If Bitcoin stands any chance of growing, it needs to be known. This is where Bitcoin evangelists come in, who are responsible for promoting a wider scale adoption and use of the cryptocurrency. The initial signs are promising as the crypto’s awareness and ownership is going up. Still these are drops in the ocean if Bitcoin -or any cryptocurrency- is to really succeed.
What is a Bitcoin Evangelist?
I have drawn religious parallels to Bitcoin in the past, and this is no exception. A traditional evangelist is an individual who goes into areas that has generally low densities of their religious faith and they attempt to convert as many of the people who live and work there. They are not dissimilar to a sort of religious, traveling salesperson. They go where they are needed to “spread the word.”
While I have neither the time nor the desire to comment on whether or not religions should be doing that sort of thing, I do think that Bitcoin can benefit from this sort of direct and targeted marketing of itself. A Bitcoin Evangelist, then, is an individual who approaches businesses, communities, and individuals who may not necessarily be aware of or convinced by Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
Whether it is a business looking to a secure payment solution, a marketing firm looking to bring itself into the digital era, or a local community center trying to teach some of its members more about computing and the Internet, Bitcoin Evangelists are badly needed. A great way to look at it is by subtracting the percent of the population that knows about or owns Bitcoin, then see for yourself the vast expanses of opportunity.
How to be a Bitcoin Evangelist
So you want to do your part and help spread the word, but do not know exactly how to get started. Well it is not as daunting of a task as you may expect, but it is still an important one. You do not have to be the next Satoshi Nakamoto or Gavin Andresen to be able to bring Bitcoin into people’s lives. The Merkle has posted a few posts about commonly asked questions that you can arm yourself with to field the questions you are likely to hear.
One way that I like to disseminate information about Bitcoin is via various workplace enrichment programs. Many offices and employers have something similar, and it may be worth exploring how you can teach a Bitcoin Beginners class. The first time I held a rather informal version of this at a workplace of mine, I was surprised by the turnout and engagement. Many people want to learn, but more than anything they want someone to teach them.
Similarly, community centers that offer computer classes, colleges whose departments are searching for a speaker, and various other meetup groups may be keen to have a Bitcoin evangelist like you come and speak to them about the future of currency.
What I mean to say here is that you do not need to be the most knowledgeable about FinTech or the code behind cryptos themselves, people just need to understand the basics of how Bitcoin works and how to use it. However, you do need to put in the effort to help grow this community and push this currency into wider adoption. We need more Bitcoin Evangelists.
If you liked this article, follow us on Twitter @themerklenews and make sure to subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest bitcoin, cryptocurrency, and technology news.
