I have been on Steemit for about 2 months and i have read hundred of posts so far. I even tried to write my own articles without any success. Reading the top rated articles made it clear to me that my posts were not at the same level.
So, i have thought some ways to make my posts better:
1) Post original content
Steemit users (especially whales) values original content. You should write about a topic that you have knowledge about it. Do you love reading books ? Write about it. Have you a passion or hobby ? Write about it, don't hesitate.
Copying articles from other sources or rewriting the popular posts on the front page wont earn you any money.
2) Find a catchy title
I remember this advice from my elementary school teacher. Always try to find a good and catchy title for your article(essay,post etc) . That's how a user will click and read your post. It shouldn't be too short nor too long. Also, it's better to leave it for the end of your post, after you finish writing it.
3) Good English
As you have probably noticed i'm not a native English speaker. But in order to write a good post on Steemit you should have good knowledge of English. My advice on this, is to practice (makes perfect ?) yourself writing articles .
Avoid grammar mistakes and use simple language. After 10-15 posts i think your English will improve.
4) Choose the right images
Images are a big part of Steemit posts. Check the top articles on the front page yourself and see how each of them has 2-3 images or even more. Find 8-10 images that can be used in your post and decide which of them are the most appropriate. Don't overuse them and don't forget to link the source if are not yours.
5) Choose the right tags
You should choose carefully 5 appropriate tags for your post. Don't put random tags , choose the right ones.
Try to write the popular tags that you see on the right of the steemit front page if they are relevant with your article.Those tags can make your post more visible on the community.