What Does it Take?

What does it take to get noticed in an arena where apparently no one is either interested in what you say or do?  Is it all about--the sex appeal--that's never really real?  Is it about cronyism or nepotism?  Or is it just favoritism?  How is a person supposed to know if no one ever tells them--what it takes to engage others in your endeavors or at least as participants--no comments, no nothing--why is that?  What does it take--really to garner the attention of those who need to read and to pay attention to what is going on around them? When you discover it or if you discover what it takes--let me in on it.  Thanks!