Don't forget to mention useful bots (not @clveverbot, but upote and resteem bots) which boost your content irrespective of the quality. After reaching a certain baseline of SDB income you can pay those bots and things become very much easier. You can earn the necessary SDB by simply comment other posts.
At least that is my experience. Since trying out bots things went uphill.
Good point, bots play a huge role ..however you have to know the best ones isnt it?