I think Steem's image depends on many factors. That the founders have little sense for new innovation is well known. The usability of Steemit is a joke. Currently, the advertisement hides the profile info above.
Everyone who is active here can help to improve the image. I myself promote content from the Steem Frontend in other social networks and that produces good signals of visibility. Besides all the technical factors where the witnesses and developers are in demand, we should not forget the marketing. Marketing is all about visibility. I am professionally involved in marketing matters and see that there are only few signals for Steem viewed from the outside. Accordingly, Steem content is totally under-represented in the search engines.
Since the Merketing is not made by the makers of the Steem Blockchain, the users have to do it themselves.
The users who believe in this ingenious blockchain like me can do a lot for marketing. Share any content wherever possible. It only takes some time and everyone should take the few minutes each day. Just recently I started a new subreddit on Reddit. There is already a similar one. However, this other subreddit refers exclusively to Steemit. My Subreddit is intended for the complete Steem Blockchain including all DApps.
Reddit is the strongest website on the web in terms of authority and we should use this marketing tool to promote the complete Steem blockchain. It costs nothing, just a little bit of time and it is effective!
Join my subreddit and spray your content into the world.
https://www.reddit.com/r/SteemBlockchain
Rule # 1 in Marketing: Create Visibility! Every single Steemian can participate.
Think of Doge. In fact, this coin only lives through its very loyal and strong Reddit community! Without Reddit, Doge would not exist. There could be also a Steem community outside the Steem Blockchain like a sitechain. I think that without these measures, which work from the outside for the Steem Blockchain, this blockchain has no real chance to grow up.
The technical side is one, the other side is marketing. Both have to work together.