This sums up all it needs:

Create content that either educates or makes people laugh.
Consider using a little profanity in your content, this is not Facebook, you won't get banned and it adds spice.
Do you have a 2016 account and a vote that's worth 1c? Your level of commitment speaks volumes. Why should the community give you large votes if you send it all the Binance?
How about a new account, born yesterday? You might get some initial support but it will likely dwindle. Long content is king, this might not feel right to you... it just is!
Don't ignore comments on your posts, always respond.
If you want instant rewards, leave the HP powered up, convert the HBD and sell that. I powered up ALL my rewards for a good two years before extracting a cent, but that's me!
Don't be tempted to steal anyone else' content, or use others' images without sourcing them. @hivewatchers will find you; there are people actively looking for abuse.
Make sure it looks good, it needs to be presentable. Use Grammarly to fix spelling mistakes, it's free to use.
Persevere, just like I did. You will be ‘working’ for less than minimum wage, but don’t count it as ‘work’.

Adding that each person is unique and needs to figure out the variables of the above guideline, which is sound and full of common sense.

Nice reading about your Steem Hive story. By the way, we've met for a couple of minutes at HF3 in Kraków, at the concert in the room below, I've joined your table, where Steve, anyx and some other have been.