I see huge potential in that little zap space. Think about it: thousands of users competing to advertise under nostr:npub1sg6plzptd64u62a878hep2kev88swjh3tw00gjsfl8f237lmu63q0uf63m's note. Whoever wins gets a temporary reservation until someone beats the highest bidder and takes over the spot. The best part? The money goes directly to the person who owns the note—no middleman, no bank, no Elon Musk to beg for shared revenue. This is the creator economy at its finest.
When Nostr gains more popularity and achieves wider adoption, the zap advertising section where users can add their text, URLs, and brands along with their zaps will become some of the most valuable advertising spots on the internet. Whoever creates the best UI will win the race. For now, it’s nostr:npub12vkcxr0luzwp8e673v29eqjhrr7p9vqq8asav85swaepclllj09sylpugg leading the way.
Discussion
Whether you accept it or not, adoption requires motivation. Increasing creators' revenue through zap advertising is one of the strongest value propositions. Take OnlyFans, for example: its popularity isn’t because everyone earns a million dollars a month, but because it offers an equal opportunity for anyone to succeed. What you create and how much you earn is entirely up to you.
Nostr should focus its value proposition on maximizing creator revenue. Nostr's unique advantage is that creators own their content and they cannot be de-platformed. This is an added layer of value that Nostr guarantees. However, if the value proposition centers solely around freedom, it won’t be enough. Focus first on helping creators make more money, positioning Nostr as their "promised land," and let freedom be the bonus feature that seals the deal.
I know some of you will jump to argue that freedom is more valuable than money, and I won’t disagree. But a 23-year-old guy or gal doesn’t see the world the same way we wrinkled balls do. For them, money is the first motivator, freedom can follow.