Curators play a crucial role in the online ecosystem, acting as wayfinders for a sprawling web of content. These individuals have the power to influence and shape the interests and tastes of their followers. However, despite their influence, curators often do not see the financial benefits of their contributions in a direct way.

Curators play a crucial role in the online ecosystem, acting as wayfinders for a sprawling web of content. These individuals have the power to influence and shape the interests and tastes of their followers. However, despite their influence, curators often do not see the financial benefits of their contributions in a direct way.

One example of a platform that has changed the game for curators is Slack. Originally developed as a tool for game development, Slack quickly grew in popularity, with the number of users doubling within a couple of weeks. This growth hinted at something big happening with this platform.

One of the key signals of Slack's success was its focus on user experience. The platform was designed to be intuitive and user-friendly, acting as the "sales guy" for the product. This emphasis on user experience made Slack appealing to a wide range of users and contributed to its rapid growth.

Another signal of Slack's success was its business model. Slack was free to use, but offered paid upgrades for enhanced features. This freemium model allowed users to experience the value of the platform before deciding to invest in additional features. This approach proved successful, as more users joined company Slack accounts and teams' channels, increasing the overall value of the platform.

One unique aspect of Slack is its ability to retain value over time. As users join a company's Slack account and participate in team channels, the platform becomes more valuable. This is due to its integration with third-party tools and the ability to access past conversations and decisions. The historic records and integrations contribute to the platform's value, making it an essential tool for organizations.

Slack's platform strategy also led to advocacy spreading across the network. In 2017, Slack launched Enterprise Grid, targeting large enterprise companies. This move put Slack in direct competition with Microsoft, who had announced their own collaboration app, Microsoft Teams. By allowing different functions within a company to have their own version of Slack, while still enabling collaboration through "shared channels," Slack positioned itself as a strong contender in the enterprise market.

One of the reasons for Slack's success in the enterprise market is its consumer sensibility. Unlike traditional enterprise software, Slack is designed to be easy-to-use and fun. Slack understood that users needed to automate routine tasks without requiring coding or technical expertise. To address this, Slack developed workflows that were no-code and powered by templates. This approach made it easy for users to apply the platform's capabilities without needing to understand the underlying coding.

Slack also built a community for developers, builders, and designers to come together and discuss the present and future of the platform. This community not only fosters collaboration but also acts as a safety net against short-term platform changes that may not make sense in the long run. The community ensures that decisions are made with the platform's long-term growth and usability in mind.

One important aspect of a successful platform is re-usability of components and APIs. Slack recognized the pain point of platform product teams lacking documentation and knowledge transfer. To address this, Slack not only documented its APIs but also made them available to the wider community. This allowed other developers to utilize the APIs to solve complex problems for their organizations. Third-party partnerships are crucial for a platform's growth, but it is equally important to ensure that these integrations are robust and do not create performance issues.

Slack's journey to success involved learning from smaller clients and addressing performance bottlenecks to develop a robust platform. Today, Slack is able to serve 80% of the Fortune top 100 companies, showcasing the power of a well-executed platform strategy.

In conclusion, Slack's platform strategy has changed the game for curators and users alike. The focus on user experience, freemium model, and value retention over time have contributed to its success. By targeting the enterprise market and emphasizing consumer sensibility, Slack has positioned itself as a leader in the collaboration space. The community of developers and the re-usability of components and APIs have further strengthened the platform. For other platforms looking to follow in Slack's footsteps, here are three actionable pieces of advice:

1. Prioritize user experience: Invest in creating an intuitive and user-friendly platform that acts as a salesperson for your product.
2. Foster a community: Build a community of developers, builders, and designers to collaborate and provide feedback on the platform's present and future.
3. Focus on re-usability and documentation: Ensure that components and APIs are well-documented and accessible to the wider community, allowing for robust integrations and knowledge transfer.

By following these pieces of advice, platforms can create a strong foundation for growth and success, benefiting both curators and users alike.