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Today I would like to share some thoughts on making experiences on Steem platform more successful. Success on Steemit, in my opinion can be achieved with combination of multiple elements such as having fun, learning new things, maximizing financial gains. I hope this post will be beneficial to readers and contribute in their journey of becoming successful and happy Steemians. Successful are the happy Steemians.

Maximize Your Gains

1. eSteem App: This is a mobile app that lets users interact on Steem platform on iOS and Android devices. @good-karma runs an incentive program for the app. Everytime you post an article or a comment you have a chance of getting auto-upvotes that will earn you currently around $0.50. Although this incentive program might end at some point, it is wise to use it while it exists. Also, there is additional rewards with eSteem spotlight, which gives users opportunity to earn some SBD depending on how often they use the app. Besides the financial rewards, eSteem is great app that makes is easy to be on Steem on the go. Best features for me is the notifications which you can configure in the settings.

2. chainBB.com: This is another web app by @jesta. I have not used it much yet, but I have heard @jesta also runs a incetive program, that users get upvotes for simply using the app.

3. tradeqwik.com: Tradeqwik is an crypto exchange platform. @tradeqwik runs an incentive program as well. If you sign up in their website and become a customer, then comment on their post your deposit ID you will get a chance to get upvotes from them whenever you publish a post. That upvote is worth around $0.40.

4. Minnowsupport: Minnowsupport is already widely used program. This project was created by @aggroed and become a great success for the community. Every 12 hours you are able to get upvotes from minnowsupport and banjo bots at P.A.L. discord channel. These upvotes are worth around $0.50. Besides financial gains, you can get great amount educational help from the community. It is a great place to connect with fellow steemians.

5. Competitions: There are so many contests going on all the time. I have personally won 2 contests published by @gmuxx. One was worth 30 SBD, another 38 Whaleshares. I have also participated in a competition by @thecryptofiend. Winner received 500 Steem. I have lost that one, however I received a generous upvote for my comment. These competitions give great opportunity to connect with other steemians, learn more, discover new friends and have fun doing it all.

6. RamtaRewards: @ramta from time to time runs rewards posts where he rewards his followers with generous upvotes for meaningful engagement. I am forever grateful for @ramta, because when I was ready to quit my first week on Steemit, he opened my eyes and encouraged me to stay. One time I got a upvote from him worth $50. His posts are usually very encouraging, motivational and inspirational. Also, he runs programs that rewards #norway posts.

7. Curiesteem.com: @curie is an amazing program that discovers new authors, helps to give them exposure and gives big rewards. I have recently been discovered by @curie, and this post is earning $182 which will pay out in half hour. You can go to their website and submit original post you like, and you get an opportunity to get finder's fee of 10 Steem if the post gets upvotes.

Steemians that Reward Engagment

There are plenty of Steemians in the community that reward engagement in their posts. Usually, they have great entertaining, educational, and meaningful posts. Following them and reading their posts are so rewarding. The value of rewards might vary, but that doesn't matter. As long as your engagement is being rewarded continuously, its all fun and beneficial. However, do not expect to be rewarded all the time. As long as your interaction being noticed from time to time, that is a success.

Here are some cool authors I follow whose posts are fun, entertaining and rewarding : @hilarski, @jerrybanfield, @meesterboom, @neoxian, @oceancoinz, @oldtimer, @papa-pepper, @rober-call, @teamsteem, @timsaid, @sarahewaring and many more.

If you notice that you engagement and interaction are never being noticed or recognized with simple upvote of your comments, why would you want to waste your time there. That time will be well spent engaging with those who value your time and engagement.

At the same time it your duty to make sure your engagement has a value. First, always upvote posts you like and make comments. That shows that you are genuinely interested. If you leave a generic positive comment and don't bother to upvote, that will be deemed as a phony interactions, that has no benefit to anybody.

Make sure your contribution to the conversation is meaningful or fun or adds some other value. Don't spam generic "Nice post" comments. If you do that, you just wanted your own time.

Do not ask for upvotes or follows in the comment. If you do that, not only you wasted current time, you wasted your future time too. This can cause you being ignored in future interactions and maybe even be muted.

Being genuine and having cooperative spirit is the key to successful engagements. This will earn you more followers as well. When people see some authentic value in your interactions they will go check out your blog and follow you. That is what kind of followers you want to build. Those who follow you without you asking them.

Build Your Blog Brand

Just like you enjoy being rewarded by other, now it is your turn to reward them as well. First reward is writing good posts, that might be beneficial. Post can have entertaining, educational, inspirational or some other kind of benefits. Think about the benefits they might have before you post.

When people interact with your post, reward them. They are contributing to your content, they deserve to be recognized. Treat your users as you would like to be treated yourself. Sometimes you will get phony comments or spams, you can ignore them and just focus on genuine engagement. These genuine engagements are your asset, most of the time these are you true followers. Find out about them, check out their blogs too.

Thoughts on pay for upvote services

I would recommend to be smart about your money that you spend on services. Are you really gaining more than what you have paid? This requires to do some calculations. Remember the initial reward that shows up for that post or comment is just an approximation and it will probably go down by the time you get paid.

In my experience I have seen %40-50 decline in rewards from the highest point until the payout time. So do your calculation, experiment and decide for yourself if it is even worth your time and money.

I have decided for myself not to use those services, because I don't really see any gain there.

Steem is a financial instrument

Steem is a financial instrument in two ways: as a cryptocurrency, and as a platform. Understanding Steem in both forms and continuously increasing knowledge of the both aspects of it will help in making proper decisions.

I have been on Steemit for a month and half. In this short period of time, I have purchased 300 Steem Power and earned 300 Steem Power through rewards. Regardless you are going to buy Steem or not you need to learn how the process works. Even if you don't buy you will want to cash out at some point, so you learn how the process works.

What I do is, I buy bitcoins on coinbase.com then transfer btc to my bittrex account. I use bittrex account to trade on alt coins or to Steem Up. Always experiment with smaller amounts before you start transferring larger amounts. This will help to avoid losing large amount of money because of the mistakes.

Learning about cryptocurrencies in general is important. If you believe in Steem and you are in it for a long term, getting educated about cryptos in a no brainer. There are so many steemians with great amount knowledge in crypto space, I highly recommend learning from their blog posts. Once you are more knowledgable, this will make it fun to engage in crypto discussions as well.

Final Notes

Care about your time. Time is your asset. Use it wisely to create quality content and for quality engagement. Also, don't be fixated on efficiency too much. Remember, this suppose to be fun. Always have fun, and make it fun for others.

Always try to learn something new. Check out new posts, find new authors. Once you find posts you like, and have great experience with your engagements, and you also find it rewarding follow them. There is more fun there. The moment things become no fun, ignore and move on.

In Steem we grow as a community. Spread love and you will receive more.