Arweave TX
Paragraph.xyz is a web3 content platform competing with other content community tools like Substack, Converkit, and Beehiiv. At the most basic level, it gives creators newsletter functionality -- but it has many layers of NFT integrations and composability hidden beneath surface. After playing with it, I'm convinced that it's a fully-featured community platform with a lot of potential for expansion and growth.
@colinarms Fred Furas
@Roder1k @Lemniscap @BinanceLabs @seedclubvc @Sfermion_
1) The writing experience! To me this is the first priority for any content platform. In fact, I wrote this post on Paragraph first just to test it out. It's beautifully designed with great fonts, spacing, and it just feels clean. (Don't worry, dark mode worked perfectly. 😅) Tiny request: Built-in emoji selector.
2) There a TON of web3 functionality. Feature-wise they support: token-gating, airdrops, minting content (written & audio) as NFTs, collectible essays, time-limited NFTs, NFT subscriptions... AND subscribe via XMTP. The last point in particular feels huge, since wallet addresses are an integral part of ownership and identity. All of this in addition to competitive feature parity with web2 content platforms.
3) Composability. As I dug through the user docs, it was pretty clear that Paragraph is not building a walled garden. They have integrations with protocols like Super-fluid, Unlock, Farcaster. And partnerships with Coinvise, Clubs.link, and Unstoppable Domains. (I'm not certain to what degree they have technically integrated with these, just that they have stated partnerships.) Main point: They are fully embracing the composability of web3 and I think that only bodes well for the customizability of their platform in the future.
1) Right now, it feels like a very capable newsletter platform with some extra functionality. Over time, I'd love to see them embrace features/functionality that build out aspects of the community -- more back and forth communication between creators & fans (or fan-to-fan), profiles to see biggest community supporters, And generally lots of ways for audience members to have their voices heard.
2) I know that all of this amazing web3 functionality exists because I read about it in their docs. But as I navigated the admin dashboard, not all of this was clear. I would love for them to find simple ways to prompt me to enable token features with my audience. e.g. "would you like to gift a token to first time subscribers?" "you might want to launch a special newsletter only available to long-time subscribers". Almost like a web3 community AI coaching me on the sidelines. But it could be as simple as clear onboarding and education.
3) One of the biggest challenges for creators is actually finding and growing their audiences. I think this is why ConvertKit and Beehiiv have been so successful with their built-in referral, sponsor network, and "boost" mechanisms. I saw that Paragraph does integrate with ShareMint.xyz for referrals, but I'd love to see them add any tools or features that help creators leverage platform network effects to help each other grow, as ConvertKit and Beehiiv have done.
This was all around a super solid product. It looks like they are crushing it with a small team, and the product is very well executed. I'm excited to see how they grow and I highly recommend this to anyone who wants a content platform to build on!