I think it is all about not giving up, and bugging people in a positive way. Always appearing everywhere you can and talking about your project. Most of us give up right before reaching success or get discouraged right in the beginning, because there are no immediate success. I joined the project because of @Azizbd, the creator of the project. Because he was involved and always trying to do things for his school. The school existed before steemit, for more than a year. It did not have huge success, it was struggling at the beginning, for a lonbg while. But it kicked off because Mohammed(@Azizbd) never gave up. That is my tiny piece of advice.

I do agree that people are jaded these days. I, for one, do not trust most things I see asking for money. What helped me was seeing constant progress and posts as well as hearing @Azizbd speak on discord. It raised a certain level of trust in me.

The best of wishes!