Steemit doesn't monetize its platform with advertisements. Rather, it uses the following ways to earn money. Steemit makes money when its users invest into Steem Power so their posts can be seen by a larger audience, thus getting more votes which translates into more money.
Steem – Their tradable cryptocurrency (utility token) that you can buy and sell on exchanges. Steem can also be used on the Steemit platform and can be powered up into Steem Power, traded for Steem Dollars, and transferred to other accounts.
Steem Power – Steem Power is often referred to as the frozen Steem. It is held by content creators and is used to increase their influence on the Steem Network. The more Steem Power they hold, the more value their posts and upvotes have. The more value their posts and upvotes have, the more is the reward potential.
Steem Dollars – The stable cryptocurrency, designed to be pegged to US$1, that serves as a way for content contributors to know exactly how much they are getting paid. It can be traded with Steem and can be transferred to other accounts.