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You build bonds with others. It's crucial. You also employ persistence, passion and hard work. You do what is calling you. And you do it often, and you engage with others in a meaningful way that is not selfish.

You do not fight the 'market'(your potential audience) , you produce services/products/content that it determines. Observe, study, learn: - you will discover patterns, which you can eventually "predict". My experience is you do not have to "figure things out" and guess what to write/produce etc. Simply observe. Listen.
What is Hot/Trending/Active/upvoted/Commented on? Provide THIS. That is what the market/your audience wants.
Secondly, cultivate and grow relationships with your audience. Treat them like family/your best friend/your dog/a plant that needs watered every day. Your first 10 audience are your primary 'sales-team'. Follow everyone who follows you. Upvote their posts, comment, say hello. Watch what happens :)
Third, invest in yourself. Doesn't need to be money. Read, study, learn, get a mentor or two.

I suggest this question, which I ask myself on a regular basis. If you are not willing to invest in yourself, why should anyone else invest in you?

The hard work/road to getting there is an Investment in our future selves , not a Cost.

What a great post! Thank you for very good advice! I wish I could upvote it more than once