I've been around since long before HIVE forked away from Steemit, so while I claim no detailed expertise, I have absorbed a decent understanding of the basics. There is no fast track to success. Expect rewards to drop off after your intro post. It will take time and consistent effort to gain a following. Everything I have was earned on-chain. I haven't paid a penny into crypto.

As for communities, you might enjoy Pinmapple, Photography, Photography Lovers, and Actifit, but there are many others as well. If you aren't using PeakD (my preferred frontent), just change the URL to hive.blog or ecency.com or whatever other platform you prefer.

All I ask in exchange is that you be the best blogger you can be. Engage with others and support them with words and votes. Post the best quality content you can on the schedule that works for you. Be the kind of blogger you would want to read.