So, I've been on steem a whopping 2 days now and I wanted to share some observations about what seems to make a post successful. I have tried several different posts, but they have not done much, maybe this one will be different!

Here's a short video I made to introduce the article.

Write About Something That Matters

When you look at the top posts, they are all interesting. In fact, you may say, "I've always wondered that"! If nobody cares about what you are writing, your post won't be successful.

To start, determine the main idea of the post. This could be hummingbirds, the space-time continuum, the last episode of Lost, or whatever. Just make sure that you have a clear subject of the post.

Start with an outline

You may have heard the saying, begin with the ending in mind. Did you know that JK Rowling had the entire Harry Potter series before she started the first book? It's true. Making a plan will keep you on subject and make sure you don't leave anything out. A great way to plan is to create an outline. An example outline is below:

• Main Idea
  • Sub Idea
    • Component
    • Component
  • Sub Idea
    • Component
    • Component
  • Sub Idea
    • Component
    • Component
• Conclusion

Write A Lot, Then Cut The Fat

Don't worry about making your post perfect on the first try. You should write more than you need, and when you read through it, rearrange it and trim it to make it flow and stay interesting. Write your first draft quickly, this should flow from your brain. Once your first draft is down, start polishing.

Use Formatting and Media

You need to make sure your article is easy to read. Use the markdown guide to help.

Only use images that you have permission to publish. These are images that either have been licensed for reuse, images you pay to use, or the best option, create your own!

Original Content

Whatever your subject, make sure to use original content. You aren't going to copy and paste someone else's work and make a thousand bucks, not going to happen. Take the time to develop your idea and bring it to life on Steemit!

Conclusion

I hope this guide is helpful, I wrote it mainly to get these concepts into my brain. If you find this helpful, please share it to your other social media, and upvote.

You can do it!

Have something to add? Leave it in the comments below!