Feeling like your posts aren't getting attention?
Most people when first starting here on Steemit have a hard time getting their posts seen and hence getting votes. Often there is that one post that seemed to 'pop' for you with many others seeming to have a rather lackluster response. The goal for most of us in the end are to consistently improve our payouts and there are some strategies you can try to help move you towards this.
Q: Being brand new to Steemit, is there something I should start with?
Short Answer: Make an introduction post using the introduceyourself and introduction tags about who you are (what you're comfortable with), what you're interested in and what you think you'll be posting on. Make sure to add at least one picture to the post and ideally a verification photo (showing yourself holding a paper with your username and the date on it.)
The introduceyourself and introduction tags are when many Steemit users watch for new members. So making a post to introduce yourself (that have these two tags in it) is a prime place to start. It's important to remember that your post shows up among lists of other posts, so make sure to add at least one photo in there so it has a thumbnail picture when in list form. Posts that have thumbnail images get more attention that those that do not.
While not absolutely required, including a verification picture in your post is helpful. This lets us know that you are who you say you are. The verification picture just needs to show you holding a piece of paper that has your username and the date on it. You don't necessarily have to show your whole face, depending on what you're comfortable with, since we know not everybody like putting things like that on the internet. This is also an opportunity to mention what other web or social media sites you're on, especially if you plan to share content from there. You can also always verify (instead of or along with the picture) by simple putting a post or link with your Steemit username on those other sites.
Q: I did my introduction post, but I still feel like I'm not being seen. What can I do?
Make people WANT to click on your post!
Work on creating titles that grab peoples attention. Think about what makes you click on things. If you find yourself stuck checking out a Title Generator Websites might be helpful. A lot of their suggestions are overused or cheesy (in my opinion anyway) but if you scroll through, there's usually one or two that stick out above the rest. You'll find that phrasing things in more active versus passive terms help.
Have an attention grabbing thumbnail photo. The first image in your post with always be used for the thumbnail (800x480 proportions work best.) Keep this in mind when choosing which a picture start things off. Again, think about what grabs your attention.
Advertise your posts in steemit.chat, post-promotion channels in various discord channels and/or various facebook groups (just search steemit inside facebook.) All you'll do is copy the link address for your post (which is the url as the top of your screen when it's open) and paste it into the various places. Some places have rules such as not posting more than once every 2 hours...so try to keep an eye out for things like that. You don't want to spam these links or it can backfire on you.
Building relationships / Branding yourself
With Steemit have so much look and feel of a blogging site, it's easy to forget the social networking aspect here. This means meeting others that share your interest and building relationships.
You can accomplish this in many ways:
- Respond to comments on your posts
- Find posts that interest you and leave good, engaging comments. Let them know you actually read their post!
- Join in conversations on steemit.chat or discord communities (there are multiple of these)
- Build up your reputation with others by consistently putting out good/interesting work, being friendly, helpful, etc.
Include a CALL TO ACTION at the end of your posts.
These are things that help to prompt others to leave a comment and/or continue the conversation.
Examples might be:
- I'm curious to hear your take?
- What would you suggest?
- Any other good reading/video/etc. material you guys know of?
- I'd love to hear your results.
Q: Are there things I SHOULDN'T do?
- Don't Randomly Ask for Followers! You want GOOD followers!
I see a lot of people leaving comments asking for follows, or looking for a 'follow for follow' arrangement. Sure, it's fun to watch that follower number go up, but what we're really wanting here are people to read, comment and VOTE on our content.
Random people who follow you don't often care about you or your content, meaning it's unlikely they will read your stuff, let alone vote on it. If you instead build relationships with people through conversations, engaging back and forth comments, giving honest feedback, etc get net you WAY more votes.
- Don't spam your posts in promotion rooms! Try to avoid posting there it's not allowed (like steemit.chat's general channel.)
- Don't randomly private message people asking for votes.
- Don’t plagiarize others work. This will get you flagged here.
- Don't be an a**hole. There are plenty of ways to disagree with others and their points of view.
