. So you can closely track the Dablock initiative in that Google Sheet along with this topic in the Polkadot forum where I will be sharing reports and points of view.

The Dablock core document is currently composed of the following 10 sheets:

DOT Dapps: This sheet includes a list of Dapps projects building in the Polkadot ecosystem with their logos, elements, specifications, categories, subcategories, web, GitHub, documentation links, and additional information such as related legal entities and teams.
DOT Ecosystem: Details various components of the Polkadot ecosystem including initiatives, organizations, core developers, creators/educators…
DOT Events: This sheet lists events and talks related to Polkadot, including the name, date, URL, and additional details such as review status and descriptions
DOT Resources: List of tools and resources for developers, including blogs, documentation, learning resources, podcasts, and newsletters, each with relevant URLs and categories.
Web3 Glossary: Glossary of Web3 terms, providing definitions and explanations of various concepts within the Web3 and blockchain space.
Creators Tools: Tools and resources aimed at content creators within the Web3 Industry, potentially including software, platforms, and best practices.
*Project Timeline: This sheet outlines the timeline of key milestones, deliverables, and deadlines for Dablock projects. This includes dates, tasks, and responsible parties.
*Content: Content pieces related to Dablock, such as articles, blog posts, tutorials, or marketing materials. It includes columns for the title, category, URL, review status, and descriptions.
*General Pages: List of general pages in the Dablock website. It includes columns for the title, category, URL, review status, and descriptions.
*OpenGov: This sheet reflects the participation of LV and Dablock-related entities in the governance of Polkadot, Kusama, and other ecosystem networks. Specific proposals, the network to which they belong, the date, the track, the requested amount, the voter, the vote (AYE, NAY or Abstain), and the associated comments are presented here.

1.2 R1: Dablock as Polkadot Resources Hub {#1.2-r1:-dablock-as-polkadot-resources-hub}

This section details how DaBlock serves as a central repository for Polkadot-related content, providing curated directories and resources for different initiatives, creators, and powered users within the ecosystem.

In summary, the strategy for creating the structure and categorization of content for the Dablock portal revolves around grouping all crucial information, resources and elements and organizing it intuitively. The goal is to present the content in a way that would have been helpful to any newcomer to the ecosystem, ensuring curation and categorization, whether in post format, directory elements, or lists.

In the end, we have ended up differentiating two main sections of this work:

Directory: Categorization of directory elements and main sources for the curation and generation of new content.
Website: The creation and publication of content on the web based on the previous research and resources gathered for the directory.

All of this work is about defining a complete and ordered map of the entire Polkadot ecosystem by categorizing and linking its different elements and then adapt and show it in different acquisition media channels (X, YouTube and, mainly, aimed at content portals, as we are trying to exemplify with Dablock) and its different content formats (threads, videos, podcasts, web posts/pages. ..).[^1]

1.2.1 A comprehensive directory and research of the Polkadot ecosystem {#1.2.1-a-comprehensive-directory-and-research-of-the-polkadot-ecosystem}

The corresponding white label directory is mainly composed of the DOT Dapps, DOT Ecosystem, DOT Events and DOT Resources sheets. In the end, the length and details of this directory and ecosystem research have been considerably extended from what was originally proposed, with the research & directories track taking more prominence and time than expected during these first months (see Project Timeline sheet).

The objective is that this research serves both to originally work on the Dablock portal, and so that at the same time it can be used by other portals in the ecosystem, marketing teams, content creation initiatives, individual creators…

✅Currently more than 1,000 items have been curated and classified, along with their related links, with the DOT Dapps and DOT ecosystem directories being one of the most complete and updated.

The following 20 fields are taken into consideration when adding and updating new elements to the DOT Dapps directory, which is the one most extended:

Field	Description
Logo	The official logo of the project or element, used for visual identification and branding on the platform.
Element	The name or title of the project, application, or protocol being described.
Specifications	Polkadot App, Kusama App, Mainnet, Infrastructure, Smart Contract, Testnet, Dapp, Miscellaneous* & Protocol.
Categories	DeFi, Tools, NFTs, Social & General Purpose.
Subcategories	AI, Wallet, DEX, Lending, Prediction Market, RWA, Block Explorer, Data/Indexing/Storage, NFT Marketplace, Gaming, Development Tool, Liquid Staking, DAO Tool, Metaverse, Bridge, Identity/Privacy, IoT/DePIN, Staking & Miscellaneous.
Website	The official website link of the project or element.
X Profile	The official profile or handle on the X platform (formerly known as Twitter).
Github Repository	Link to the project's GitHub repository, where source code and project updates are maintained.
Dablock Link	Direct link to the corresponding page on the DaBlock platform, providing more detailed information or resources.
Description	A brief overview or description of the project or element, summarizing its purpose, functionality, and significance within the ecosystem.
Status	Active, Announced, Tested, Unmantained, Unmantained?, Inactive.
RSS Feed	Link to the RSS feed or the official blog for ongoing updates and news related to the project.
Linkedin Profile	Official LinkedIn profile link for the project, providing professional networking and company information.
Related Legal Entity 1	The first associated legal entity related to the project, providing details on the organization or corporation involved.
Related Legal Entity 2	The second associated legal entity related to the project, if applicable.
Related Token	The native token associated with the project, if applicable, including ticker symbol and blockchain.
Ambassador Program	Links to the project ambassador program if it has one.
Community Channels	Direct link to the project community channels
Docs	Direct link to the project official documentation
Related Token	Project related tokens

It is an open-use resource, a tool to generate, organize and even automate content. With this, portals like dablock.com, new similar or more general content portals, existing projects like parachains.info, media initiatives, individual content creators like youtubers or even the so-called "KOLs", can use it as a resource to update information, configure complete content calendars or even replicate, adapt and show the whole research and directories in their own content platforms.[^2]

All of these graphs can be found in the Dablock brain sheet.

The importance of good foundations and research prior to production

Without a doubt this has been one of the most complicated tasks to maintain over time and at the same time, from our point of view, the most important when generating new content due to the large number of changes that occur in the ecosystem in short periods of time and the importance of these. It is very easy to make mistakes when creating certain content such as list type content, hence the importance of having a good base study and, above all, a clear categorization and definition for the different elements that make up the ecosystem.

Still, the original intention from Dablock is to continue updating and optimizing the public directory structure and categorization of elements, since it can become a parallel task to the creation of new content.

The original Google Sheet will continue to be used for now. Once the directory management is migrated to a public repository on GitHub, we will begin expanding and updating it from there and automate the other platforms.

References taken for curating the directories and content

As a starting point for the curation of the directory, work began in 2023 initially taking as reference portals such as the substrate website projects directory, various previously existed resources from the Web3 Foundation, parachains.info, dotmarketcap.com among several others, including directories of sub-ecosystems within Polkadot such as Moonbeam, dtmb.xyz… as shown in the initial PoC of the Dablock portal.

A big part of existing resources from these portals were presented with significantly outdated lists and elements, so it was important to study each specific profile as best as possible when curating a complete ecosystem directory, specially to link all the elements between them (Dapps <-> Initiatives <-> Organizations <-> Tech Stack <-> ...).

We must recognize that it is impossible to always have a directory of an ecosystem as complex as Polkadot's in a 100% correct way amid so much change in narrative, such as the volatile and ephemeral nature of the elements and brands. Hence, later on the website for Dablock, a more general structure of urls and categorization of elements was proposed.

Once the first main elements of the ecosystem have been organized and categorized into a first skeleton for the directory, the main sources of information to update the current elements and add new ones are:

Polkadot Forum: A central hub for discussions and updates related to the Polkadot ecosystem. From my point of view, the true heart of the ecosystem.
Web3 Foundation Grants, DV and DF Programs: Projects funded and supported by the Web3 Foundation in one of their diverse programs.
Governance Forums: Platforms such as Subsquare and Polkassembly with an interface showing insights into governance initiatives, proposals, active bounties…
Active Referral Profiles on X: Technical, educators and native media profiles on X that actively share and discuss updates and news within the Polkadot ecosystem.
Various Sources (Github, Reddit, Linkedin…): Platforms where several Polkadot community members share projects, discuss ideas, and networks.

By leveraging these sources, we ensured the directories remained comprehensive, up-to-date, and reflective of the latest developments and contributions within the Polkadot ecosystem.

[^3]

1.2.2 An MVP for a Polkadot Niche Content Portal {#1.2.2-an-mvp-for-a-polkadot-niche-content-portal}

Set-Up and Redirections

After a first design and structure proposed in the first website presentation linked at the proposal #240, the interface design and the first url structure of the directory and content have been redesigned, trying to make it as easy as possible to maintain and scale over time and, at the same time, be as intuitive as possible for new users.

