<center>https://www.steemimg.com/images/2016/07/20/PRIVATE-MEMBERS-ONLY-SIGN-9046-300x20545fb0.jpg
by @cryptoctopus</center>

Yesterday, because of the impressive amount of people sign ups, steemit decided to closed it's door and have this whenever someone is trying to sign up:

<center>https://www.steemimg.com/images/2016/07/20/sign-up21c42.png</center>

Many people may think that it is a terrible thing that could harm the growth of the community. I, on the other hand...**I'm doing the happy dance!** Let me explain...

In a [very early article I wrote about Pinterest growth hacking strategy](https://steemit.com/steem-marketing/@cryptoctopus/growth-hacking-we-can-learn-from-pinterest), I exposed one of the best strategy ever used for a new and budding social media platform. To this day, Pinterest was the fastest growing social media platform to launch.

# The "Private Club" Effect

Do you remember when you couldn't simply "sign in" to Pinterest but had to request an invitation? That was brilliant. I know it sounds completely counter-intuitive but bear with me. Why would a platform that intend on [world domination](https://steemit.com/steem/@dan/steemit-s-evil-plan-for-cryptocurrency-world-domination) would want to make itself exclusive?

**Because early adopters are driven by three main motivations: INFORMATION, NOVELTY, AND STATUS**

<center>https://img0.steemit.com/0x0/https://box.everhelper.me/attachment/477560/7443bad0-0bc0-4ca2-acff-4c710bd8a887/343907-v851U4lKKkw7XqPx/screen.png</center>

You have to consider that we are not at the stage of marketing to the whole world. We are after the "innovators" and the "early adopters". This group of people respond to very different emotional triggers than the masses. [Scarcity](https://steemit.com/marketing/@cryptoctopus/the-cliffsnotes-on-the-6-principle-of-influence-by-robert-cialdini) is one of the best growth hacking strategy to increase the perceived value on a product or service. 
<center><h3>It's The VIP Effect.</h3>
https://www.steemimg.com/images/2016/07/20/bait873ab.gif</center>

# Controlled Growth

So by having a "under invitation only", Steemit is on the bleeding edge of technology and cryptocurrency. **There are people out there who do not want it to succeed**...a behaviour that is unfortunately too frequent. Steemit is a big threat to other cryptocurrencies because it could literally make it mainstream where the others couldn't. What is most important right now above all other functions is security of funds...everything else needs to wait. 

The mainstream user cannot bear to have their funds stolen at any time. It would be disastrous if it were to occur later on when there are millions of users online.

# Double Whammy 

By controlling the inflow of new users, collect emails and put the platform under invitation only; steemit is poised to create a craze like we've never seen before! The honey pot is too big and the access to it is restricted! 
If this process is done right, it's the best marketing strategy steemit can employ to create a stampede of users like we've never seen before.

<center><h3>On that...I'm leaving you with a happy dance.</h3>
https://www.steemimg.com/images/2016/07/20/happydance1b2ce.gif</center>