- Don't expect instant success! Don't be afraid to fail on some things.
- Don't use copyrighted images. Since we are making money on our posts, we have to be more careful than on other sites.
Q: Where can I promote/advertise my posts and/or meet people?
Steemit Chat
SteemSpeak run by @fyrstikken
Steem Lab run by @surpassinggoogle
Voices of the Underground with @sirlunchthehost and @beanz
Steemit Talk Podcast with @sykochica, @giftedgaia, @winstonwolfe and @raymonjohnstone
Steem Trail run by @instructor2121 and @anotherjoe
[NOTE: Not all of these are for promotion. Some are more for meeting people.]
Q: Is there other materials to read that might help me?
Writing Grit: The 5 C's of Good Communication by @redhens
Survival Guide for Super Newbie Writers by @stellabelle
Simply Steemit: Your No-Nonsense Guide to Getting Started by @donkeypong
Tips for Analyzing Your Steemit Marketing Approach by @sykochica
I know there are more great articles beyond these out there too!
Q: Are there any other ways to help get known on Steemit?
- Ask people running projects or initiatives how you can help them
- Take part in or be a judge of the Steemit Meme Challenge run by @fibra59
- Take part in the Steemit Photo Challenge run by @jamtaylor
- Follow the Video Challenges run by @challenge-trail
- Take place in the Art Challenge run by @art-trail
- Submit an Entry to Steemit's Open Mic Night Contest run by @luzcypher
- Take part in the various contests put on by @papa-pepper such as THIS ONE with @barrydutton.
- Join one or more curating teams on @steemtrail
Feel free to ask me anything. I'm here to Help!
Previous Helpful Posts for Newbies
❓Answering Common Questions: Where does the money come from? 💵
❓Answering Common Questions: Should I use 100% Steem Power or 50%/50% Payouts for my Post❓
❓Answering Common Questions: Reputation and Flags! What's this Number by my Name? #️⃣️
❓Answering Common Questions: Steem, Steem Power, Steem Dollars and What Should I do with them? 💲
What's this Slider Bar and Vote Power Percentage? What's the Difference?
Why Newbies Should be Excited about the next Hardfork
Answering Common Questions about Voting and Curation
Don't Miss the Show! Follow the Steemit Talk Podcast (STP) Account
New STP Website!!
Are you new to Steemit and Looking for Answers? - Try https://www.steemithelp.net.
Image Sources:
Kitty Picture
Name Tag
Do Not Sign
great great post!! keeping the information flowing. you are fantastic !! how do you do those cool graphic breaks in the post. ??
Thank you! I've been pretty happy being able to write these guides/faqs again..it's been quite a while.
If you google 'page divider' (of course with free use license) you'll find a bunch of free options. They're just an image I put in there.
oh duh i should have totally thought of that. Guess im thinking in code as took me ages to figure out how to center a post. lol much thanks hun! love your faqs posts, keep them coming, i dont think we will see a time soon where they are not needed
Hehe, no worries. You can always use < hr> (without the space) to make a horizontal line using the code, but it doesn't have the effect I wanted.
If you're ever looking to spiff things up a bit, there are various post templates some of us made a while back which can be found in the #free-templates tag. (you'll have to click new since they no longer show are trending.)
Thank you! I've still got a list of topics to make posts on...and always happy to take requests too. :)
hahaha, the day I learned to finally center a post was about the greatest day of my life and I have never looked back hahahahahaha!!!
I center everything all day longgggggg now - so pretty looking hahaha.
God bless ya Bonnie lol
Thank you very much am a newbie and am trying to improve my self
(and my English lol) through Steemit the best of all is that I found a community so kind I couldn't even imagine that might exist. I will do my best for the community! ! Regards to all !!
You seem to be doing pretty well so far...and you're English is pretty good! Way better than my Greek (which I know none.) Lol
The general support and kindness was mind blowing to me too when I first started. It definitely make is a great place! Keep what you're doing and I'm sure you'll continue getting more successful on here.
