If you’re looking to forge a new career, crypto marketing is worth considering. The cryptoverse is expanding at an astronomic rate, with no sign of slowing down. But with more projects than ever looking to stand out in a rapidly growing sector, how can organizations make sure theirs is a success?
What’s the difference between crypto marketing and traditional marketing?
The single greatest difference between traditional and crypto marketing is product knowledge. Sure, to sell or promote anything requires a basic understanding of the subject and product. However, when it comes to crypto, DeFi and blockchain, basic marketing knowledge won’t cut it.
The first thing on any aspiring crypto marketer’s to-do list is getting up to speed on DeFi as a whole. There are tons of books, tutorials and guides available, whether you want physical versions or digital ones. There are also dozens of channels on social media platforms featuring weeks’ worth of content covering the entire history of blockchain and DeFi. So, dig in and read up.
A token gesture
Next, dip your toe in the crypto-pond. I’m not suggesting you give up your day job and plow your life savings into Bitcoin, but it’s a good idea to register a wallet and throw a few bucks into a handful of tokens. It’s impossible to understand the intricacies of blockchain if you haven’t dabbled a little.
Getting a handle on the future
Now that you understand the crypto sector, you’ll need to know what’s coming. DeFi, Web3 and blockchain technology are progressing at a tremendous rate. Understanding the status quo isn’t enough to keep up the pace as a crypto marketer.
To stay ahead, you’ll need to know what’s coming next. Get on Reddit, Telegram, Twitter, Medium and Discord and be involved in as many relevant groups as you can. A group’s relevance will become apparent as your knowledge grows; but the key to understanding crypto is learning to separate fact from fiction, so set your common sense to high alert.
Cutting through the static
Once you’ve got a handle on the cryptoverse, memorized the glossaries, got your head around the core principles and are in the loop, it’s time to send out some signals. Those with marketing experience already can skip the next few paragraphs, but for everyone else, here are a couple of ways to get your name out there:
• Start your own blog or Medium page and begin creating and sharing your own content.
• Search for blogs and sites looking for content.
Here be dragons
Before you attempt to do either, it is critical to exercise extreme caution when composing your first article. You will have no doubt heard many people refer to the blockchain space as a frontier world, a lawless place or even The Wild West. These metaphors refer to the sector’s decentralized and unregulated nature. As you grow as a crypto marketer, you’ll learn that the vast majority of the industry is honest, decent and forward-facing. However, not everyone is.
Among the movers, shakers, thinkers and coders, you’ll find a variety of bad actors. It’s your responsibility as a crypto marketer not to amplify any of their selfish, shady agendas. The key to staying in the light is research. Take extra care to trace any news you share to a legitimate source.
Many influencers, projects, journalists and marketers have been brought down by tarring themselves with their own brush. In short, the crypto-sphere is no place for blaggers. In addition, don’t speculate on tokens, coins or projects. Some may take this as financial advice, and there are rules about being a financial advisor. Frankly, you’ll have enough on your plate as it is, so it’s important to avoid this.
Door one or door two?
If you opt for your own blog, start by registering a good “.io” domain name. These domains are the preferred choice for tech and DeFi projects, and many more domain names are available than traditional “.com” names, so you can pick up something short and snazzy. Plus, Google thinks highly of (dot) IO sites, and you’ll get some preferential treatment over other country-code domains because it’s viewed as a generic domain.
If you choose door number two and want to write for blogs or sites looking for content, look for style or submission guides. We mentioned it above, but the crypto-verse runs on frontier law. Since most sites are wary of promoting the more precarious aspects of the space, you’ll save yourself a lot of effort if you write to their specific guidelines rather than having to edit your piece afterward to fit their guidelines.
Be respectful
Whichever route you take, as a rule, avoid speculating, never spread gossip and don’t put organizations or individuals down.
Understand that a lot can happen in a week in crypto
The final piece of the puzzle is understanding the few ever-shifting rules, laws and regulations that govern the crypto space. These rules change often and what’s legal today may be illegal later — and, of course, vice versa. Remember, ill-judged marketing has cost more than one crypto project their Twitter handle and other social media profiles.
Skipping to the end
There are other ways to get involved in the crypto marketing world. Online courses are popping up, and traditional agencies may accept experienced marketers interested in the field. Whatever road you take, you can be certain there’s a place for you if you stick to the right path.
Tim stepped into the crypto world in 2017 and never looked back. He’s now CEO of crypto and NFT marketing agency, Lunar Strategy.
This article was published through Cointelegraph Innovation Circle, a vetted organization of senior executives and experts in the blockchain technology industry who are building the future through the power of connections, collaboration and thought leadership. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Cointelegraph.
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