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As a Newbie introduced to Steemit on September 2017, there were so many things I thought Steemit was all about but I was totally wrong. Things like "post anything and make good, quick money" and others.
The idea I had changed. After 6 months on Steemit, I can say;
STEEMIT DOESN'T BELONG TO ANYONE, YET IT'S FOR EVERYONE."
What do I means by this?
The Whales we see today on the platform were once MINNOWS. They got to where they are by hard-work and Sacrifice. A minnow can be a whale tommorow if he/she knows how to "play his/her cards" well. You have to find the secrets to Success on Steemit, Understand them and practice them .
Knowledge is Good but "Applied Knowledge" is BETTER"
It produces results!!!
DIRECT MESSAGES TO NEWBIES.
I believe every newbie was excited to hear about a platform that rewards them just by posting.
I welcome you!
You may have been introduced by a community or member of a community; as so was I. But whatever you were told;
Steemit is far more!!
What some Newbies fail to understand is that the community is there to assist you but you don't expect them to bring everything to the table for you. Like what 
For you to Succeed, DON'T rely fully on your Community.
Surf the Steemit platform, relate with people, comment on interesting posts and post good, interesting contents. Join the Steemit.chat, relate with people but not just with Whales,🐋 .
A relationship with a Minnow is Important
Because Most (if not all) Whale won't relate well with you because they make an assumption that you want to beg for vote. Let you and the Minnows grow together.
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SECRETS BEHIND PAYING FOR UPVOTE.
What most Newbies now do to increase their UPVOTE on their "not-too-good" content is by buying upvote from Whales or Bot. Well, what you don't know is that;
YOU ARE CHEATING YOURSELF!!!
Lets do the Calculation.
When you pays 2 SBD to a Whale or Bot to upvote your post, and you get 4 SBD from it, during payout this is what you really get;
25% of the 4 SBD is shared to others, including the Whales who voted you; as Curation reward.
From the 3 SBD remaining, 50% is given as your Liquid payout and 50% is exchanged for Steem Power.
For your Liquid SBD, you have 1.5. Your loss after paying 2 SBD for upvote is;
So buying vote is mostly at your lost.
As a Newbie, just post interesting contents regularly and you will be noticed with time. Your reward may not be immediately but it will definitely pay some day.