And always feel free to ask questions...I'm here to help. :)
Thank you so much for the inspiration! !!! You are already very helpful at my first steps and am sure I will need more !!!
You have always been a top notch helper. I do not hear too much from you anymore but you have helped so many people, so many times, Steemit should really just hire you LOL
My Liberty based Shirt GAW post is up now today, so that is an idea some people can learn from - offer to run a contest for a giveaway.
Mine is in conjunction with @papa-pepper for example -- someone who is very good to people on here.
Like you.
Thank you!
I've had a bit of a time staying all caught up with responding to comments, helping in steemit.chat, discord, etc. lately. I still make my way to you're posts, but often get sidetracked before being able to leave a comment. Sorry about that.
I'll take a look at that post though..I'm curious.
While there's nothing wrong with it..it's seemed that newer people that run contests tend to get disappointed with lack of response...simply because they don't get the eyes on it and/or lacking the name recognition. They're welcome to try...but it's always rough when something were excited about gets a lackluster response.
I agree also, I was not going to input about ppl. running a contest but then I thought, it still is A WAY to gain organic eyes on / interest / following.
It is right. I was so amped up doing so many of my posts I worked like 8 hrs on some days and earned nothing and got no votes.
Now I get flagged by whales who do not like me, because I have put in the honest time and effort for so long, and my numbers just reflect that.
I did not bot my way here lol, I worked hard, typed a lot, tried to be helpful and encouraging and nice (like you) - and eventually you all could not ignore me any more
Hahahahahah!!!! (:
I hope a couple people learn and get a laugh today LOL
I am the least talented person on here, believe me.
Some of you already know this lol
#HopeAndHardWork
right?
(:
Lol! You always crack me up.
I'm definitely not against them trying buy I try to keep their positive outlook going as best as possible. I've definitely been there, putting in many hours for what felt like no payout.
I've got a few ideas of other things to help out those who have been putting in the work/effort but not gotten the attention yet. Like with us, it takes most people time to get their name/work around and recognized.
What I have in mind should get posted up tomorrow. :)
I have some good ideas still too, but honestly, the facts are, if some of us keep getting flagged and bullied, it shows the power issues here are a problem, a glaring one still.
It removes the desire to put in the work -- because your work will just get buried.
I lost support from important people here going on #SteemitStrike for the reasons above and it was still the right thing to do.
My post this last week flagged to $0 almost from my third ever post over $100 on the post to help Sommer get established as a new person, did not sit well with a lot of people from the msgs I got and tells the new people bullies are OK here.
I don't suck up to anyone like some people here so I have just said the truth and not looked the other way.
People need to know -- the whole world is watching.
You have always been one of my fav. people to hear from always as you know.
I help people daily when I can, looking for questions in a feed or a post and I always think of you as a key person helping me, so I pay that fwd -- I will never be as good as you lol.
Hehe...the paying it forward is how the 'good' people win out in the end. Lol!
Feel free to always send people my way too if wanted. I'm doing most of the helping through posts now instead of chatrooms, just because it's easier for me to pick up when I have time and better organized (versus mad scrolling up.)
I hate the scrolling!!! LOL
I have tagged you a few times so people can find you over the months. When I checked on you a few times thru FB and knew you needed a break, I stopped, I did not want to add to the issues.
You are one of my fav. people and I hope to meet you one day.
These are facts!
Flag me if you want mean whales LOL
For some reason I hear "Help" by The Beatles playing in my head while I read this. Seems fitting :-)
Hehe, yes! I need to find a way to cleanly embed the audio. lol
@scaredycatguide & @sykochica Thank You 4 Your comments & Thank You @sykochica 4 Your post.
I'm 10 days new and hopefully on a fast track of learning. I DEFINITELY can hear that Beatles song in my head playing over & over again... >> : ~ ))
UpVoted, Following Both & will Resteem a bit later. Thanks again to You Both !!
I'm more than happy to help out!