When re-structuring the urls from the first poc, the keyword parachain has been completely removed and a categorization with more general concepts like other popular portals that work with similar directories such as Alchemy has been taken as a reference.
When considering the categorization of posts, tags structure, etc. Other popular news portals have also been taken into account such as Cointelegraph, Coindesk... Although the same approach has not been applied here for the categorization of content since, despite the both references mentioned being able to be considered too as "content portals", the approach for dablock.com has to be very different due to the ultra niche nature, expected scope, available resources and work methodology.

About the user experience, as detailed in week 15 in the Project Timeline sheet, in the future, among any of the many possible scenarios, it is important to continue optimizing the WPO. Although at first glance it collects good marks in the tests with Google Page Speed.[^4]

Screenshot from Google Page Speed.

Portal Structure & Cornerstone Pages

The portal interface and menus have been made as simple and intuitive as possible, while at the same time trying to link any element of the Polkadot ecosystem in less than 2 clicks.

1. The three main landing pages to navigate the portal are:

Home (dablock.com)
Dapps (dablock.com/dapps/)
Ecosystem (dablock.com/ecosystem/)

These pages try to introduce the other main sections, directories and featured pieces of content.

2. Next are the cornerstone list type pages by topic. Instead of publishing them as if they were a post, they have been published as a main page, example:

TOP 10 Polkadot Multisig Wallets (dablock.com/polkadot-multisig-wallets/)
TOP 15 Polkadot NFT Marketplaces (dablock.com/polkadot-nft-marketplaces/)

From these pages the elements of the ecosystem are introduced and linked directly (example, from the first url mentioned: dablock.com/dapps/nova-wallet/). The goal is to rank these trying to respond as best as possible to the user to searches such as: "best polkadot ecosystem wallets", "polkadot NFT marketplaces", etc.

In this Google Sheet it is possible to consult more information about the main pages of this type that are already published, revisions, etc.

Title	Main Keyword	URL	Review 1
Web3 Glossary	Web3 Glossary	https://dablock.com/web3-glossary/	Pending
Web3 Marketing Glossary	Web3 Marketing Glossary	https://dablock.com/web3-marketing-glossary/	Pending
11 Resources to get into the Polkadot Ecosystem	Web3 Jobs	https://dablock.com/web3-jobs/	Pending
TOP 5 Polkadot Ecosystem Events	Web3 Events Polkadot Ecosystem Events	https://dablock.com/web3-events/	Pending
40 Resources to Learn Polkadot Technology	Web3 learn Learn Polkadot Technology	https://dablock.com/web3-learn/	Pending
TOP 5 Polkadot Ecosystem Podcasts	Web3 Podcasts Polkadot Ecosystem Podcasts	https://dablock.com/web3-podcasts/	Pending
TOP 5 Polkadot Ecosystem Newsletters	Web3 Newsletters	https://dablock.com/web3-newsletters/	Pending
TOP 10 Polkadot Ecosystem DAOs more Active	Polkadot DAOs Polkadot Ecosystem DAOs	https://dablock.com/polkadot-daos/	Pending
TOP 10 Polkadot OpenGov Initiatives	Polkadot Initiatives	https://dablock.com/polkadot-initiatives/	Pending
TOP 35 Polkadot Validators Active in the Ecosystem	Polkadot Validators	https://dablock.com/polkadot-validators/	Pending
TOP 7 Polkadot Ecosystem Memecoins	Polkadot Memecoins	https://dablock.com/polkadot-memecoins/	Pending
TOP 5 Polkadot Liquid Staking Projects	Polkadot Liquid Staking Projects	https://dablock.com/polkadot-liquid-staking-projects/	Pending
TOP 5 Polkadot System-Chains	Polkadot System-Chains	https://dablock.com/polkadot-system-chains/	Pending
TOP 10 Polkadot Gaming Projects	Polkadot Gaming Projects	https://dablock.com/polkadot-gaming-projects/	Pending
TOP 10 Polkadot Lending Protocols	Polkadot Lending Protocols	https://dablock.com/polkadot-lending-protocols/	Pending
TOP 15 Polkadot Media Channels	Polkadot Media	https://dablock.com/polkadot-media/	Pending
TOP 5 Polkadot Bridge Projects	Polkadot Bridges	https://dablock.com/polkadot-bridges/	Pending
TOP 3 Polkadot Testnets	Polkadot Testnets	https://dablock.com/polkadot-testnets/	Pending
TOP 10 Polkadot Core Developers	Polkadot Core Developers		Pending
TOP 30 Polkadot DeFi Projects	Polkadot DeFi Projects	https://dablock.com/polkadot-defi-projects/	Done
TOP 40 Polkadot Tools	Polkadot Tools	https://dablock.com/polkadot-tools/	Done
TOP 15 Polkadot NFT Marketplaces	Polkadot NFT Marketplaces	https://dablock.com/polkadot-nft-marketplaces/	Done
TOP 10 Polkadot Multisig Wallets	Polkadot Multisig Wallets	https://dablock.com/polkadot-multisig-wallets/	Done
TOP 25 Polkadot Ecosystem Wallets	Polkadot Wallets	https://dablock.com/polkadot-wallets/	Done
Polkadot JAM Chain Explained	Polkadot JAM Chain	https://dablock.com/polkadot-jam-chain/	Pending

All urls published on dablock.com

Below is a brief summary of all the urls published on the dablock.com portal until now. In the sitemap there is a live-time updated list with direct links to all pages and posts.

The following table explains the main structure and categorization of the URLs of the dablock.com portal, which attempts to organize the information in the most global, agnostic, simplified and user-friendly way possible for new users entering the Polkadot ecosystem.

Type	URLs	Overview
Dapps	183	The Dapps Directory serves as a comprehensive guide to the current dapps and tools thriving within the Polkadot ecosystem. Each entry offers detailed insights into the application’s functionality, user experience, and how it leverages the unique features of Polkadot or Kusama. This directory is an invaluable resource for users looking to explore, understand, and engage with the diverse dApp offerings within the ecosystem.
Ecosystem	104	This directory encapsulates a wide array of initiatives, DAOs, agents and organizations that form the backbone of the Polkadot ecosystem.
Main Pages	26	Cornerstone Pages are the essential touchpoints of dablock.com, designed to guide users through the most critical aspects of the platform. These include the homepage, key resource hubs, and pivotal content pieces that establish the foundation of the DaBlock initiative. Each page is curated to provide users with a clear, accessible, and comprehensive understanding of the site’s offerings and the ecosystem it supports.
Posts	207	The Posts shared on DaBlock.com are articles, updates, and insights that cover the full spectrum of topics relevant to the Polkadot ecosystem and the broader Web3 landscape. Each post is carefully curated and categorized to ensure that users can easily navigate and find the content most relevant to their interests.
Categories	7	Categories are the primary way the content posts are organized, ensuring that users can easily find articles and resources that match their interests. Rankings, Guides: Comprehensive rankings and step-by-step guides that help users navigate the best tools, dApps, and services in the Polkadot ecosystem. These resources are designed to provide clarity and direction for both newcomers and seasoned participants. News: The latest updates and breaking news related to the Web3 space, with a particular focus on significant events, protocol upgrades, and new developments within the Polkadot and Kusama networks. Interviews: In-depth conversations with key figures and developers in the Web3 and Polkadot ecosystems, offering insights into their work, vision, and the future direction of decentralized technologies. Most of this content is made by selecting the most notable interviews related to Polkadot and from the video and transcription generate derived content summarizing the key points and link all the related sources. Tech Talks: Technical discussions and presentations aimed at developers and advanced users, covering deep dives into the technologies powering Polkadot, Substrate, and other related platforms. The Tech-Talks category is where all the resources from the latest major Polkadot events are grouped, mainly Decoded and Sub0. Each post shows a small summary of the talk, the related slides and the official video. Web3 Marketing: Strategies, best practices, and case studies focused on marketing within the decentralized Web3 space, including how to effectively promote projects, engage communities, and leverage social media in the blockchain world. Opinion: Thought-provoking articles where experts and community members share personal insights, perspectives, and commentary on trends and developments within the Web3 and Polkadot ecosystems.
Tags	11	Tags are used to label and organize content with specific, focused keywords, making it easier for users to find related content across the site. Tags like DeFi, NFTs, Airdrops, Memecoins SocialFi, OpenGov, JAM, Gavin Wood, Kusamarian, Decoded, and Sub0 provide a quick way to access all relevant posts and resources connected to the most trending topics in the Polkadot ecosystem, enhancing user navigation and content discovery.

Evolution of organic visibility

Until the last week everything has been growing correctly, indexing all the main urls and growing organic visibility in search engines. In fact, I was and still am waiting for a high positive turning point once the content of the cornerstone pages that we discussed in the previous section is finished being optimized and indexed, since the intention is to start indexing as soon as possible for at least 1,000 keywords related to the DOT ecosystem.

Semrush Organic Research screenshot for USA

By not applying an off-page SEO strategy as such (only links and traffic from social networks and YouTube videos) and focusing everything on the application of good practices and content, for this type of portal in the short term it would surely be much more convenient to have deployed it simply using a keyword-domain instead of trying the hard way trying to grow the authority of a new brand-domain as such.

