Honestly, I think even if you are creating good content, it's pretty damn hard to get noticed. Some might put in hours of work, only to be rewarded with a few cents in SBD. Now, there are many ways to "game" the system through self-voting, etc. However, I feel that perhaps the more effective way to go about Steemit is to not only produce good content but also to acquire good relationships with other Steemians that will eventually become your true fans. I feel in order to earn money here, you just have forget about the whole earning money thing and treat it like a hobby or a passion project.

Besides, with fewer expectations, there are fewer disappointments. Anything that comes out better than what you expected counts as a bonus.