Simplifying Onboarding: The Key to Blurt's Growth

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Hi, fellow Blurtians!

Creating an account on a blockchain is not an easy task, especially for those new to Web3. On Blurt, the challenges are even greater due to the complexity of managing multiple keys and the limited accessibility of existing account creation tools.

Blockchain technology holds incredible potential, but it often comes with a steep learning curve. For newcomers, even the simple act of creating an account can feel daunting. This is especially true for blockchains like Blurt, where users must not only understand the concept of private and public keys but also navigate interfaces that are sometimes unintuitive, buggy, or incomplete.

Why does this matter?
Onboarding isn't just a technical hurdle—it’s the first impression users have of a blockchain. If the process is too complex or confusing, many potential users will simply give up before they’ve even started. Worse, those who do manage to create an account might feel overwhelmed by the experience, reducing their likelihood of becoming active, engaged members of the community.

So, how can we fix this?
The solution lies in creating an onboarding process that is simple, intuitive, and welcoming—a process that not only lowers the barrier to entry but also sets new users up for success. This is precisely why I’ve been working on Join Blurt Blockchain, a dApp designed to streamline account creation on Blurt while addressing its most pressing challenges.

In this post, I’ll walk you through the current state of onboarding on Blurt, analyze the tools currently available, and present Join Blurt Blockchain as a proof of concept for a better, more inclusive onboarding experience.

Analysis of Onboarding and Retention

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The success of any blockchain is heavily tied to its ability to onboard and retain users. For Blurt, this process remains a critical challenge.

1. Total Accounts Created

Since the fork from the Steem blockchain in 2019, a total of 1,397,559 accounts have been created on Blurt. However, the vast majority of these accounts (98.6%) were migrated automatically from Steem. Only 19,433 accounts have been actively created on Blurt since 2020, highlighting the need for better onboarding strategies to attract new users.

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2. Monthly Account Creation in 2024

In 2024, the rate of new account creation remains low. Below is the monthly breakdown:

• Top months: February (161 accounts) and January (106 accounts).
• Lowest months: May (15 accounts) and August (17 accounts).

This data indicates that user acquisition on Blurt is not consistent and shows a declining trend during the year.

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3. Annual Account Creation Since the Fork

Looking at the yearly data, we can see a clear decline in account creation after 2022:

• 2022: 2,492 accounts created.
• 2023: 1,187 accounts created.
• 2024 (so far): 689 accounts created.

This downward trend suggests that the current tools and processes for onboarding new users are insufficient to drive growth and the urgent need to revamp the onboarding process to attract more users.

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4. Retention of Accounts Created in 2024

For the 689 accounts created in 2024, here is the breakdown based on their activity:

• 45.9% (316 accounts): No posts published.
• 6.0% (41 accounts): Only one post published.
• 10.3% (71 accounts): Published fewer than 5 posts.
• 37.9% (261 accounts): Published more than 5 posts.

This data highlights two critical points:

1. Low initial engagement: Nearly half of the accounts (45.9%) remain completely inactive, suggesting that many users drop off shortly after account creation.

2. Active contributors: A promising 37.9% of accounts have published more than five posts, showing potential for long-term engagement if onboarding is done right.

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Key Takeaways

These findings emphasize the urgent need to improve the onboarding process on Blurt. A streamlined and intuitive account creation experience, paired with better user support and engagement strategies, is essential to reduce inactivity rates and foster long-term retention.

With tools like Join Blurt Blockchain, we aim to address these challenges and create a smoother pathway for new users to join and thrive within the Blurt ecosystem.

Existing Account Creation Methods

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At the moment, anyone wishing to create a Blurt blockchain account has the following options:

1. Official Blurt Discord

Users can request an account in the account-creation channel on the official Blurt Discord server.

Advantages:

• Free account creation.
• Comes with a small amount of BLURT tokens to get started.

Disadvantages:

• Requires a Discord account.
• Users must be familiar with Discord.
• Dependent on the availability of an admin to process requests.

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2. JoinBlocks: Pay with Crypto

URL: https://joinblocks.org/blurt/crypto
Maintainer: @symbionts

This service, while initially promising, is buggy and appears abandoned. Users face numerous issues such as:

• Fixed account creation fee of 10 BLURT.
• ReCaptcha errors (ERROR for site owner: Invalid site key).
• Backend exceptions during the process, as shown below:

ArgumentCountError
Too few arguments to function App\Http\Requests\CryptoOrderRequest::Illuminate\Foundation\Providers\{closure}(), 0 passed in /var/joinblocks/vendor/laravel/framework/src/Illuminate/Macroable/Traits/Macroable.php on line 124 and exactly 1 expected

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3. JoinBlocks: Use Your Blurt Account

URL: https://joinblocks.org/blurt/blurt

This method suffers from similar issues. Attempts using WhaleVault or invalid active keys fail without any feedback, leaving users uncertain whether the service is operational.

