Tis the season!

I believe they have to click on the image link. But there is also a whole community of people on there that are looking at other peoples uploads. So either way your images will be getting looked at. I look at it this way. Sometimes I need an image host for Steemit, so if I make a couple satoshi, using them for something I need to do anyway, all the better. I do occasionally promote my links in tweets and in my posts though.

Hope this helps, and happy holidays to you and yours!