In any case, during the last few days, shortly after the Decoded 2024, there has been a sudden drop in the evolution of the visibility of the urls.

Google Search Console screenshot showing the impressions for the different dablock.com urls during the last 90 days

Google Search Console screenshot showing the urls indexed (green) and non-indexed (gray) for the different dablock.com urls during the last 90 days (including urls of images hosted).

This can be due to several different reasons. We will continue to monitor everything and a new report will be given at the end of August with the evolution and possible reasons for what caused this anomaly... So far my first assumption is that it is due to a latest update in Google SERPs pagination, but it is strange since it has also affected image search.

In any case, now with more than 20 cornerstone pages already published and a considerable amount of content managed, the real optimizations begin until we find the best structures and formats for Google and therefore for the users.

In the Future of Dablock section, different scenarios and approaches are discussed to optimize the reach of content with alternative strategies that could collect better results in less time, with greater automation and without the need to invest in off-page SEO and, of course, in PPC, like the mentioned above using a keyword-domain.

Other teams and initiatives in the ecosystem could also try to implement all of this based on the work done for Dablock and the directories in their own beneficial way for their project.

Dablock.com Users Activity

Below is the growth in the number of users on dablock.com and geographic location.

Until the anomaly a week ago mentioned above, everything seemed like it was going to start growing exponentially after all the new content published. Anyway, it seems that in recent days the break is partially being recovered, more details will be given in the report at the end of August once all the content of the cornerstone urls have been optimized.

The image above shows data from the acquisition of new sessions on the web. A curious detail is that sessions started from URLs from long-format YouTube videos and live-streamings have better overall retention than the other organic acquisition channels in general average. Even so, the data collected so far is still minuscule yet to carry out any type of study and hence a more in-depth analysis has not been carried out.

The visibility and web analytics reports with really interesting data will begin once a considerable number of well-ranked URLs in the SERPs are reached and the content derived in X/YT is further automated and linking the content of the portal.

1.3 R2: LV as content creator {#1.3-r2:-lv-as-content-creator}

In the previous section, we discussed the planning and structuring of the main components of the directory/research and the dablock.com website. In this section, we will focus on the generated content and the strategy for optimizing the production workflow as a solo creator.

Here, first of all, it is important to point out how psychologically complex it can be to deal with so many different roles and different tasks, and also how complicated it is to produce so many content formats without the appropriate set-up and tools, hence the reason that it has focused first on the research/directory carried out in the last months to achieve better automation and overall content mapping.

1.3.1 Workflow for Individual Content Creators

The fundamental strategy here as a solo creator is to achieve a good workflow and content automation between the different formats. For example, the two main work templates proposed for a complete block of content (see Content sheet) are:

Workflow	1º Content Piece	2º Content Piece	Derived content	+ Content distribution channels
Template 1	Web Post	YT Video	X thread, tweets / shorts…	Linkedin, Reddit, Forums…
Template 2	YT Video	Web Post	X thread, tweets / shorts…	Linkedin, Reddit, Forums…

In this way, the first piece of main content (web post / video) is worked on and then we try to automate the generation of the following ones as much as possible with AI tools. For example:

Generate the base for a thread on X by adapting content from web posts or video transcriptions using an AI tool, along with a series of prompts and reviews.
Create the foundation of articles from a prompt and transcriptions of previously published videos.

With well defined templates, with the tools used properly and good human supervision, we can greatly optimize the quality and workflow when generating content. Although be very careful, since researching, testing and introducing new tools to your work routine also involves time and even operational costs as noted below in this document at: Main Errors to Avoid for Individual Content Creators.

We delve a little bit deeper into the implications related to AI and content automation later in this document at: Use of AI in Content / Marketing / Development Initiatives Funded by the Polkadot Treasury.

1.3.2 Content produced during 2024

First of all, point out that the content must be made for some reason, it must have a meaning and a context/story behind it so that it has a real impact, hence certain tasks of all those initially proposed are prioritized or modified.

Below is a summary of all the main pieces of content published during 2024 so far. In the Content sheet there are direct links to all the generated pieces.

Format	LV	AIxLV	Adapted 3º Party Content
Long-Video	16 (+25)	N/A	N/A
Article	39	70	141
Short-Video	10	N/A	N/A
Thread	N/A	15	N/A

The numbers in parentheses refer to pieces of content that were published hastily specifically for the purpose of presenting this report. These videos have been published as "hidden" (can only be accessed through the direct link). They will be made public on the main LV channel, once the content calendar and activities resume normally.

This approach ensures that it cannot be claimed that all the "deliverables" proposed with the #240 have not been completed, despite having prioritized and greatly extended other fundamental tasks and deliverables more relevant in the short term.

Despite having invested so much time and resources in improving the quality of production and workflow when producing original videos, until now the original and more creative content has not yet been prioritized in this first stage due to having prioritized the research task, extended the directory scope and efforts on the dablock portal, in addition to more reasons that will be discussed throughout the document.

In the end, LV's character, especially the comedian in the videos, ends up being an exaggeration of one's personality, like every internet character, I suppose. For me at least it is a type of content that I am not able to do if I am not carefree and comfortable, it is not something that can be faked.

In the Experience & Project Timeline section of this document, we delve deeper into the challenges and explore various perspectives for addressing them when managing a content initiative funded by a DAO's treasury.

1.4 R3: Dablock as Content Agency {#1.4-r3:-dablock-as-content-agency}

This section discusses Dablock’s role as a content agency, providing strategies and resources for effective content creation and management.

All the resources and guides directed to creators are being published in the Web3 Marketing category in dablock.com.
Most of the services track activity that has been accounted for can be seen in the Project Timeline sheet.

A business activity as such has not yet been developed in relation to Dablock as a content agency, and it is the part of the 3 branches to work on on which this report is based that has been least attended to.

As documented in the Project Timeline sheet and highlighted below at Contributions to Other Initiatives, basic help and sporadic consultancy has only been offered to projects and initiatives that requested it directly or with which it had already begun to collaborate a long time ago and rejecting all the monetary offers to serve as an intermediary for influencers or third-party initiatives for governance, simply because I do not coincide in the methodology and work purpose of the majority of their proposals that were presented to me. This is discussed deeper throughout this document at OpenGov section, explaining my points of view on diffetent topics related to governance and content creation initiatives.

1.4.1 Product vs Business {#1.4.1-product-vs-business}

From Dablock everything has been worked on openly and it has always helped without asking for anything in return for a long time after receiving the support corresponding to the proposal #240. I emphasize this so that it is not misunderstood when considering a "business" part for a project promoted by an initiative openly supported by a DAO.

From my point of view, it is essential that the initiatives that try to define a role in the ecosystem in the long term all try to have a part of private business, as long as this is directly or indirectly beneficial for the user base, is developed transparently and simultaneously generate free-use resources specific to the web3 industry (=Polkadot).

1.4.2 Product First, Business Second

It could be argued that during these first months we have focused only on the product part and not on the business part for Dablock. If we relate this approach with the different tracks that form the Project Timeline sheet:

Product Tracks:
1. Set-Up - completed
2. Research/Directory - free to use by any other initiative/business.
3. Portal/Website Management
4. Content
Business Tracks:
1. Lead Management - not implemented
2. Sponsorships/Campaigns - not implemented
3. Services

Note 1: The Project Timeline sheet began to be written from the end of March 2024, hence from those dates there are more details about the tasks carried out and the hours recorded.
Note 2: Keep in mind that there are many hours, especially during the first months before and after proposal #240, that have never been counted for small specific tasks and various consultancies.

1.5 Future of Dablock {#1.5-future-of-dablock}

This report outlines the future plans and vision for DaBlock, including expanding its reach and impact within the Polkadot ecosystem.

Phase 1: Survive

Main thing right now in the near future is to achieve the survival of LV. There is no Batman without Bruce Wayne.
Continue with the development of Dablock as a project (dablock.com portal, content agency, etc.) and ensure that it evolves correctly, to ensure the survival of LV in the long term.
Migrate the directory management, research and resource collection that has been carried out to the public github repository mentioned above to make access even easier and open to direct third-party collaborations and greater automation.
Communicate things with humor and joy, publish funny edits.
With LV's survival assured, continue the good work with smiles and humor.

In short, working on the usual ideas and ensuring the survival of LV is the fundamental thing in the short term.

Donations: 15akZwzufEzFzfh18y4Q81Ci8TXyvH6hyUkRrxJED2MjEYhe

Phase 2: Resurgence, we are still alive.

Now talking about things that are not urgent in the immediate term:

Public Directory/Research (R1): All research carried out should be adapted and published in a single public Github repository, to further automate the process of managing and curating the different directory elements and allowing open collaboration from everyone.

In this way, all the work will be more accessible to other initiatives, teams and individual creators, to replicate and adapt on their own platforms or simply consult as a reference for their content or their own research.

