Welcome to the platform :)
So yeah make yourself cozy, don't get into arguments, if you don't want problems. Make sure you produce good and uplifting content or at least try your best in whatever field you are in.
Join the chat, find your interests and support the people https://steemit.chat
Markdown is used for formatting, I can answer any questions you have. Or go to the Welcome page for some selected posts.
I will tell you where I like to be :D, normally I'm all over the place but I do return to some places like @krnel (who's blog I would like to read fully, can't seem to be getting there :D ) for some political/scientific/philosophical content
Also, you can visit friendly blogs like @kus-knee (since he provides incentives for comments) and is an awesome person.
There are also other great personalities here, I can't follow everything after all @aksinya if you are into art, many great writers, poets, musicians, dunno what you like :)
anyways feel free to ask away :) I for one have dealt with the same problems
Good initiative, startups need help I feel like, I for one spent months befoe I started posting then I had to face the harsh reality too, but I pulled out a few all-nighters and here I am 150 followers :D Yay :) , I would say go conversing on good posts and good topics, be cool with people and they will love you :)
Don't feel down, 20 people saw your post that at least pays out the invested time, I can't read now :D but will check it tomorrow. some suggestions, get into conversations as stated by @mctiller and save the best for last in a way, my first post made close to nothing but it taught me the value of hard work plus the views I got at least gave me hope at least somebody saw it. Even if no one did the fact that I stood and wrote something was rewarding in it's own right. And on top of that I had 2 months of reading before that :D
I'm trailing off so here is a link if you want to see 80% of the votes are from people who's posts I visited and asked for help and the post promotion chat. I'm not sure if I knew of it back then now that I think about it.
How to be a Master>Play :) Train and Think and repeat :D now I have 12 posts :D and still am missing on the response I would like to receive for the time spent at least. :D
Cheers! Welcome! Good Luck!