Growth in the steemit community is continuous and can be rapid, if the right methods are applied. I've been in the community for a while and in that time, I've learnt a lot about the growth system, from friends, personal research, and the posts of community members. I've put together this work to help community members, especially the new ones (minnows) grow as much as I'm growing too. In my own little way, I like to add value wherever I find myself.
BEING A PART OF THE COMMUNITY:
"In order to grow in the steemit community, you can't just be in the community, you have to be a part of it."
Think of it like any other social media platforms, meet people on steemit chat, make friends, interact, and have fun.
ADDING VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY :
You have to think of ways to add to the community. Let this be evident in your involvement, your posts, your comments on other posts. Someone said in a post I saw recently
"Think of what you can do for steemit and not what steemit can do for you. "
HAVE FUN WHILE ON STEEMIT:
As a steemite, your main aim of being in the community shouldn't be to earn money, It should be to have fun. Steemit is a fun place to be, so while you're here, enjoy the fun of it, and let the money earned be an added bonus.
"It's like having fun, and being paid for it. "
YOUR POSTS ON STEEMIT:
There is the constant subject of quality content on steemit, and it cannot be overemphasized. I think that before you post anything, the post should have some qualities
(a) Is it Entertaining?
(b) Is it True?
(c) Is it Inspirational?
(d) Is it Educational?
(e) Is it Original?
BIG REPUTATION:
Your Reputation is the number beside your username.
" and just like humans, most of the time, your steemit Reputation precedes you."
Because of this, members work really hard to increase their reputation.
From my observations, reputations increase by the amount of recognition/upvotes/likes that you get on posts. Also the number of posts you put up generally, knowing that a comment on another post, is recorded as a post on your profile.
The way your posts are going to get upvoted/recognized, is if it is seen and liked by members. Now, everyone can see your post, but every other second, someone posts on steemit, given the fast growing number, so it's hard for a reader to keep up. Hence, the majority of people who will see your post are those who follow you or if you post has a particular tag. And the way you're going to get followed is if you're active, and Interactive.
*Try to be consistent >> post, Upvote, and comment regularly.
*Let your comments show that you read, understood, and can relate to a post.
*Update your profile >> Let your profile reflect a little bit of your personality.
I haven't written everything there is to know, but I hope this piece is helpful to someone. I've shared little knowledge, make your observations and research. Resteem so that others can read too, follow me 
Image credit: google