The Importance of Platform Integrators for Gitcoin Passport Adoption (And How To Help The Help Us)
Context
Platform integrators are one of the most important kinds of integrators, since they help project leaders use Passport without code.
Gitcoin Passport is growing in popularity. One of the integral components of this widespread adoption is and will be the role of what I am calling “Platform Integrators.”
Platform Integrators: Our Super Win-Win Partners
Platform Integrators serve as a critical point of connection between Gitcoin Passport and various web3 communities. These integrators are not just users; they onboard new partners, enabling a wide array of communities to benefit from the protection Gitcoin Passport offers. For instance, when a Platform Integrator like Snapshot integrates Gitcoin Passport, it benefits all communities under its Snapshot umbrella, not just a specific one.
When a new app is integrated into the Gitcoin Passport ecosystem via a Platform Integrator, its users are introduced to Gitcoin Passport's potential. Over time, this exposure could lead to additional integrations, widening the reach of Gitcoin Passport and creating a ripple effect of adoption. Such a situation presents an extremely beneficial outcome for all parties involved, creating what we often refer to as a "super win-win" situation.
Difference between Standard and Platform Integrators
Standard integrators have a direct connection to Passport holders like ShapeShift, and may want to directly educate their users on what it means to be a Passport holder.
Platform integrators have a connection with Standard Integrators. Example is how Snapshot’s users include Gitcoin, Bankless, etc, which each have their own communities of potential Holders. As of 2023-06-21, we currently do not support Platform integrators.
Supporting Platform Integrators
Given their potential impact, prioritizing and supporting Platform Integrators should be a key part of our growth strategy. Here are some of the ways we might want to facilitate their success:
1) Publishing Documentation for Platform Integrators:
We should create an easy-to-follow, open-source playbook for Platform Integrators to follow at https://docs.passport.gitcoin.co/. The goal would be to make the process of integration as seamless as possible. This documentation, which should be always up to date, should enable Platform Integrators to follow along without the Gitcoin Passport team’s help.
In this documentation, we will encourage our Platform Integrators to create their own sections in their documentation explaining how Gitcoin Passport works, which links out to constantly up to date documentation on the Gitcoin Passport side. This documentation section on their side helps keep their communities informed and aware of the benefits of the Gitcoin Passport powerup.
2023-06-21 Update—see: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TYWFj7ocpoo_8S1sqwzgjXOBuAUKrnH91IjD-1Kuk2A/edit
2) Giving them a Gitcoin Passport Point of Contact To Answer Any Questions
While we want the process of becoming an effective Platform Integrator to be increasingly self-service, the reality is it will take some time and trial and error to get to a place where the documentation is ready. So in the meantime, we should loop in some members of the Gitcoin Passport team to fill in any gaps the documentation doesn’t provide and be friendly faces that can be called on so the process is smooth. Once we have a few case studies of Platform Integrators, it will be easier for Platform Integrators to effectively onboard without much help. But as of 2023-06-19 we may be 6 months out from that.
3) Creating a Checklist for each early Platform Integrator
To make this whole process of promoting the Gitcoin Passport powerup in their platform to their platform’s users, Gary will create a Notion checklist for the platform. In the checklist will include:
Create a Dedicated Section in Documentation: Within their platform's existing documentation, they should carve out a specific section for discussing the Passport protection setting. This would include details about its benefits, how to use it, and any potential troubleshooting tips.
Draft the Actual Section: They should then write up the actual content for the new section in the documentation. This might include the benefits of Gitcoin Passport, how to set it up, how it can be used, and any other useful information.
- To help them create this section, we will provide suggested content and examples from other platform integrators like Snapshot. This could offer them guidance on what kind of information to include and how to structure their content effectively.
Publish the New Section: Once the new section is ready, it should be published within the platform's documentation. It should be placed in an easily accessible location so that users can readily find it when needed.
Co-market the new Gitcoin Passport powerup with the Gitcoin Passport team: The platform should engage in co-marketing activities with Gitcoin Passport to promote the new feature. This could include various activities like hosting an educational Twitter Space, or writing a blog post.
It's important to note that while this is a general checklist, the specific steps might differ based on the individual context of the partnership. The ultimate goal of this checklist is to make it straightforward and simple for platforms to promote the Gitcoin Passport as a powerful feature for their platform.
By equipping our Platform Integrators with the right tools and human support, we should be able to achieve our goal of widespread adoption of the Gitcoin Passport. This will not only help protect a wide array of digital communities but will also contribute to our aim of onboarding millions of new Passport holders. In essence, our Platform Integrators will play a massive role in our growth trajectory, and supporting them is at the heart of our mission.