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4. JoinBlocks: Pay with Credit Card or PayPal

URL: https://joinblocks.org/blurt/order

Despite ReCaptcha errors, this method appears to function correctly. However, I have not fully tested the process, so its reliability remains unclear.

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5. Blurt Wallet: Blurt Account Creation

URL: https://selfhelp.blurtwallet.com/
Maintainer: @blurtofficial

This is perhaps the most professional-looking option currently available. However, there are significant limitations:

• The displayed account creation fee (10 BLURT) on signup.blurtwallet.com is inaccurate.
• Users must already have a Blurt account to create a new one, which defeats the purpose for new users.

Advantages:

• Officially supported by Blurt.

Disadvantages:

• Limited accessibility for first-time users.

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6. BlurtCreator: Free Account Creation

URL: https://blurtcreator.intinte.org/
Maintainer: @fervi

This third-party tool was once a promising option for free account creation. However, it no longer works due to hardcoded fees (10 BLURT) and other limitations.

Advantages:

• Free accounts available when operational.

Disadvantages:

• Unavailable if funds are depleted.
• No username availability check before validation.
• Requires users to share their email address.

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Analysis of Current Options

The current account creation methods on the Blurt blockchain are far from optimal or user-friendly. Many of the available solutions are either:

• Non-functional.
• Too complex for newcomers.
• Dependent on third-party services that are unreliable or abandoned.

This state of affairs negatively impacts Blurt's growth, as account creation is a crucial entry point for attracting and retaining new users. Without a seamless and modern onboarding experience, potential Blurtians may never fully engage with the platform.

Join Blurt Blockchain was designed to address these shortcomings, providing a streamlined, user-friendly solution to create accounts and foster long-term engagement.

Proof of Concept

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Join Blurt Blockchain, accessible at https://join.blurt-blockchain.com, is currently a Proof of Concept in the development and testing phase. As such, I cannot guarantee that the application is fully functional or free from bugs at this stage. It is primarily intended to serve as a demonstration of its features and potential. Think of it as an early access version!

Designed as a modern account creation application built with Angular, Join Blurt Blockchain offers a guided and intuitive experience for users who want to join the Blurt blockchain.

With support for 12 languages, it ensures that users from diverse backgrounds can easily understand and navigate the account creation process.

The application introduces several key features, including:

Referral System

The referral system allows referrers to earn a percentage of the rewards from every post published by their affiliates. Referrers are identified via the r= parameter in the URL (e.g., https://join.blurt-blockchain.com?r=nalexadre).

To enable better analysis and categorization of referrals, an additional cid= parameter can be used (e.g., https://join.blurt-blockchain.com?r=nalexadre&cid=twitter).

For more details on the referral system on Blurt, you can read my post:
[Blurt Nexus] Creating an affiliate account.

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Coupon System

The coupon system allows referrers to offer free Blurt account creations to their communities, such as on social media platforms. This is achieved through a system of prepaid accounts and coupons, enabling community members to easily create their accounts without any upfront payment. The affiliate platform supporting this feature is currently under development.

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The application goes a step further by allowing account creation through direct payments in HIVE or STEEM (direct transfer, Hive Keychain extension, Hive Keychain Wallet App, Whalevault), facilitating the transition from these two sister blockchains to BLURT. Additionally, it supports payments via Bitcoin (using the Lightning Network)—a feature that will certainly delight @offgridlife—and BNB (currently under study), opening up Blurt to a much broader audience.

Thanks to its modular architecture, as shown in the diagram below, Join Blurt Blockchain offers excellent scalability and flexibility for future enhancements.

But enough talking—let's dive into how Join Blurt Blockchain works by exploring some real-world account creation scenarios.

Case 1: Hive

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A Hive blogger reaches out to me and asks how to create a Blurt account. I provide them with the following link:
https://join.blurt-blockchain.com?r=nalexadre&cid=december2024

Upon arriving on the app, the first step is to choose a username. As the user begins typing, a real-time availability check is performed. If the username is available, a button appears to confirm their choice.

Once they validate their choice, they move to Step 2, where they download their account keys.

After downloading their keys, the app displays the payment options and a field to enter a coupon if they have one.

Since they have some HIVE in their wallet, they decide to pay using HIVE. Clicking on "Pay By HIVE" opens a new window showing the current Hive blockchain block number in real-time. The user is prompted to make a transfer of 6.163 HIVE to @join.blurt with the memo 7365928a0769112594e151c3. The window also informs them that approximately 500 BLURT (depending on account creation fees at the time) will be transferred to their account to help them start blogging with enough funds. For reference, the conversion from BLURT to HIVE is calculated in real-time using data from Probit.

The user can then either make a manual transfer from their Hive wallet or use tools like the Hive Keychain extension or the Hive Wallet Keychain app by entering their Hive username.

