Make intelligent comments on other peoples posts more. Choose reasonably popular posters on topics you are interested in and can leave valuable feedback on. Choose a mixture of whales, dolphins and minnows to posts comments on. Some of my best upvoted comments actually came from giving helpful advice to minnows! Whales noticed me being helpful and upvoted.
You will find it easier to get noticed commenting than posting until you have a large following and a name for yourself. Commenting will get you followers.
Another strategy I use is to never vote for myself. I vote for people that leave intelligent comments on my posts. This encourages more follower interaction and thus more upvotes for me from others.