The ratio is pretty flexible and many many factors do have an influence here. But if you know well your target (group), you'll know how to gain their attention / motivate them to open your post. It's a constant work of study, learning, failing and trying again. Steemit has a very complex audience/community, but regardless the diversity we have a lot in common. This common sense is the key to success. Some have more voting power than others, sure. But there is one little secret I'll tell you from blogger to blogger: forget about the money, and start having fun. Everything else will follow ;)
Dear @surfermarly, I hear you loud and clear! You know that I am an advocate of yours!
How come I get more attention from telling the truth and yet the community runs away?
How come 4,000 (roughly) people all seem to advocate Truth, yet prefer to buy 'untruth'?
How come the power elite decry the political power elites, yet perpetrate one so much worse?
Integrity - I cannot stand by, mute, and watch as this goes on!
This is my lone trail it seems, hypocrisy prevails!
I may be riddled with bullets - such is the fate of the messenger.
Snowden, Assange, hailed as ambassadors for Truth - right here!
Vertebrates are a rare commodity in this land of the free!
As The Clash sang " You have the right to free speech - as long as you're not dumb enough to actually try it!"
It's a good song!
Namaste.
Thanks for being that 'advocate' @ebryans. I know you appreciate my work, and likewise I appreciate that a lot. I follow you and your messages, which lately sound a bit frustrated to me. So here is my recommendation :-)
I don´t wanna criticize your point of view, but that 'truth-untruth-theory' sounds a bit too dramatic to me. Recently I have had some really successful posts. According to your theory they must be 'untruth', since they got paid well...? I´ll tell you something: I guess they are simply the result of constant study and self-improvement. Steemit matters to me, and so my personal success does. I don´t know if you have read my article about ego and ego-strenght? Mine is well developed :-)
Instead of challenging 'the system' and its rules I just tried to learn how to deal with them and give my input / ideas for change when I considered worth it.
In July I started from zero, since then haven´t ever had any relationship with whales or other opinion leaders here (besides the normal conversations through chat rooms and comments). Regardless, I raised my rep up to 66 and have a considerable group of people, bots and trails following me. I don´t know if you remember my article about trails which was pure criticism (I got my first flag for it)? Imagine that even the trails I criticized there are upvoting me now. Why? Because they consider my content worth it. I have an opinion and am not too shy to share it - people recognize that. But constant criticism doesn´t lead to anything, since people will stop listening. A loud and clear word from time to time is much more effective!
I am TOTALLY convinced that anybody could succeed here by being patient and determined, focussing on the goal, not spending too much time critizing others and their failure but using that energy to improve oneself, step by step. And: not focussing on the money (even if it´s complicated :-))
Again, everybody has an opinion, and this is a self-governed platform where freedom of speech is more welcome than at any other place. So you are absolutely free to share whatever comes up to your mind. BUT... I would try to not move in a circle around the problem and rather focus on solutions. And in my opinion the solution is not trying to change the whole system, but your positioning.
You´re a really good writer, use that!
Steem on, advocate :-))
EDIT:
PS - That´s the proof you are a good and successful writer and know well how to 'deliver':
https://steemit.com/music/@ebryans/punk-40-years-young-and-so-much-more-than-punk-rock-though-the-music-is-great