The start was the slowest part. It took me about 5 months to get 300sp and about 200 followers. I wasn't that active and didn't know anybody on the site to start with so it was very slow going. I was just learning everything as i went along by myself.
In the last couple of months I am know pushing 1000sp and almost at 500 followers so it does take a lot of effort to get started but gets much easier as you grow and gain more followers.