First, let me define what I mean by Web 3.
Web 3 is the next step in the evolution of the Internet.
It is a new iteration of the Internet that resides on decentralized blockchains.
At its heart, the culture of Web 3 is all about decentralization and privacy.
Web 2 is highly centralized, around huge companies like Google, Facebook, Amazon and Microsoft. They control almost everything, including your personal identity and information.
Web 3 is the opposite of that. With blockchains like Ethereum there is no central company. No boss. No shareholders.
Only participants.
Everything is decentralized.
Where can you find Web 3?
It’s all around us.
If you have ever purchased, or know someone who has purchased a cryptocurrency… like Bitcoin, Ethereum or Solana… that’s part of Web 3. All cryptocurrencies are stored and traded on blockchains… as opposed to your bank’s traditional database.
Defi, or decentralized finance, is now a multi-billion dollar business, and a powerful competitor to traditional financial institutions and fiat currencies.
Or maybe you know someone who has purchased an NFT… a Non-Fungible Token.
Early adopters have been creating and buying NFTs for years. But there was an explosion of new activity in this area in 2021.
And make no mistake, NFTs are not a “fringe” thing anymore.
Trading in NFTs reached $22 billion in 2021 alone.
Established artists like Damien Hurst have launched new works as NFTs.
Big brands like Coca-Cola, Gucci, Nike and Adidas have created NFTs for their fans. Sports teams and celebrities too. Snoop Dogg is a major collector of NFT art.
You can buy digital art as NFTs. Or buy a personal profile picture… from the Bored Ape Yacht Club, for example… if you can afford it! Or a character to use when playing a video game. Or items of unique digital clothing to wear in the metaverse.
Ultimately, NFTs are about digital ownership.
A core ambition for Web 3 is the creation of the metaverse.
Imagine a virtual world online.
A place where you can own land, construct a residence, store or gallery, and display your possessions, or merchandise. The land, the building, the possessions and the merchandize would all be NFTs.
And as you walk around the metaverse, and meet up with friends to watch a concert, visit a gallery, or just hang out together… your virtual body and everything you wear will also be NFTs.
This is the metaverse. It’s here right now, in its infancy. Check out CryptoVoxels, Decentraland, Somnium Space and others.
This is why Facebook is now called Meta. And it’s why Facebook purchased Oculus, the maker of Virtual Reality headsets.
Mark Zuckerberg wants to dominate the metaverse.
And that’s the absolute opposite of what the builders of a decentralized Web 3 want.
Who is going to win? Neither.
Meta will have its walled garden of a metaverse, for those that want it. (Think the early days of AOL).
Web 3 pioneers will build a decentralized version for people who want privacy, and to keep possession of their own identifies.
The Web 3 community has its own culture and language – and it’s conversational.
The language and vocabulary of Web 3 has evolved on Twitter and Discord over the last 9 months.
NFT project websites have also sprung up… a new website for almost every new project. And there have been thousands of them already.
In other words, there is already a huge opportunity out there for copywriters and content writers.
And one thing is for sure… the language of Web 3 – on Twitter, Discord and on websites – is not formal or corporate.
Nor is it the language of the current iteration of the web, Web 2.
The language of Web 3 is conversational, with a unique vocabulary and style of expression.
This kind of conversational copywriting and content writing will be needed by both groups… the decentralized Web 3 metaverse builders, and the centralized builders like Facebook.
Yes, there is an opportunity here for writers trained in conversational copywriting.
But before you start pitching your services as a Web 3 copywriter, you’ll want to take a deep dive into this space… unless you’ve done so already.
Get ready to take full advantage of writing opportunities in Web 3 and the metaverse.
Web 3 and the metaverse are coming.
It’s early days, but it makes sense to learn as much as you can now.
If this is all new to you, you can get started with this guide from the folks at NFTnow.
NFT 101: Everything You Need to Know
Once you’re down the rabbit hole, you’ll find your mind exploding with new ideas and possibilities.
And, of course, if you want to get ahead of the crowd when it comes to the craft of conversational copywriting, now would be a great time to take my Conversational Copywriting course.
