Yeah, I know it sucks.

Here are my recommendations:

• Try out the #nobidbot tag (obviously you can't use bots in those)
• Leverage various Discord #postpromotion channels and steem.chat. Hang out, get to know people. Build rapport amongst members of the community.
• Participate in curation leagues and initiatives. Build those relationships in earnest and you will succeed.
• Find a niche. Engage that niche. Could be yoga, philosophy, abuse fighting, coding, gaming or anything that you feel you have something to offer.
• Leverage other social media to promote. Twitter, Facebook, the /r/steemit subreddit and Minds Steem groups.

Understand that sometimes content will not get a lot of support. It doesn't necessarily mean you failed but could be an indication that there is room for improvement. Embrace both the successes and failures to grow.

The bot owners will sell you the narrative that you need them but you don't have to buy it.

We contribute less to their influence and the influence of our kind will grow. They need to be choked out like the weeds they are.

Sorry if I came out harsh but I have strived against the idea if them for so long. Even when Steem was $8 dollars and before that.

Now, that it's at a fraction of it's former BTC price, believe people are starting to wake up.