It's been ages since I wrote on this subject, but recently thought I should revisit it and share some hopefully helpful tips from my experience. I joined the platform back in 2016, just two months after it was published and instantly fell in love with it - not only for the chance to share my thoughts and creative works, but also to make sense of the content others are creating and help those who are struggling despite putting in effort.
This led me on a curation journey where I joined the Curie group and continued to dig through the content in search of gems almost every single day until now. Here I'll write some things you can incorporate into your practice if you want to get more visibility and rewards for your work as an author, and it also might be helpful if you are a fellow curator to see my thought process.
Follow the platform rules
Let's get this out of the way immediately. Nothing will ruin your reputation faster than being caught doing something that is not aligned with rules or good practices of the platform. Post original content, verify your online accounts if necessary, thoroughly source images and quotes which are not yours, don't post the same content multiple times and familiarize yourself with guidelines in specific communities before posting - to mention a few.
Engage with other authors
This is the most important one. No matter how good your posts are, if you are just dropping them and then disappearing from the blockchain until next one, you won't receive the rewards or comments you wish for. Curators and other authors look for users who engage with others.
It will hugely pay off if you are responding to comments, reading other posts, entering community contests and prompts, reblogging posts you really enjoyed that should be seen by others or get higher rewards (make sure you don't overdo it and start spamming personal feeds). Sometimes it's necessary to take a step further and connect with others by joining discord groups.
As a curator, one of my favorite ways to discover new authors is by following comment sections and seeing who's making genuine effort by writing meaningful comments. Stay away from fake, simple comments where it's easy to see you didn't even read the article.
Post consistently
It is ideal if you write regularly so that everyone, authors and curators, familiarize with your schedule and have a reason to follow you and look forward to your next publication. Find active communities where you can write on weekly topics or create an ongoing series yourself. Don't let your followers wonder where you've disappeared, if there is no reason. :)
Work on improving your skills
To really earn your rewards always have a mindset of growing and improving yourself. With rewards on the line and by following other authors, there shouldn't be a lack of motivation to strive for mastery. Whether it's your photography skills, writing style, learning the English language and grammar - there's always room for improvement. Well structured posts created with a level of expertise have a better chance to receive bigger rewards. Don't try to copy others, use the opportunity to explore and show your own authenticity.
Patience is key
Over the years I've seen too many amazing authors give up on the platform quickly or just before they get discovered. Sometimes it might take certain time for your efforts to be consistently recognized, but if you follow what I share here sooner or later curation groups will pick up on you, especially if you are, as I suggested, engaged with the community otherwise. If you are still a beginner, don't focus solely on rewards - instead build a community around yourself and your mutual interests and it will start paying off.
Thanks for reading!
