It isn't as simple as that. Those who follow you just for a follow back won't comment or upvote your stuff, they won't read it at all. My suggestion is beside the facebook group you joined ( saw the link there) is to join steemit.chat and discord and find people who have similar interests that you enjoy reading. Conversation in chat can go along way to getting readers. Because that is what we all need is readers. Follows are great if they are readers if they are not reading our stuff it does no good for them to follow us.

But you are also on the right tract of realizing you need to build your own community with in the community.