I remember what it was like when I first started waaaaaaay back when. These were all things I'd loved to have had available at the time, so trying to make it easily available for the influx of new users. :)
Always feel free to ask questions. :)
@sykochica Thank You... I've got plenty of questions but am working 2 shifts today on 5 hours sleep... Thank You again, especially what You do to help on a regular basis to the community...UpVoted. THIS is what really attracts me to Steemit & STEEM... Purchased some Steem Power early this morning close to the lows and I'm in this for the long term. Thanks again !!
Oh nice!! Cheap steem is always a plus!!
Definitely no rush on the questions...it's a standing offer. :)
Get some rest...enjoy sleeps!
You are one of the most helpful people in this community, and there are a lot of them. I always see you in chat patiently helping people out and your posts are amazing. I wouldn't have gotten to where I am on SteemIt, though still very new, without your help. Thank You!!!!
I agree so much with you! ! Am following you!
Thank you! I get a lot of enjoyment helping people out.
The kind words are quite appreciated!
Wow! Very good post I have to say! I wish I have read this before I introduced myself. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you! Oh, I know the feeling. There were so many things I wish I had known when first joining here.
Honestly, considering it's been 7 months and you didn't make very much on your first introduction post, I think you would be just fine making a new intro post saying something like, "It's been a while and I wanted to introduce myself to those of you haven't gotten to know me."
Give it a try, nobody will have a problem with it...and please send me the link if you do! :)
I will @sykochica. :-). Thanks.
You've been heard!
Hehe!
I can't look away!
great...rs and upvote for u....
Great post for new users, very useful!
Thank you for promoting and supporting #memechallenge!
I really appreciate it! :D
Reesteemed!
Thank you!
And happy to let people know about the #memechallenge! It's a great fun and easy thing for new (and veteran) users. Thanks for continuing to put it on!
It is my pleasure to activate Steemit users with something funny.. I would like to see your entry :)
Nothing really came to mind when I was trying to come up with something for this weeks challenge. But I have been mentioning it to newer people.
I'll see if I can think of a good one. Sooo much presssuuurreee! lol
hahah.. Memechallenge must be pressure free! :D
really great post with a ton of information. thanks!
Thank you!
Feel free to ask questions anytime. :)
Good advises :)
Thank you!
And such a cute kitty! :D
Thank you :)
Great work! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you!
I am so thankful for all this information and happy to know I can get help when I need it ... Thank you!
You're very welcome! :D
Upvoted. But still unseen. I started to miss Facebook seen, lol.
Thank you!
Even though it's easier now for new people compared to last year...it does still take time. I think you've got some awesome photos on your blog, so I'm pretty confident you will get there.
Have you written an introduction post yet? I didn't see one on your blog.
Fantastic resource you have created! As a new comer to steemit I am sure it is going to be very useful in trying to build my following. Great advice. Thank you!
Steem on!
Thank you!
I'm happy to be helpful. Feel free to ask questions anytime.
Nice post, simple and clear with good suggestions! I reesteem it!
Thank you! And I appreciate the resteem :)
Wow, this is really helpful. Especially the title and photo header tip. Thank you
You're very welcome. I'm happy to help out!
Feel free to ask questions at any time.
Great post! Thank you for this!
Thank you! I love helping other users.
Feel free to ask questions at any time. :)
Another very helpful post!
Thank you! It's been really nice getting back to doing guildes/faqs again...been a long while. :)
I'm glad you've been back around a lot more in the last weeks!
Yeah I was trying to get a couple post in here and there and I was working 12 hour days but now I have a lot more time and it is good to be back.
I find that people on Steemit a very helpful for the short time I've been here you're at the top.
There definitely are some phenomenal people on here!
Thank you! I try to do what I can.
This last week, I've not been able to keep up with comments like I'd like to unfortunately. Started a new job and I'm still adapting.
This is a great post and really good advice. And thanks for mentioning Steemit Open Mic at the end if your post. Much appreciated.
Thank you!
Very happy to mention the open mic night! I'm probably going to have a post focusing more on 'non-writing' ways to earn on Steemit...so you'll probably get a 'ping' when that one gets posted. Lol
Great. If I can help in any way let me know.
