My Top 7 Tips for Thriving on Steemit! (A Guide for Newcomers & Veterans)
Hey Steemians!
I see a lot of new faces joining the platform, which is fantastic! But let's be honest: Steemit has a learning curve. When I first started, I was confused about Steem Power, voting, tags, and why some posts earned $50 while mine earned $0.02.
Over time, I've learned what works and what doesn't. To help you skip the frustration and get straight to the good stuff, I've compiled my essential tips for growing and succeeding on Steemit.
Here they are!
- Quality & Originality are EVERYTHING
This is the golden rule. Steemit is not Facebook or Twitter. Low-effort posts, spam, or simple link-sharing won't get you far.
Write Originally: Your content must be your own. Plagiarism is taken very seriously here and can get your account flagged by services like @steemcleaners.
Source Your Images: If you use an image that isn't yours, you must cite the source. Use copyright-free sites like Pexels, Unsplash, or Pixabay to be safe.
Add Value: Ask yourself: "Is this post helpful, interesting, or entertaining?" If the answer is no, rethink it.
- Master Your Formatting (Markdown)
A giant wall of text is unreadable and will get scrolled past. Learning basic Markdown will make your posts 100x more attractive.
Use ## or ### for Headings and Subheadings.
Use * or - for bullet points.
Use bold for emphasis.
Use > for blockquotes.
Center text and images to make it look professional. A well-formatted post shows you put in the effort.
- Engage, Engage, Engage! (Don't "Post and Ghost")
Steemit is a social network, not just a blogging platform. You can't just drop a post and expect the upvotes to roll in.
Meaningful Comments: Read other people's posts and leave thoughtful comments. "Nice post" is better than nothing, but asking a question or adding to the conversation is 10x better.
Reply to Comments: When someone comments on your post, reply to them! Build a conversation.
Vote Wisely: Use your voting power to support other authors you enjoy. Curation (voting on posts before they get popular) can also earn you rewards!
- Join and Post in Communities
Don't just post to your personal blog feed! The best way to get seen by people interested in your topic is to post in a Community.
Find communities dedicated to your niche (e.g., photography, writing, crypto, travel). Posting in the right community puts your content directly in front of your target audience.
- Use Your Tags Correctly
Tags are how your post is found. You get to use up to 8 (sometimes 10, depending on the frontend).
Your first tag is the main category and cannot be changed. Make it the most relevant one (e.g., writing, photography, crypto).
Use all available tag slots.
Combine popular tags (steemit, blog, life) with specific, niche tags (landscapephotography, pythonprogramming).
DO NOT use tags that are irrelevant to your post just because they are popular (like using crypto on a food post).
- Power Up Your STEEM
When you earn STEEM, you have a choice: cash it out or "Power Up" by converting it to Steem Power (SP).
Having more SP gives you more influence on the platform. Your upvotes will be worth more (giving authors more rewards) and you will earn more from your own curation. Powering up shows you are invested in the platform for the long term, which builds trust.
- Be Patient and Consistent
You will not get rich overnight. Building a following on Steemit is a marathon, not a sprint.
Many users post consistently for months before they start to see significant rewards. Don't get discouraged if your first few posts don't earn much. Keep showing up, keep improving your quality, and keep engaging with the community. Success will follow.