If they choose to use the Hive Wallet Keychain app (HiveAuth-compatible), they simply need to enter their Hive username and click the "HiveAuth-compatible app" button. This generates a QR code that they scan using the Hive Wallet Keychain app on their smartphone. Once scanned, they can confirm the payment within the app.

Once the transaction is detected on the Hive blockchain (thanks to the memo), the window closes, and the following actions are completed automatically:

1. Account creation on Blurt.
2. Transfer of BLURT to the new account.
3. Association of the account with the referrer.

This seamless process demonstrates the power of Join Blurt Blockchain in bridging the gap between Hive and Blurt, making onboarding effortless and intuitive for users from sister blockchains.

Case 2: Bitcoin

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A user clicks on my affiliate link for creating a Blurt account:
https://join.blurt-blockchain.com?r=nalexadre&cid=medium202412, which I included in my Medium article highlighting the advantages of the Blurt blockchain.

The process is similar to Case 1: Hive, with the user first selecting a username, downloading their account keys, and then reaching the payment options page.

However, instead of choosing HIVE, the user clicks on the "BTC - Lightning Network" button. This opens a new window displaying a QR code for the invoice, automatically generated on the Lightning Network. The user simply scans the QR code using their Bitcoin Lightning-enabled wallet to complete the payment.

Once the payment is confirmed on the Lightning Network, the account creation process begins automatically. This includes:

1. Account creation on the Blurt blockchain.
2. Transfer of BLURT to the new account.
3. Association of the account with the referrer.

Current Status: Please note that this module is still under development and debugging, and I have temporarily deactivated it in the app. However, this functionality represents an exciting step forward, as it allows users to create Blurt accounts using Bitcoin Lightning, broadening accessibility for a global audience.

Case 3: Free Coupon

I post a tweet offering the first five users the opportunity to create a free account on Blurt by using the coupon code "TWEET2024". The tweet includes the following affiliate link:
https://join.blurt-blockchain.com?r=nalexadre&cid=medium202412&coupon=TWEET2024.

Note the additional coupon parameter in the URL (coupon=TWEET2024).

When a user clicks on the link, the process follows the same flow as in the previous cases:

1. The user selects their username.
2. The app verifies the availability of the username in real-time.
3. The user downloads their account keys.

However, since the coupon parameter is included in the link, the Free Coupon field is automatically pre-filled with the code. As a result, the app only displays the "Create Account" button, skipping all payment options.

The user simply clicks the button, and their account is created for free. The process is seamless and requires no additional effort from the user.

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Why Coupons Matter

This coupon system is particularly useful for engaging with communities on social media platforms like Twitter. By offering free account creation to a limited number of users, referrers can attract more people to the Blurt blockchain, encouraging adoption and fostering loyalty among new users.

Work in Progress

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To transition Join Blurt Blockchain from a Proof of Concept to a production-ready application, the following tasks are currently being worked on:

1. Finalizing the test suite for account creation on the modules that are already operational, including payments via BLURT, HIVE, and STEEM.

2. Completing and testing the Bitcoin payment module using the Lightning Network and a self hosted BTCPay Server for the management of invoice.

3. Evaluating the interest of adding BNB as a payment method to expand accessibility further.

4. Adding a redirect link to Blurt frontends at the end of the account creation process (potentially with an auto-login feature for added convenience).

5. Finalizing the coupon and referral management system, with the latter likely to be included as a post-production add-on.

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This roadmap highlights the remaining steps to deliver a fully functional application while ensuring a seamless and user-friendly experience. The focus remains on reliability, scalability, and expanding accessibility to attract new users to the Blurt blockchain.

Conclusion

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The Blurt blockchain has immense potential to grow and attract new users, but the onboarding process remains a critical challenge. With Join Blurt Blockchain, I aim to simplify account creation, integrate modern payment options, and provide tools like referral and coupon systems to make Blurt more accessible to everyone.

This is still just the beginning! As a Proof of Concept, there is plenty of room for improvement, and your input is invaluable to help refine this application and make it a game-changer for the Blurt ecosystem.

What do you think of the features and examples shared in this post?

• Is there a particular feature you would like to see added?
• Do you have suggestions on how we can make the onboarding process even better?

Your feedback is crucial to shaping the future of Join Blurt Blockchain. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below! 🚀

Have fun on Blurt 🎉
@nalexadre
Witness (Blocks producer)
& developper on Blurt

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Backing my Witness:

It only takes a click since you're entitled to 30 witness votes with your Blurt account. Even if I'm already in the top 20 and it won't generate more BLURT for me, it will secure my position, and it's always appreciated.

via BeBlurt: https://beblurt.com/@nalexadre/witness
via Wallet: https://blurtwallet.com/~witnesses?highlight=nalexadre

Making a Difference with a Donation:

This blockchain is our community, and your donation, via a transfer to my @nalexadre account with "donation" in the memo, helps fuel ongoing initiatives.

Your active participation fuels these initiatives and ensures the continued growth of our Blurt community. Let's make a difference together!