Upvoted and followed. I agree content should be from the heart...not just for the purpose of "how can I make the most money". I feel that if someone starts by posting content that they are passionate about and interacts with others by commenting and upvoting and resteeming, they will be rewarded in due time.

A wise man once told me "patience is a virtue, be virtuous." This definitely applies here. Be patient, humble, and do the right things (many of which you've listed) and you'll be rewarded in due time as others will reciprocate once you give them some attention. It really is a two way street as you have to interact with people to get noticed unless you really find a good niche right off the bat.

I appreciate your insights.