Furthermore, it is also much more subtle to say that it is being managed openly in a github repository than from an antiquated Discord server and modest but robust Google Sheet o_O.
Dablock.com (R2-R1): As we were commenting previously at 1.4.1 Product vs Business, the website is one product generated from the research, as well as the content generated in the different formats worked.

The objective is to continue optimizing, automating, and growing the Dablock portal and the different profiles on sm and youtube channels related to it and LV according to the originally proposed strategy, aiming to achieve a significant role and impact within the ecosystem. This effort seeks to address and provide visibility to the increasing problem highlighted in proposal #240, specifically regarding the organic visibility of native Polkadot portals and their lack of updated and competitive versions in search engines

The objective is to continue optimizing, automating, and growing the dablock.com portal, along with the various social media profiles and YouTube channels related to it and LV, in line with the originally proposed strategy. Specifically, the work done with Dablock aims to achieve a significant role and long-term impact within the ecosystem, it's just getting started.

This effort seeks to address and bring visibility to the increasing problem highlighted in proposal #240, particularly the organic visibility of native Polkadot portals and their lack of updated and competitive versions in search engines.

By achieving this there should be no problem in being a self-sustaining project/business over time, in one or more creative ways, and at the same time being completely transparent in accordance with the vision of the Polkadot ecosystem and web3 culture, among other things.
Dablock agency (R3): My idea was at the beginning of 2025 to start giving more priority to this activity once everything has been consolidated, mainly the dablock.com portal, and to formally define small service packages to offer, mainly, consulting to new teams and initiatives.

Later we will talk in more detail about this activity and why agency services have not been provided at the end of 2023 and beginning of 2024.

In any case, we are open from the first moment to providing support and help to all independent creators in the ecosystem who want to tackle well-defined series of technical content, since there is a shortage of that type of content in all formats. We can help by offering advice and even defining and editing content, along with its distribution, etc.

2. EXPERIENCE & PROJECT TIMELINE {#2.-experience-&-project-timeline}

2.1 Main Errors to Avoid, Lessons Learned and Advices for New Web3 Adventurers {#2.1-main-errors-to-avoid,-lessons-learned-and-advices-for-new-web3-adventurers}

Reflect on the major mistakes made during the project and provide actionable advice for avoiding these pitfalls in future initiatives.

The Value of Collaboration and Networking: Performance is important, but having a team or officially announced collaborators brings significant advantages. Not only does it make project networking easier and more visible, but it also provides essential support, a platform for discussing concerns and progress, and a way to share these indirectly with the “community” or influential groups within the governance model.
Expect Criticism Regardless of Intentions: No matter what you do, how altruistic your intentions are, or how hard you try, there will always be critics or complaints. Often, these arise from factors beyond anyone’s control. Understanding this reality is crucial to maintaining focus and resilience.
Challenges of Community Building in OpenGov: Engaging with the “community” can be challenging, especially when publicly exposing yourself to OpenGov processes. The associated pressures and risks can make the experience less enjoyable and more stressful than anticipated.
Strategic Input/Output Management: Be cautious about whose advice you take. Managing the inputs you receive is as important as the outputs you deliver. The blockchain industry is rife with manipulation in various forms, as any other industry, and at the end of the day, everyone is primarily driven by self-interest. Avoid relying on a single entity or blindly trusting established norms, as everything in this space is extremely volatile. Sadly influence and noise often dictate outcomes more than merit.
Pragmatism Over Idealism: It’s vital to approach everything as a business. Idealism can lead to disappointment and disrespect, especially when your efforts are undervalued. Focus on delivering manageable tasks to minimize unnecessary controversies and maintain efficiency.
Avoid Perfectionism: Striving for perfection can lead to procrastination, particularly with tasks that have significant short-term impact. It’s important to recognize when to stop overthinking and move forward to ensure timely and effective execution.

2.2 First Steps & Fund Management {#2.2-first-steps-&-fund-management}

12/2023 ⇔ 03/2024

tldr: Detail the initial steps taken after receiving funding, including investments in equipment and setup. Highlight the importance of strategic decision-making and resource management.

It's been over 7 months since the Polkadot community confirmed their support for my contributions to the ecosystem by supporting the creation of DaBlock through referendum #240! What have I done during the first 2-3 months? Spend the funds 😤!

From the first moment I have taken the funds to invest in improving production equipment, ensuring operational capacity over time and scaling by purchasing the time of others, and that is what I have done, or tried to do in my best.

It all seems simple but it is not as easy as it seems. In fact, I would dare to say that the biggest complication in any initiative/project financed by the treasury of a DAO, as would be my case with DaBlock and Polkadot currently, is the initial decision making.

At least this has been my first impression as there are so many possible paths and involve so many different activities within the same project. The sum of small decisions ends up taking up a lot of time and energy, including those that affect the regularization of this activity and may have legal or administrative consequences in the country where you reside.

In any case, these initial decision making are essential to propose a comfortable, sustainable workflow that generates good performance in the long term. I have tried to do my best in that aspect, but there has definitely been a lot of room for improvement in management as detailed above in the section Main Errors to Avoid.

In the Project Timeline sheet there is more information and estimations of all the activities carried out since November 2023.

[^5]

2.2.1 Set-Up for Independent Creators.

TLDR: Outline the setup process for independent creators, including a list of essential equipment and software tools. Emphasize the importance of balancing quality and efficiency in production.

Previously, it already had a good studio and video quality.

Even so, from the beginning I have wanted to take advantage of the resources granted to try to make several leaps in production quality by adding new scenes, improving the decoration, lighting and the rest of the equipment.

Honestly, all of this wasn't necessary, but I intended to have the best studio possible. In the end, dedicating more time and resources than initially planned to improving quality and production capacity has ended up being a setback in the short term, and counterproductive from a business point of view, at least until now.

When it came to configuring the new set-up I completely overdid it with the equipment. You don't have to be such a perfectionist and you don't have to have the best technology and most expensive devices to create the “perfect” workflow and content for each one.

In the first weeks after receiving the funds I have been focused on trying to select and configure the best possible equipment possible.

In this aspect I have spent a large amount of time selecting the appropriate equipment and tools to configure the workflow as best as possible when having to occupy and coordinate so many different tracks and tasks.

Below is a list of some of the main devices that I have obtained to configure the set-up (I already had those with an *):

Video

2x Sony ZV-E10
2x Sigma 16 mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary
1x GoPro Hero12 Black
*1x Iphone 13 Pro Max

Audio

1x Shure Sm7db
1x RØDE Wireless Go II
1x RØDE Interview GO
1x RØDE Lavalier GO
*PreSonus AudioBox GO
*Shure MV7

Equipo

*1x Macbook Pro M1 Pro

I initially planned to get a Mac Studio M2 Max as a new computer to improve performance as well as being able to work with editing programs and stream at the same time. It hasn't been necessary until now, the M1 Pro, with a good OBS setup, is enough to cover most of a creator's needs and perform extensive streaming.

Lightning

1x ZHIYUN FIVERAY M20C
*2x NEEWER 2 Pack Bicolor 660 LED
*2x Logitech Litra Glow LED

+Gadgets

1x ZHIYUN Weebill S
*1x DJI OSMO Mobile 6
1x LG 49GR85DC-B
*2x BenQ Screens
1x ElGato Stream Deck
2x Elgato Cam Link 4K
1x Elgato Green Screen XL
1x SanDisk Extreme PRO 512GB
3x SanDisk Extreme PRO 128GB

List of all articles in the Dablock project tracking guide (sheet: Creator Tools; Row: 79 - 129)

These are the main gadgets that make up my final studio and recording equipment. But, as I mentioned, until now, in this case, it has been totally counterproductive at first to invest so much time and resources in improving the production gear and workflow. Minimalist and functional solutions are what I would now recommend to any creator as recommended in the following post with a guide for independent content creators.

Set-Up & Software Configuration

When it comes to the configuration of the equipment and software, this makes for a wide discussion since there are a lot of different options. In any case, when it comes to producing content I have configured the main part of the process using the OBS, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premiere, ChatGPT & Captions programs. There are a wide variety of additional programs that I use daily to complement certain tasks, but with the 5 mentioned you can cover practically the entire workflow.
List of all the tools and resources for creators in the Dablock project tracking guide (sheet: Creator Tools; Row: 03 - 78)
[^6]

2.2.2 Management, Activity and Legal Entity.

This has been the worst part and I still don't have the truth very clear about the issue 🫤. I will try to document everything in more detail with any news. In any case, trying to get started in the Web3 industry is not easy from a legal/administrative point of view without good initial advice.

During the first months since proposal #240 was approved, I have been consulting with different professionals to try to have everything clear and find the best possible legal framework, but the truth is that, to a certain extent, the more information I obtained, the more ambiguous It became and depending on who was asked, there were proposed different scenarios and solutions.

There is a lot of lack of knowledge on the part of the majority of managers and administrative entities when it comes to dealing with activities directly related to crypto assets and web3 entities, at least that has been my experience so far with these issues.

