Maybe try not to sound like you are on drugs when you talk to them. I mean seriously, if you try to force it, you dont really grab their attention but sounds like a condemnation. A good technique is making them ask you instead, like. I just bought this dinner with the money I got from using this social network... and keep quiet....

Is harder to argue when you already bought something than just to show a number on the screen.

That said, steemit has become pretty hard to sign up and many people might get frustrated with the process specially when other social networks are so easy to join.

Also dont only show them the return but also show them your effort. Like your art or whatever your posts have been voted for that way you capture their own imagination on what THEY can be able to do.