The other thing that's sort of critical for it is enticing like minded (or those you enjoy a debate with) people to join. Post articles and get conversations going with those you already converse with... more will join in eventually/inevitably.
We have a lot of friends... more of them should be active here, especially given all of the free discussions Facebook is getting from them. I've moved to 100% only posting links to things I want to talk about on FB... links to me talking about them on here.
Related post on how to best support each other:
https://steemit.com/steemit/@secondstar/opinion-resteeming-minnows-is-more-important-than-upvoting-them-2017717t103731300z
hahahahahaha...that's certainly one way to get them over here for sure :P
I think it's really the only way... lol.
"You want to argue with me about something? Fine... here's where you have to go to do it!"
God knows they love to argue with me...