Thank you so much for pulling this together in such a use friendly manner! Awesome guide for those new to Steemit. I'm resteeming for my own and others future reference.
Thank you! I like to think I'm good at these things. Lol
I do hope it's helpful!
And feel free to ask any questions along the way. :)
Super useful post! It's an excellent reading for new users and old users too! Well done, @sykochica ^_^
Very important tips! reestemed!
Thanks for sending me this link. All great advice and I'll try to incorporate your ideas. Never having taken part in any social media before due to my distain of them and work situation maybe isn't helping however it's not an option so I'll not be going down that route. I can be impatient too so I need to lower my expectations as to how quick I can see results. Thanks again
Not a problem..happy to help.
It does take a while to get things going here. Keep trying out things and see what helps, what doesn't. But I'll get you some feedback on your blog in the next couple days, to give more concrete ideas.
👍
Ok, sorry for the delays...been a rough week adapting to the new job while still trying to get some posts done. But, I did look over you blog and got a few ideas for you.
I'd recommend letting some of your text not be a heading. While it's not necessarily a huge problem since you still make some bigger/smaller..to some degree it makes it seem like you're shouting the whole thing. While I know you are wanting that emphasis, I think it's a little too much.
On the shorter ones that are a paragraph with a link to an outside story, you might try adding in the #newslink tag (along with #news with you already have.) It give those shorter ones a bit more traffic.
I would recommend providing links to where you got your images from. It's not huge, but some people notice those missing.
It seems like you've been active commenting on other peoples posts...which is great! I'd say keep this up. There is a rather large anarchy/libertarian/etc population here and often it's hard to get your name recognized with there being a large core of people in that topic.
Lengthier often does better payout wise. While it's not always the case...it does typically help. Since I know not everything has to be long, it just helps to set good expectations.
If you've not already, I recommend hopping into steemit.chat and/or steemspeak to get to know some people. Often with political topics, getting to be in real time chat does wonders.
It's minor, but I really really like centered images. If it something you would want to do, I cover it in this post.
Overall though, you do seem to be doing fairly well for somebody that just started last month. Some things just take time to get your following going for more longer term rewards. I can tell the passion you have on your topics and I think that will treat you well!
Try to pay attention to what feels like it's working and not working over time, tweaking various things until things seem to pop for you. :)
Thank you so much for taking the time to critique my work. It's much appreciated.
I'll take it all on board and see how I go.
I have tried to tone down the rants. I think because I've never blogged or even participated in social media of any kind before I have a fair bit of baggage to dump. Also when I see hypocrisy, Paedophilia, injustice etc I tend to react immediately and not step back take a breath and give a measured response.
I'll work on that too. Thanks again.
I'm happy to have done it..sry it took as long as it did.
It does take a little while to find the voice to reach your audience. I have no doubt you'll find what formula that works for you. :)
Awesome @sykochica, Great post!
Up voted, Followed and Resteemed! 👍
really nice post for newbies like myself.
Thank you! :D
Well done. Comments that I was coming up with while reading your post were answered as I progressed further in the article. Just, well done. Applause.
Thank you! I love that it was helpful :)
:-)
Really great info you provide to us Minnows. Thanks and I look forward to your next post.
@deepapoudel, this might be useful for you!
I think you are lacking audience you deserve :)
thanks for sharing your tips, I am sure this will really help someone like me.
Thanks @sykochica for the explanation :). You already helped me once on my question on the steemit.chat, but after reading your post it sounds more clearer to me. Happy writing and reading, cheers!
Another Steemian - helping the newcomers - thanks so much. This is so comprehensive - so many answers and tips in one post. Much appreciated. Re-steemed
One of the best articles I read here on steemit. Thanks for clearing some confusion and also for all those links!
Thank you! :D
I try to find that sweet spot of enough detail without causing overload.
Thank you, alot of info and rabbit holes to go down. You're the best.
So much amazing stuff in this post. ty :)
Well a great post I must say. And you keep stuck to your post for a while. Nice approach.