I don't know how State of the dApps really works. They say that clicking through their link to the dApp websites apparently has an influence, as well as voting. But I am not sure how often you can vote. On Netcoins we were able to do new votes each day.

Just using the apps seems to be very relevant as well.

I will contribute with more animated videos for the Steem dApps, which will hopefully bring more people to use them i the first place.