If you want to be read, you have to post. If you post, you can collect Steem. If your content is thought to be good and if it satisfies a market need, you will gain readers, which means that you will get manual votes and also that you will be put on the lists that voting bots use.
Like anything, though, it takes a little work and effort. Just keep at it!
RE: Can small and new users still make it on Steem? I dont think so.