⚫️ In the previous issue of our #opinion column, we wrote about what could change the current deplorable situation in TON. Now we will supplement this with another answer.
⚫️ A giant problem with TON, rarely talked about: if the goal is to "bring mass users," then the onboarding process for newcomers is simply broken and prevents this from happening.
⚫️ Imagine "Average Joe," far removed from crypto. He opens, for example, @wallet for the first time. He sees "Crypto" and "TON" tabs. And he thinks:
I don't understand, is TON not crypto?
I don't understand, why is Toncoin also on the Crypto tab?
I don't understand, why is USDT on both tabs?
I don't understand, which one should I use?
Answers are not quickly found. And then it's easiest for Joe to close his wallet and continue using fiat. And how can we then expect an influx of mass users?
⚫️ This is not a criticism of Wallet specifically, because a similar situation exists everywhere. "Joe" might have Telegram gifts, which can be converted to NFTs, and this would be useful for TON. But where will he see a clear explanation of "How and why to convert to NFT"? And if nowhere, how can we then expect on-chain activity?
⚫️ Meanwhile, answers do exist on the internet. We ourselves have explained non-custodial wallets and NFT gifts. But how would Joe, who just opened Wallet or his gifts, know "my question was answered in The Daily TON a year ago"?
⚫️ And so, a paradox emerges: thousands of explanatory texts have already been written about TON, but there's nothing for a newcomer to read. Because when a newcomer has a question, they don't dig through Telegram channel archives from five years ago. If it's not easily searchable within a minute, it's easier for them to leave TON.
⚫️ Well, we've complained enough, but how do we save TON? Two ideas come to mind:
1. Create an official Telegram bot "TON for Newcomers," where a small gamified course answers the main initial questions. Give some nice achievement for completing it. And link to it in all official resources, saying "start here." So that there's a link in the center of the main page of ton.org.
2. Create an official Telegram bot "TON GPT," capable of answering newcomers' questions using AI. "Vasya" understands the format "when in doubt, ask ChatGPT." And Telegram as a messenger is ideally suited for this format.
🔥 But specific implementations may vary. The general idea is: if you want Joe from Telegram to come to TON, you need to create an onboarding process so that he doesn't get stuck along the way. Currently, he does get stuck.
@thedailyton