It's always a long process. If you want quick success (or great success ever), you have to be exceptional at something.

Most users will in the end always get disappointed with the upvotes they will get on Steemit. As sad as it is.

As I think I have mentioned before, it's important to find other motivation than the money and post payouts. If I would want more money, I know I would do many things differently.

However I'm not doing this (only) for money. Neither should anyone else.

It's easy to say "I'm not doing this for money" and in most cases it's not true.

Quite many people have been talking about the socialization. You can do it in many ways and you can't assume there is one, right way. What works for someone might annoy someone else.

Just remember we are people. You can't force anyone to like you, but you can act differently with different people.

You shouldn't rely on the social contacts alone though. It's important to build up the social network in here, but self-improvement on every level is important.

How can you become a better author?
How can you improve your writing/art/photograph/whatever?

Good luck.