Experience is the best teacher and I learned it was better to have an authentic and organic relationship with like minded people who gets me.
My first week I followed and upVoted everyone that would leave a message and as that I upVote them as well.
Seems a pretty easy way to earn and get more followers but to connect but it there was a certain feeling doom.
I learned that these kinds of relationships is an easy way to you to know more people. It became a numbers game instead of quality.
I have removed quite a number of people from my list and have concentrated on posts that I live, build relationships and be happy for they joy and melancholy in their sadness.