Since we are talking about this topic, I think it would be very interesting to see an entity offering consulting or even complete services to solve these legal situations for initiatives that opt for OpenGov, since it is something very necessary to make it really accessible to everyone. Or at least an article with a basic guide by a more knowledgeable ecosystem participant of these topics would also be of unimaginable help.

2.2.3 Collaborators and delegation of tasks.

Since before starting DaBlock, finding good collaborators and delegating tasks has been the most difficult task of all. What remains. When managing Creadores Web3 (Web3 Creators initiative), something similar arose when organizing the teams of creators and looking for different collaborators since they all had a different work methodology, different ideas and different objectives.

Gamified Models for Proactive Collaboration

In that regard, a possible solution to optimize this, in addition to ensuring that the right collaborators end up finding you, is to open and gamify the rewards and tasks system, the simpler, the more effective. This can be the most optimal approach at least for regular and sporadic collaborators to cover low responsibility tasks.

A good example of this system would be the first model proposed on the original WagMedia server with the bot that has the same name, which speeds up the distribution of rewards between individual creators in the ecosystem.

This model could be replicated in many more ways between different initiatives covering different fields, at least until the current Small Tipper and Big Tipper tracks in Polkadot's OpenGov are optimized and streamlined.

Delegation vs Automation of Tasks

When it comes to delegating tasks with DaBlock, we have started testing with a couple of video editors external to the blockchain industry. The result has not been what was expected since it did not mean an improvement in the editing quality for the formats that were wanted to be delegated nor a shorter delivery time counting the revisions.

So we have decided to choose to form our own dream team with the resources we already had at home. This has made it maybe take us longer to complete this first set-up phase, but now we have the perfect and more sustainable workflow for small projects, without time to waste in staff meetings.

But yes, perhaps in thinking about automating a large part of the workflow we neglected to have taken greater advantage of the delegation of tasks, which I am still interested in being able to delegate to a greater extent for tasks such as video editing and social media management.

2.2.4 Contributions to other initiatives {#2.2.4-contributions-to-other-initiatives}

Over the last year, DaBlock (LV) has been helping ecosystem initiatives such as Dotcast and the Polkadot Anti-Scam Team with basic web development / maintenance and consulting services. The intention, in addition to providing this type of service, is to take advantage of the work carried out in the research for the DaBlock portal to advise and enrich the content and resources available on the other educational or informational pages of ecosystem related websites.

There are still large updates pending in both polkadot.antiscam.team and dotcast.io, in any case both portals are up and running and are actively monitored.

For the Dotcast website I have been sharing some content published on the DaBlock portal once it is translated into Spanish. A Spanish version of the DaBlock directories (Dapps, Ecosystem, Learn) will also be released once a last review of the content is carried out. In any case, translating and publishing written content in Spanish is a task that I do not have time to continue without further automation, collaborators or other interested parties..

It would be interesting to see how the research and curation work carried out for the Dablock portal and its directories is used in other local community projects, media portals, etc. If anyone wants to do it, they can contact me to ask any questions or make any queries.

In this regard, as mentioned previously, one of the next steps is to adapt and complete the migration of all the research that is published in the Google Sheet from where the elements for dablock.com directory were initially organized and curated (mainly the sheets: dapps, ecosystem and events tech talks) to a public repository on Github, to allow direct community collaborations. The repository is now created and will be updated at DaBlockDAO/Polkadot-Atlas.

In this way, in addition to opening the management of the directory to the whole community, it will also make the work and research carried out more accessible for all types of projects and initiatives, which was always the initial intention when making public all the work and guidelines proposed to generate the directory and content for dablock.com.
[^7]

2.3 LV Tech Talk & Sub0 Travel. {#2.3-lv-tech-talk-&-sub0-travel.}

03/2024 ⇔ 04/2024

Thanks to the donation from Stake Plus I was able to attend the latest edition of Polkadot Sub0. My first trip outside of Europe 😎. You will be able to see a summary in the vlog I am preparing about the trip: JAM, Polkadot & LV in Bangkok (Soon™).

While attending the event I considered that it would be a great idea to compile all the talks and their related resources from these ecosystem events in a single web domain, since it would also complement the work done with the directory and enrich all the available information. There this new task was added and everything began to be compiled in a new sheet and the tech-talks category.

On the dablock.com portal, all the talks from the Sub0 2024 edition have been published in individual posts under the Sub0 tag and the Tech Talks category (dablock.com/tech-talks/). The content of each post is made up of:

Summary of the original talk.
Iframe embedding the slides of the original talk.
Iframe embedding the video of the original talk published on YouTube on the Polkadot Events channel.

More details in the Dablock project tracking guide (sheet: Project Timeline ; weeks: 10 & 21)

All talks and resources presented during the Decoded 2024 edition in Brussels are also being published on the website under the Decoded tag. Also on the DOT Events sheet there are direct links to the slides of all the talks.

Sub0 resources: Dablock.com/web3-events/polkadot-sub0/
Decoded resources: dablock.com/web3-events/polkadot-decoded/

Sub0	Decoded
57	48

2.4 DablockDAO Community & Approach {#2.4-dablockdao-community-&-approach}

04/2024 ⇔ 05/2024

The original idea has always been to present DablockDAO as the representation of the community of dablock.com contributors, its related initiatives and individual creators.

So, where is DablockDAO?

If DablockDAO were to exist today, it would be a collection of several individual communities of creators (of content, art, products..). From the beginning, the management of a so-called DablockDAO was proposed on a renovated discord server from the former Artic Kusama (discord where several micro-micro-communities of NFT artists ended up grouping together at the end of the Kusama NFT era in mid-2022.) and to carry out a kind of migration of the latter's extinct nft artist communities and the also the content creators groups formed from the previous initiative of Creadores Web3 to DablockDAO.

In the end, the only thing this has generated is a major complication of the development of the project.

This only adds more responsibility and unnecessary complexities when trying to cover and rescue all types of ideas and initiatives that were started at some point.
When influencing so many groups with interests that are not directly related and that even speak in different languages, achieving effective communication becomes enormously complicated. Just like accommodating several different points of view and interests becomes complicated. In the end, trying to reach and please everyone has been the attitude that has most negatively affected the progress of the community around Dablock, as detailed in the Main Errors to Avoid section.
The idea was always originally to manage this DablockDAO completely autonomously through a membership system based on one or several NFT collections, a discord server and/or a small governance app on a subdomain of dablock.com. The objective, in addition to having this open, transparent and even gamified management based on a DAO, is to also combine both worlds of content creators and NFT communities, since I have always found it something very interesting. Honestly, this series of ideas has only ended up overcomplicating everything enormously, since I never managed to find either the right tools to apply what I had in mind or the interested/right collaborators for these tasks.

For this series of reasons, the creation of a formal DablockDAO has not been prioritized until now and all effort has been dedicated to generating a solid working base with the directory, the content and the web portal, since it is the part of the original proposal that give sense for all the rest tasks and provides real value to the ecosystem in the long term, also serving as a reference for future initiatives and teams.

As detailed in Future of Dablock, another way to generate this active community of collaborators in the directory, the content of the web, individual creators... It is from the migration of the directory to a public repository on github (and in the near future even the content of the website itself), allowing new collaborators to appear organically. Which is another new way from which to form the on-chain entity called DablockDAO in the near future, when there are better tools or interested collaborators appear.

3. VISION, OPENGOV & CONTENT I. {#3.-vision,-opengov-&-content-i.}

3.1 Input/Output Management for Creators

05/2024 ⇔ 07/2024

To obtain good criteria when curating and generating content, code, ideas... It is important to have good management of inputs or references that provide context and a solid starting point to develop a project and a professional workflow.

In the end, I have invested perhaps more time than necessary in the preparation and validation of strategies than in the application itself. Which does not have to be a bad thing, especially when you are starting any type of project, quite the opposite, but it has been counterproductive from a short-term business point of view when working in such a volatile industry. In any case, it's time to produce, publish, we will return to focusing on analysis and optimization in a few months.

There are two books that I would like to share, since they were helping me when it comes to clarifying ideas about organization and decision making: The PARA Method & Start with Why. When dealing with so many different tasks and responsibilities, without good organization it would be impossible to carry out this type of project with just one person in charge. In that regard, starting to organize all the work around the main Dablock Google Sheet has been a turning point in my workflow and helped me to focus on each different track of tasks.

Literally almost all the new content initiatives and creators that came to opengov (also those who did not show up at the end) asked me for my feedback and advice during the previous months before the launch of the first proposal for Dablock (weeks 1-5, resources and creators profiles reviews), although later very few actually followed my recommendations, especially after as I tried to disassociate myself from the diverse famous Telegram think tanks, since more than a debate it seemed like a civil war discussing the same issues that should have already been settled during the beginnings of OpenGov in Kusama, especially after all the work and reviews that some of us had already made at the time based on initiatives such as WM and CW3 (As a small example, this approach that I shared in 2023 to establish a Genearl Model for Content Creation Initiatives).

