So yes, getting followers will increase your chances at an upvote, but there is no easy way to do it. Interact, comment and engage with others and post good content and you will start to slowly build followers. You can't earn right away and if that is the mindset, then you are doomed to fail and get frustrated. Steem power is what gives your vote power and can be cashed out for steem tokens if you so choose to do (it takes a few weeks). It also would decrease the amount your vote is worth then. SBD is the steem backed doller which is suppose to be $1.00. It started to be worth more then that for reasons unbenounced to me. There are many good youtube videos that can explain this a little better and help you understand it more. Yes you can earn a little here, but don't expect much and don't expect it fast.