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Each day I think of ways I could possibly help Steemit newcomers by providing information and suggestions that I wish someone had helped me with from the moment I decided to open an account. 

 **I want us all to be successful and to get the most out of our time here!**

Without considerable research, most of us are lost in how to go about using the site most effectively.  

There are several posts on the site that will help but you have to actually make a point to look for this information from dozens of accounts. 

So to help others, I decided today to read as much as I could possibly find and compile my findings in one post. 

This cuts out a lot of work for the rest of you and I gain some *personal satisfaction* in knowing I have done my part to help the community. 

**What is Reputation Score? Why is it most relevant in being a successful Steemian?**

Each Steemit account starts off with a reputation score of 25, which may seem like a lot but in comparison to other accounts of 70+, it truly isn't. 

Your reputation score should be important to you because it determines the  likelihood of your comments, posts being read and upvoted. 

Upvotes are the *only* means of raising your reputation score. Reputation score is **not** connected to your Estimated Account Value or the amount of SP (steem power) your account currently holds. 

**How you interact with others in the Steemit network can either make or break you!**

There are several factors that will determine an increased or decreased reputation score. 

 -Spamming in the comment section will decrease your score, so be thoughtful in your behavior here!

 - Deliberate plagiarism and outright stealing should be avoided at all costs!  **Cite your sources and always give credit if you use material from another author**. 
 
 - Higher reputation scores can affect accounts with lower scores, not vice versa. 
 - As you rise in reputation score, it becomes increasing difficult to increase your score. For example, it may be 10 times harder to go from 25 to 26 as mentioned in this post from a fellow Steemian, ilyastarar.
 [Reputation Score 101 : What is Steemit Reputation Score, How is It Calculated and Why Should We Bother?](https://steemit.com/utopian-io/@ilyastarar/reputation-score-101-what-is-steemit-reputation-score-how-is-it-calculated-and-why-should-we-bother)

Your reputation score should be something you guard with your  life as it determines how much you have added to the community. 

*My account info clearly states that I love building community so naturally, I am going to want to protect my reputation.* 

As someone who recognizes the value of alternative networks, I want to increase my reputation score as often as I can. 

For me, that means researching more, understanding  how things work, improving my skills, helping newcomers whenever an opportunity presents itself and producing **quality** work. 

Photo by rawpixel.com on Unsplash