If during the first months after the approval of the proposal #240 I ended up having, as it is called today, a social "burnout", it is because I was not comfortable with how politicized and conflictive everything was becoming in the community. In addition to the pressure of wanting to deliver the best possible product, that's why I ended up investing so much time at first trying to improve the configuration of the production setup and workflow instead of pure content production.

At that moment I had just or was about to receive the funds to build the project that I had been working on/planning for quite some time and the truth was that I no longer feel the need to spend more time in the trending community groups/chats/forums for experts or attending creators/initiatives/teams who only followed recommendations until they got what they wanted from the OpenGov.

I focused on myself, on my project and on how to invest the newly obtained resources the best as possible on it, absolutely nothing else. I was really bored of participating in inefficient meetings and talks, even though those would be giving me business opportunities in the short term.

In fact, before the marketing bounty was activated and all the newcomers influencer agencies were established in the ecosystem, I was offered on more than one or two occasions, by several different parties, the job of representing a big part of all the spanish-speaking big influencers who have already applied to the marketing bounty during the last few months, and be able to take one of those succulent "agency fees", which were very fashionable while the bounty was not activated yet.

If I didn't do it, it is because, as I said, I did not have the monetary need as Dablock's proposal was about to be approved and because I did not agree with the work methodology or the proposals exposed by the biggest part of these profiles at that moment.

In that aspect, I continue to say that it is more interesting for this type of work done by the agencies to focus on attracting talent/creators/"influencers" with a technical background, not necessarily with content and audiences related to blockchain directly at the beginning.

Culture and education are not generated in the raw awareness layer, which is also very interesting and the basis for the others, but, for such a complex and niche "product", it does not seem to me to be the most profitable part of any outreach strategy in the medium-long term if only non-sustainable impacts over time are achieved.

That is, with this awareness give more visibility directly to the native media projects of the ecosystem. For example, having these external “KOLs”/”influencers” collaborate directly with current media teams/initiatives like The Kusamarian during certain periods of time. These types of strategies/campaigns are very common among influencers in more mainstream niches to expand communities or introduce creators to new related audiences. Another example could be that these influencers who provide that awareness generate pieces of content using as reference and linking/mentioning resources such as, for example, Polkadot Wiki resources, infographics created by Polkadot Insider, or even resources derived from the different editions of the PBA in the case of more technical creator profiles.

But hey, this is my point of view from the perspective of someone who is currently broke and who has always tried to generate stuff/business/projects from scenarios with the minimum possible and necessary resources. Although after looking at the budgets and expenses of some companies and national governments (which is what Polkadot most resembles) we must recognize that the politics world is very expensive and inefficient, especially in the early stages.

3.2 OpenGov Related Possible controversies

The DV and Voter Committees should be pristine with their activity on social networks from their official accounts when giving feedback or generating content related to projects and its proposals made to the treasury, especially those that are “native to the ecosystem”.

By this I mean that they should not be directly involved in controversies and trends that clearly seek only to generate attention and cheap engagement. Those who farm engagement by shilling memecoins on social networks are just as reckless as those who dedicate themselves to being “vigilators of OpenGov and the ecosystem full time”.

The duty of the DV and Voter Committees, in addition to participating in voting on proposals to the treasury, should be to offer support and direct communication channels with the projects they are monitoring.

My experience with DaBlock over the past months has been very mixed as could has been the public opinion. Without a doubt, from my point of view, there is a big difference especially between the “outreach/hr” proposals and the “infrastructure/development” proposals when considering public pressure when opting for OpenGov. -Although lately the gap may be closing (?). In any case, the more visible and public a work is and the more accessible and open the author is, the more eyes will believe they have the authority and knowledge to judge it without the need for deeper research.

3.3 Facilitate access to OpenGov for small initiatives

The truth is that it is a big problem when it comes to encouraging talent to choose to be supported by the treasury directly, as well as those who choose to be as transparent as possible, since you have to have a lot of security and serenity not to be influenced or pressured.

A lot of work must continue to try to make the process of participating and opting for OpenGov more friendly for current and potential initiatives that want to offer value to the ecosystem, especially in an industry so volatile and full of so many egos.

Accepting or requesting treasury support should not place such great pressure on active teams. I emphasize the importance that the DV and Voter Committees should try to encourage people to opt for the treasury and monitor the projects well, but not pressure or negatively influence them once they have started, especially without having a prior context or direct communication with the project team.

3.4 Bounties and the figure of the curator

In this aspect, perhaps it would be interesting to promote more the management of initiatives through Bounties and give more importance to the figure of the curator on the part of the community while requiring greater involvement, in order to have formal monitoring of the teams and power. maintain greater synergy with the different Voter Committees and opengov public forums such as AAG.

This monitoring and reporting task, in addition to being covered by these curators with their assigned initiatives, could also be covered in a more flexible and proactive way by other ecosystem initiatives such as OGTracker, OpenGov.Watch or the Anti-Scam Team.

In short, we should not have an aggressive position towards potential participants in the governance of Polkadot or Kusama, but instead try to support the talent that wants to develop small projects that may, or may not, scale to something more.

On the left: projects carefully devised in groups of experts. With more work time in chats, meetings and proposal drafts than in production time.
On the right: independent projects with individual goals that have been supported by Polkadot to launch, scale and maintain their sustainable and realistic tool/product/service that benefits the Polkadot ecosystem directly or indirectly.

3.5 Pending Words

With the latter of “non-aggressiveness” I emphasize the responsibility of especially the DVs, the Voter Committees or any highly influential participant in governance when developing their activity and avoiding making public comments lightly without prior knowledge that they may be lacking. Respect for those who are true productive agents of the ecosystem, not for aspiring political leaders or members of TG groups for “experts in especific topics”. The job of the DV, Voter Committees and any active participant in OpenGov is not to play vigilantes and engage farmers on social media platforms.

The Polkadot community and Web3 industry is not represented, and should not be, only on Twitter/X or any sm platform.
Decentralization does not mean having to meet for any possible reason and being transparent only when it is convenient and with whom it is interesting. Ignore endless meetings, love detailed public reports.
Escalating projects and learning to delegate does not mean deferring responsibilities to family and friends at random.
Being proactive or “agent” in the ecosystem does not mean having to give your opinion 24/7 on any type of topic, especially when there is not much to say.

I may seem a little annoying, excuse me. It is incredible how insulting it can be to expose yourself to the OpenGov, whether to request support for an idea, for a reward to be valued retroactively, or for a mix of both scenarios in the same proposal as should has been considered at first in my case with the #240. Even if there is almost unanimous initial support to an initiative/idea, it is exposing oneself to the eye of the hurricane.

Ecosystems with decentralized governance models need various types of leaders, with solid ideas and different currents of opinion, not an inefficient and constant synergy of different groups of manipulative and manipulated elements. Decentralized governance and politics should not be done purely either in meetings or on social networks.

Twitter/X, despite currently being the best medium to communicate quickly within the current small circles of influence in OpenGov, I personally consider that it is being a double-edged sword due to the ephemeral nature of the content on the platform.

I mean, we must learn from governance and the projects that are built in an open way thanks to it, if all the communications are made with an ephemeral tweet written simply advertising a project or a flow of ideas without a review in retrospect, in the end everything It will be an inefficient cycle of cheap political campaigns and a continued cannibalization of efforts.

This is where open communication channels, such as the official Polkadot forum, and different specific content/communication formats like the one raised by Kusamarian with AAG for more than 100 episodes, become crucial. While it is important to establish initial standards for the different proposal templates to be submitted to OpenGov, it is equally beneficial to also standardize common content formats and different distribution channels for a fluid, friendly, unconditional and regular communication between the various initiatives and the different communities that consolidate the state of Polkadot.

3.6 Polkadot OpenGov Trends

To start to conclude this section to talk about OpenGov, although I also maintain a favorable opinion regarding the support of initiatives of considerable magnitude, both in infrastructure and development tracks and in outreach, HR and especially education, without a doubt, from my perspective, the best strategy It would be to focus on promoting small initiatives and creators in the ecosystem (understand creators as a proactive and productive agent of the ecosystem, whether generating educational content, developing free software, etc.). ex-DV Kukaabi shared a point of view on Twitter in March that may seem similar to this approach I want to convey.

No matter how much noise and awareness that, for example, large sporting events may generate, we are certainly not at a point where that is interesting if the objective is to directly increase activity on the network in the short term, since we could consider that it is not our final target audience. If what we want is to increase activity in the network immediately as in other ecosystems, our target audience maybe should be bots (and liquidity), it's that simple.

In any case, from my point of view, of course these OpenGov initiatives driven by the community can be interesting to sponsor sporting events or, specifically, sport teams and elite athletes for other reasons. A great example is the great work that The Kusamarian has done covering the sponsorship of Conor Daly in the Indy 500. Combining these events with this type of campaigns also from Web3 initiatives and “KOLs” to produce derived content can be very interesting.

