### I'm going to divulge some secrets how to make more money as an author and curator of steem.  #1 of a 5 Part Series 

![easy-money-maker-tips1of5.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmNgqCaxHkLppqgAepZ8aDKkAQJxFB5kceAFiYxwGeqj8N/easy-money-maker-tips1of5.jpg)

I have a lot to say on the subject, and while I'm not super rich (yet)... I know what it takes, it is just a matter of time and effort.  However I seem to rub shoulders on this system with other people who get it horribly wrong, and I can't bear to watch it anymore.

## LESSON #1: THE BASICS
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#### 1. Don't make people angry all the time

LOL. This one sounds simple.  But believe it or not, there are people on this system that spend most of their energy making people upset and angry.  I have no idea how that seems like a great idea to them, but it does.

How do you NOT make people angry all the time?

* Don't engage in constant debates
* When two people are arguing, don't jump in the middle and now make three people arguing
* Don't post controversial stupid stuff that is going to get praise from 5% of people that follow you, and upset 95% of those who follow you
* You like large graphics? Animated pictures and memes?  Use them in moderation. Don't give people headaches when they are trying to read your content with color and picture overdose.
* Don't constantly complain to the point, your concerns become non-stop ranting
* Be positive more than negative. Try to find the good in things, negative press is just so overwhelming. We want to hear about good things too
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#### 2. NEVER BEG or PLEAD for followers or votes

* If you start writing sentences like "please follow me. I will follow you"... you're already on the wrong track.  Believe me, you're not the first person to ask this question.  When you do that, this is what people hear:

"Hi! I'm the 1,503 person to have posted follow me, I'll follow you. Would you like to hear this again?"

NO!!  We've seen that, read that from 1,502 other people.  You instantly make us angry.  (see rule #1 above - don't make people angry)

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### 3. Try to do some actual work in your posts

* Can't I just find a youtube video that I made, and stick it on here, and copy a describing paragraph?
   ** Umm... this isn't youtube.  We know you're recycling content.  How much do you think you'll get paid to just copy/paste one of your own vidoes and not do anything extra special here for steem users?
* But the video I made took time!  I edited it! I did a lot of work on the video!
  ** Yes, I know, but that was for your youtube audience. Not your steemit audience.  Most steemians don't have time to sit and watch every video presented to them here just to see if a post is worthwhile.   Post a transcription of it.. Or better yet, talk about what's in the video a little bit (3-4 paragraphs) and the reasons why someone should sit there and play it.  That takes extra effort and extra work.  Your followers appreciate and reward extra effort and extra work.  It will reflect on how many people upvote you

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### 4. Your followers are NOT your groupies. Understand the difference.

* Groupies of musical bands will stand in the rain for hours on end next to a tour bus in order to just get a smile from the lead singer as he steps off the bus.
* Your followers are not your groupies. They won't stand in the rain for you.
* Many of your followers, are my followers too.  Who's posts are more important? Mine, or yours? ANSWER: NEITHER
* You're not the same classification as Stephen King, or any other best selling writer out there.  So when it says you have 1,600 followers, please don't let that go to your head.  It just means you have a slighter greater chance of your writing to be seen (but not necessarily loved)

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### 5. The price of STEEM goes up when it is in demand.  When is the last time you bought some? Even $10 worth?

* You can actually help the price of steem by buying some and powering up with it every now and then.  If just ten people bought $10 worth, that would be $100 worth pulled off the exchange and brought back here, where it belongs. :)
* How about friends and family?  What if they want to put $50 or $100 into owning a tiny piece of something.   The way this system works, I bet you STEEM will outlast Bitcoin.  (I should write a post as to why.. but generally a popular social media place like this doesn't die... ever..)
* STEEM POWER, even just sitting there, makes more steem power.  _Didn't know that?_   Write down your steem power balance today.  Come back in 48 hours and look again.  It just went up.   So buying steem, converting to, and holding steem power is a good investment. At least I really do think so..  so do big investors that are doing the same.
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Now the basics are just the basics. They are important though.

### Getting an out-of-the-box look of this place puts things into perspective. It is important that you have the right frame of mind and good perspective before you start making more money here.

Lesson #2 (in another post soon) will get a little more involved, so stay tuned (and you already know how to do that).

Q: @intelliguy why should I listen to any of this?
A: First of all, I've been on here more than a year, and I've seen this place grow up.  I dissect and reverse engineer situations and take the time to identify the elements.

Most of all, if what I say has the ring of truth to it, and makes sense, then why wouldn't you listen to it?  Open up your mind and you may be surprised on how some of this will actually help you.

I'm on day 15/30 of my [positivity challenge.](https://steemit.com/life/@intelliguy/great-idea-i-have-accepted-the-30-day-positivity-challenge-can-you-take-it)
![](https://steemitimages.com/0x0/https://steemitimages.com/DQmaJe2Tt5kmVUaFhse1KTEr4N1g9piMgD3YjPEQhkZi3HR/30day-positivity-challenge.jpg)

**Side note:** _A couple days ago, I went from reputation 65 to 66._  That single jump took me about 6 full months, reputation is not easily earned the higher you go.  A good tool to check yours is explained [in this blog post](https://steemit.com/steemit-help/@edje/understanding-reputation-and-statistics-with-steem-cool-tool-a-qreview) by @edje called [http://steem.cool/](http://steem.cool/)  or for a more comprehensive breakdown see [https://steemwhales.com](https://steemwhales.com)