This is an easily digestible (one stop shop) guide, to everything a Steemit newbee needs to know.
This is designed to simplify Steemit. We can call it a gateway to going on to the platform and using with confidence. So all you tech savvy Steemit users (which I consider myself to be), correct me if I'm wrong anywhere, but look beyond wording of the explanations and see it for what it is..
What is Steemit
Steemit is a blogging platform with a rewards based incentive program. Rewards are paid in Cryptocurrency (Steem Dollars and Steem Power, see explanations) which can be exchanged for other cryptocurrencies or national currency (more on this later).
Steemit operates on the Blockchain meaning it's decentralised, so it has no central authority that has access to your personal data. Everything you ever do will be on the blockchain, but with only your user name attached, and not your actual identity. Big problems exist with the way other social media platforms operate their privacy policies, Steemit solves these problems. There is no advertising, nor will there probably ever be. Revenue scheme have been discussed but have been centred around users paying for premium placing, rather than companies paying for advertising slots..
What is Steem
Think of Steem as a gateway to investing/divesting/trading in Steemit's success. Steem is a Cryptocurrency whose value is currently linked inextricably to user numbers of Steemit, and demand by the those users to invest in the platform. Eventually, the founders would like Steem to become the first stable Cryptocurrency, and are using Steemit to aid in circulation and distribution of the Cryptocurrency. Steem has a 100% dilution rate per annum, 10% gets distributed in rewards, the other 90% get paid out to Steem Power holder (more information to come). Steem's value will fluctuate in the near term, so for anyone thinking about investing in Steem, do it responsibly.
Bit complicated? Think of Steem as a new currency, like the USD. You can exchange them for Bitcoin (at Poloniex, Bittrex or OpenLedger) which can then be exchanged for $$$. They can also be 'Powered Up' to create Steem Power
For further thought on Steem's value, take a look at this;
https://steemit.com/steem/@hisnameisolllie/steem-it-s-all-about-power#@hisnameisolllie/re-sock-re-hisnameisolllie-steem-it-s-all-about-power-20160701t052533192z
What is Steem Power
This is a slightly longer term commitment to invest in Steem(it). Think of it like restricted stock. It's Steem which you have locked away for a rainy day, and in exchange for your long term commitment, you get paid a 90% per annum interest rate, which is paid consistently (day in day out) in the form of more Steem Power. If you want to cash out, you can 'Power Down' and you will receive 1/104th per week of the balance back in the form of Steem, while still earning your interest rate.. Steem Power are rewarded to content creator and curators.
What is Steem Dollars
Steem dollars is a pegged currency against the USD. It can be exchanged for Steem on the internal exchange, or sold for Bitcoin on external exchanges. Steem dollars, also known as SBD receives a 10% interest rate per annum. You can currently sell for a 30% premium against the USD, ie 1SBD is worth $1.05USD
With regards to all of the above currency, you don't 'need' to buy in (you can if you would like to), you can earn them with great original content, or savvy curation (upvoting good content early).
Where does the money come from?
Steemit rewards it's users for 2 activities.
Content Creation
If you post content, you get rewarded based on the upvotes you receive. Each members vote carries a different weighting depending on how much Steem Power that person owns. For instance:
A single voted from..
So, who Upvotes your content makes a big difference.
Of the total amount attributed to a post,
the author gets 75% (50% of that in Steem Dollar, the other 50% in Steem Power). The other 25% goes to the the curators (voters). The author also get 50% of any reward that a child poster (replies) gets.
Content Cuartion
If you Upvote content, you share in the in the spoils. 25% of the pot goes to the curators. There are some reasonably complicated algorithm's which work out how much share you get. It is a function of your voting power, also it is a function of how early you upvote (i.e if your a good curators who picks content earlier than other members, you get a bigger reward) However, in the first 30mins, a share of your upvote will go to the creator, starting at 99% in minute 1 and staggering out to 1% in minute 29. This is to stop bots up voting everything before people have had a chance to read the content and make a judgement.
Voting power
Simply based on how much Steem Power you have. The more Steem Power you have, more power you have.
Payout schedule
Payout's are roughly (slightly more than) 24 hours after posting the content. You can check how long is left by clicking on the arrow to the right of the reward amount.
Dillution - Where the money comes from continued...
Steem is diluted at 100% per year, 10% gets paid out in rewards, 90% gets paid as a reward to Steem Power holders. Depending on how many upvotes you get and who has upvoted you, you get a bigger/lesser share of the reward pot. If you have a $100 reward for a post,
You will get $75 in rewards
- You will get $37.5 Steem Dollars and
- You will get $37.5 worth of Steem Power
Curators will share $25 worth of Steem Power
As long as there are people buying Steem, you can cash your rewards in. Recently there have been far more buyers, than people cashing rewards in, which explain the mighty appreciation in Steem value over the past month.
How to do a post
Click on Submit a Story (Near the top right of any page), Fill in the Title, Fill in your content and Tag it. Tagging is important as it adds your post to a topic. Look through the topic list and pick the ones which best reflect you content (or make your own tag if nothing suits). Write them in lower case, with a space between topics if you want to add multiple Tags
How to add a photo
I use https://imgsafe.org/ to host the photo. Upload the photo, Then click on it, Copy the URL and Paste it in your post where desired. You can view the preview to see whether everything is in order (below where you are compiling your post).
How to make bold font
#(Single Space)Words = Bigger
##(Single Space)Words = Big
Bigger
Big
General Site Navigation
Home page will always be Trending Content, but you can switch to Topics or Hot/New content by playing around with the 2 highlighted area's in the photo above
Drop Down Navigation Menu
Blog
You can see all your blogs you have ever posted. You can see how many votes and rewards you have..
Posts
You can see all the posts you have ever done, replies and blogs. You can see rewards earned, amount of upvotes and number of replies
Recent replies
This shows the most recent direct replies you have received. Giving you easy access to maintain a conversation/discussion with the community
Wallet
Your wallet shows all of your balances of Steem, Steem Power, Steem Dollars, and allows to to Power up Steem, Power Down Steem Power, and is a gateway to the internal market where you can trade Steem for Steem Dollar and Steem Dollars for Steem.
How to cash out
Steemit Search (Google)
If you want to search for particular information, easiest way is to go to google type of Steemit followed by what you want to know.... i.e. 'Steemit what is Steem dollars'
How will Steemit evolve
Best to let the founders tell you.. 
https://steemit.com/sip/@dan/escrow-sip-steem-improvement-proposal
https://steemit.com/steem/@dan/steemit-s-evil-plan-for-cryptocurrency-world-domination
Good Resources
http://steemtools.com
Charts: https://steemle.com/charts.php
Distribution: https://steemd.com/
Rich list: https://steemd.com/richlist
http://www.steemservices.com
If you have any questions; Don't hesitate to ask me anything..