That is, thanks to the community and related/derived initiatives that arise in governance, perhaps the effectiveness of this type of sponsorship or outreach campaigns could be enhanced by being creative with related works such as the one mentioned above by The Kusamarian when covering these events and activities of the ecosystem.

3.7 Content Isolation & Niche Communities

A few years ago I was an active player of Life is Feudal MMO (best raw berserker worldwide 2019-2022), one of those niche hardcore online games that are barely still alive for a small community of players. Yes, those types of online communities from which dozens of social investigations could be derived, similar to what can be done with DAOs like Polkadot and Kusama, or, basically, any free software community that forms a varied ecosystem of collaborative elements between yes for long periods of time.

I like to make this comparison because with so much freedom, the politics of the Life is Feudal MMO were quite complex and changing considering so many different guilds and alliances. I would always have liked to know what its future would have been with a product development governed by a system like OpenGov, since a guild in an MMO is a very similar element to the groups that have ended up being defined as Voter Committees in the Polkadot ecosystem .

This is where we could also see the early state of the current OpenGov, where barely half a dozen Voter Committees participate. The true decentralization of the flows of ideas and opinions in the ecosystem will be seen when there are dozens and even hundreds of different Voter Committees actively participating in the different OpenGov tracks.

3.7.1 The Problem of Isolation of Niche Communities

Today the Life is Feudal MMO has reopened to the public under a new management and responsible team, yet only the exact same players who saw it born continue to play. Why isn't the base of new players increasing? Let's compare the responsible factors that did not grow the community of that MMO with Polkadot:

The inefficiency, poor management and constant changes in the direction of the MMO.
What if the direction of the project had been managed through an open governance system like OpenGov where active players/users participated in decision-making?
The incredibly complicated learning curve of this one.
What if the game interface had been improved and an easy and friendly initiation route had been proposed for new users/players?
The lack of progress in development.
And if it had been open-source, perhaps it would have been a different story?

From my point of view the Web3 industry and, especially Polkadot, has been and continues to be a niche project for hardcore users as LiF:MMO has been and continues to be (understood by users as developers/creators and clicks not coming from bots). OpenGov, fair communication, easy access and low maintenance costs can change that and scale the adoption of the technology and user base, but it is not something that has to be fast, nor have linear progress, nor have to force anyone to replicate strategies/behaviors (with their errors and benefits) of others similar ecosystems of the same niche.

Web3 Ecosystems & Hardcore MMOs Bubbles

What I always wanted to say is that not all projects or content need marketing campaigns only on Twitter/X to reach new audiences or generate value, and we should not always focus all our efforts on the same acquisition and loyalty channel, it is counterproductive , regardless of the many KOLs or “local communities” that are added to the basket.

The role that it is clear that Twitter/X plays right now is as perhaps the best means to conduct politics and influence the different influential elements of the ecosystem depending on the social node where an entity has ended up being introduced, but only that, please, Polkadot and the blockchain industry in general, we have to get out of the bubble of Twitter feeds and events. Which is fine, it is the best thing for a project in the short term to make itself known and have a presence in those channels, but why always do the same thing and replicate the strategies of some ecosystems among others over and over again?

Continuing with this comparison, it seems that, mainly, on Twitter/X, along with a combination of other platforms and events franchises, our own Web3 Industry Hardcore MMO has been generated with its peculiar bubble, made up of the different ecosystems that form it (alliances) and its different projects/communities (guilds), alongside with the different available activities like collaborations on public Github repositories (PVM) and the tremendously bored twitter spaces (PVP?).

3.7.3 PPC as a solution to outreach?

The fact that DOT seems relatively more “isolated” from other web3 communities is because until now they have had totally different natures (with the exception of a small group of Kusama degens a few years ago and the Moon “boys” (/river/beam /sama). And, above all, the difference in its beginnings when it comes to being able to interact with the network, we could consider that polkadot.js was the maximum killer of the normal user at the beginning, along with another series of factors that will be solved by complete with the Polkadot 2.0 model. Any product that requires more than 2 clicks and stopping more than 30 seconds to understand how to interact with it is a product that only its creators and hardcore gamers will like. It is exactly the same problem that occurs with the learning curve in the example with the MMO mentioned above when it comes to retaining new players/users.

By this, what I mean is that what will attract new users to the ecosystem and what “web3 adoption” will bring will never be PPC alone or large campaigns with influencers but:

1 - Good products that are easy and intuitive to use.
2 - Tools and resources that facilitate access to new developers and projects to work with Polkadot technology stacks.
3 - Leaders (creators) and native communities that inspire and generate culture about web3 and the importance of decentralization.

“Polkadot needs marketing.” Marketing for whom? Polkadot's target audience has been and continues to be creators with a minimum of technical profile, whether they are developers, students, complete projects, governments... but definitely not directly trading bots. Although perhaps the activity generated by the latter and this entire culture of speculators also enhances progress and adoption from the businesses and communities that are generated around them?

Of course, it is very interesting to attract all this mass of users (and bots) from other ecosystems with innovative DeFi products with good liquidity. To achieve that in the short term, the focus and starting point for new users (coming from EVM ecosystems), according to the network data, perhaps should continue to be the Moonbeam appchain? There are already countless different points of view and possible scenarios here, including the future deployment of Polkadot Plaza.

Here there are already an infinite number of different points of view and possible scenarios, including the future deployment of Polkadot Plaza, or even other products that already exist such as Hydration, among several others, so it is something that is difficult to speculate on. In any case, having several different solutions in the same ecosystem competing in the same sector should only be beneficial, especially due to the secure interoperability offered by Polkadot and XCM. The really interesting thing, in my opinion, is to see which of these solutions attract that mass of users and projects from other ecosystems, in this specific case especially those related to EVM, and which even generate totally new and innovative trends.

3.7.3 So, what is PPC for?

Yes, PPC helps collect data samples in short periods of time, but...

PPC is not a final solution to content and community isolation.
PPC does not generate organic communities, but rather helps to sell products/services/ideas.
PPC does not help generate organic visibility in the long term for content that does not cover a well-defined search intent.

Although certain PPC campaigns have been exceptionally successful for some teams within the ecosystem—such as The Kusamarian on X and Dotcast on YouTube—due to their high-quality work, well-defined products, and regular production capacity, these PPC campaigns are not the ultimate solution for the Polkadot community isolation.

I mean, these last two examples are generating good communities around their content thanks to the quality and consistency of their work, not due to the investment in PPC, although this can be a support to a greater or lesser extent at certain times for certain things.

Therefore, it is essential that new teams and content initiatives, especially aimed at education, also pay great focus on organic collaboration with other media, creators and projects in the ecosystem, while proposing sustainable workflows and content formats, trying to keep a low production cost in terms of time and investment necessary for each individual piece of content.

PPC != Communities
Consistent Business and Well Defined Products = Communities
For the adoption of complex niches such as decentralized ecosystems and technology, relying on big influencers for isolated campaigns promoting products or tokens for short periods is not the most effective approach in general. Instead, we should encourage more the emergence of dedicated and passionate communicators each one offering unique perspectives, ideas and employing diverse strategies and acquisition channels to grow their impact in the ecosystem in the long term.

3.8 Use of AI in Content / Marketing / Development Initiatives Funded by the Polkadot Treasury {#3.8-use-of-ai-in-content-/-marketing-/-development-initiatives-funded-by-the-polkadot-treasury}

Regarding the use of AI in the workflow of a content creator, developer, astronaut, or however you want to define the role of each one, it should be completely mandatory to implement in every workflow for a wide range of tasks. We must know how to use and implement all the tools that can speed up our work, especially when the difference is so great that now complete projects and products can be launched by a single person with patience and perseverance. Or at least manage to lower costs for projects formed by complete teams and not by lonely crazy people.

The use of AI should be used especially in almost all tasks related to transcription and writing. It should be completely mandatory to implement these tools in all marketing/content initiatives and train their directors/creators/whatever, so that they know how to implement them well in their workflow. And in case you think that Google and the rest of popular search engines end up knocking down content generated with AI. That is not entirely true, if Google (or any search engine) does not give visibility to a url/content, it makes no difference whether that content has been marked as generated by AI by a third-party tool such as the popular gptzero. If a piece of content does not rank it is mainly because it is simply of low quality or does not meet a specific search intention, or perhaps several other reasons, it is that simple.

3.9 OpenGov Vibes

Since the beginning of OpenGov and, especially since the appearance of new players in governance, specifically Giotto (among many others, but this has been the one that has had the greatest impact and accelerated the process), indirectly (and directly), they have speed up the polarization of the ecosystem in social networks, which, although the original intentions are good, a conflictive environment to external eyes is not attractive to attract talent organically, that is, without having to resort to agencies in the middle. The same for maintaining talent, it is not pleasant to build openly in a conflictive and polarized environment.

If from the beginning the integrity of the agents with proposals already approved by the treasury is doubted without worrying about doing a minimum of follow-up or asking the author/person in charge, in the end no productive agent (!=political) will have interest in continuing an extended professional career in the ecosystem if they do not even know how to correctly value their work or its impact by the responsible entities (in this specific case and the current state of OpenGov, the DVs and major stakeholders participating in governance).

This is why all DVs and other agents of the ecosystem (politicians) active on social networks, if they are really agents and not internet trolls, should help and support the initiatives of the ecosystem, not continually hesitate with publications calling grifters to the whole world, when really hardly any “thieves” have been seen in the treasury, what has been seen are inefficiencies, incompetence and fictitious economies derived from the social bubbles that are formed in the web3 industry in general, which they do not reflect in any way a real and efficient economy in most cases (which is not something alarming, since from what I am seeing, possible cost overruns are normal in all cutting-edge industries and compared to the most other blockchain ecosystems, Polkadot is clearly the most transparent and the one that iterates the fastest on the results that are obtained).

Every new proposal to the treasury should be celebrated by stakeholders! Just as treasury applicants should be excited and grateful to participate in the ecosystem, not be worried and afraid that “agents” or trolls on Twitter/X or closed groups of “experts” will try to misjudge and put obstacles in the way and activity of the managed initiatives.

To help solve this, it is important that initiatives such as the OGTracker or Opengov.Watch help make the ecosystem and opengov an efficient place, but above all pleasant, attractive and easy to access for current and future productive agents of the web3 industry. For this, logically, opengov monitoring/management initiatives such as those mentioned above are important to maintain, from neutrality, a deep knowledge of the entities that make up the ecosystem and the relationship between them.

As for the “ecosystem political players” who like to be proactive in governance forums almost full-time, it's great that they also help track proposals made to the OpenGov, of course, but not with the premise of carrying out “a witch hunt” to easy farm engagement on social networks, but with the premise of helping the proposals to communicate with the ecosystem, communicate possible complications, additional achievements... Improve communication between entities and monitor the different events, do not farm engagement. Twitter/X != Governance forum.

If the initiatives and “political agents” that monitor the proposals made to opengov and their impact are based only on identifying who is “good” or who is “bad”, then we would only continue promoting the polarization of the ecosystem, which will not go anywhere if it is continually encouraged.

Opengov != inefficiency

Another additional fact, when it comes to criticizing the performance of the proposals that have been approved in governance or are being approved, until now it is more than evident that the proposals executed during the management of the gov1 council are much less transparent and in more of a case pointed out as aberrantly more expensive and inefficient in terms of investment/impact (such as this example of a single video that cost $178k. Which is not to say that the hours of work dedicated are not worth it, perhaps, but, in any case, there is a lack of clear vision when executing certain “initiatives”). Therefore, try to encourage self-criticism and value how incredible the OpenGov model is and the opportunities it offers in the eyes of true productive agents of the industry who want to build openly, not in the eyes of “agents”/trolls of twitter.

OpenGov should only hope for more good agents opting for it with an idea to develop and a commitment to the ecosystem. What is not needed is more bureaucracy, nor another hundred directors/curators watching a dozen individuals work. We do not need everyone to have an opinion on all issues, nor for all initiatives to be directly related or conditioned to each other. An environment of collaboration and experimentation where different small projects are worked on that try to build a long-term future in the Polkadot ecosystem and Web3 industry in general.

From my point of view, the future Internet and Polkadot should not even need the role of politicians to approve and manage proposals, a large part of the process should be carried out semi-automatically with on-chain reputation systems and AI tools that facilitate the decision-making in governance based on the data input provided by the entities that make the proposals and a series of dynamic guidelines that the community establishes based on the output of the joint results of all the initiatives (something like the “OpenGov strategy” on which the OpenGov.Watch initiative works).

In short, there are many approaches that could be discussed to try to optimize the performance of the governance model and, above all, improve the experience of the entities that opt for it to finance their activity. We will see in the coming years how it evolves. In any case, I am convinced that the future of this lies in one or several on-chain reputation systems, specialized sub-treasuries, a more gamification and automation of a large part of management/monitoring tasks and optimistic financing models in a similar way to what was proposed recently in the Wish for Change track or worked an MVP a few years ago by Shokunin Network.

Conclusion

Without a doubt, proposing such a complex work, including such a number of elements and variables, is a titanic task to ensure that it is as up-to-date and correct as possible. I recommend reading the section of this document that explains the Main Errors to Avoid, Lessons Learned and Advice for New Web3 Adventurers and recommendations when proposing and starting the execution of a long term initiative, to obtain more context and suggestions when opting for Polkadot OpenGov.

[^1]: Note 1: The entire directory and research (1) is completely free to use so that other initiatives, media portals and creators can replicate, update and adapt it to their projects to generate their own ecosystem maps and derived content. The Dablock website (2) can also be taken as a reference to structure related content portals and learn from the experience of its management and strategy for its growth from all the reports and decisions shared publicly.

[^2]: Note 3: For the fields Specifications (3), Categories (4) and Subcategories (5), a final/continuous improvement to the terminology still would need to be made. It becomes complicated when classifying products that work with several different technologies or that migrate their tech stack more than one time, alongside with the regular appearance of new concepts.

[^3]: Note 5: Alternative sources for updating information such as chat groups on Matrix, Slack, TG and Discord could also be included, but we will ignore these due to the private nature of several of these, and also due to frequently being questionable or highly opinionated sources of information.

[^4]: Note 6: we are only talking about the portal structure and general issues, more profound changes in the technology to be used and automation of the portal will be discussed later in the Future of Dablock section*.*

[^5]: Note 6: Managing project deadlines based on when the granted resources stretched to the limit are exhausted is definitely not a good business or personal finance idea.

[^6]: Note 7: Excessive creativity and limitless options can lead to a loss of focus on what is most important: production. This can be particularly common in projects applying to OpenGov with long-term proposals, where decisions are influenced by a diverse range of entities with varying perspectives. This scenario requires optimization as different collectives and specialized sub-treasuries emerge, evolve, and mature, along with the development of new standards and common templates. The simpler and more specific, the more productive and the fewer headaches.

[^7]:

Dablock

Blueprint to Becoming a Top 1% Content Creator

1. Packaging: Thumbnail & Title 🎯

2. Content Structure 📚

3. Production Quality 🎤

4. Workflow & Publishing 🚀

5. Hooks & Intros 🎬

6. Scripting & Story ⭐

7. Editing & Pacing ✂️

8. On-Screen Design & Captions 🎨

9. Calls to Action & Retention 🔁

10. Analytics & Iteration 📊

11. SEO & Metadata 🔎

12. Cross-Platform Distribution ♻️

13. Community & Social Proof 🤝

14. Pre-Publish Checklist ✅

15. Reusable Template 🧩

Stop Comparing YouTube Views to X Impressions

1. 📊 What “Impressions” Actually Mean

2. 🎯 How CTR Converts to Views

3. ⏱️ Watch Time = Real Impact

4. 🏆 Why YouTube Usually Wins for Long-Form Creators

5. ✍️ The Takeaway

YouTube Video Creation Guide 2025

1. Choosing the Right Topic & Concept

2. Crafting a Click-Worthy Title

3. Designing a Thumbnail That Gets Clicks

4. Nailing the Video Hook (First 30 Seconds)

5. Script & Story Structure

6. Editing for Engagement

7. Production Quality

8. Optimization for Maximum Reach

9. Edition vs. Connection

Final Checklist

Comprehensive Content Review Framework

Video Content Review Guide

1. Types of Content by Purpose

A. Informative

B. Educational

C. Engagement-Based

2. Types of Content by Format

A. Long-form vs. Short-form

B. Series vs. Standalone

C. Live Content

3. SEO & Discoverability Optimization

4. Additional Considerations

5. Evaluation Criteria

💪 Difficulty Level

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✂️ Editing Quality

📚 References

💬 Commentary

Bonus Evaluation Criteria

🌟 Current Impact

♻️ Evergreen Content

Diversify Your Content Marketing Strategy

The Short Lifespan of X Content

The Lasting Impact of Long-Form Platforms

X as a Powerful Distribution Channel—Not the Main Stage

Balancing Immediate Impact with Long-Term Growth

Conclusion

Marketing 420 For Decentralized Networks

Table of contents:

Make it Simple: Culture & Hardcore Niches

Technical Enhancements

Social Dynamics

The Problem with Content Distribution Channels

Twitter as a double-edged sword

Short Formats Fever

Audience Who? Influencer Who?

KPIs and On-chain/Off-chain Metrics Manipulation

Identifying Metrics Manipulation

Is the manipulation of these metrics really a bad practice?

Understanding the Real KPIs

Content Initiatives Framework

Types of Content Creation Initiatives

1. Project-Focused (CCI-A)

2. Focused on Creators and Original Content (CCI-B)

3. Independents (CCI-C)

The Need for Formal CCI Categorization