If you want some of the best stats on where merit is being awarded and such, I tried to link them on my thread:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2979706.0
    
Newb To Newbs: Gaining Merit Fast!

I can tell you I learned a lot from starting that topic

#1 People who genuinely need help appreciate having one place to look for good information. Instead of wading through all the BS.

#2 For some reason merit sources and old accounts absolutely hate it if you create a thread that organizes and links to other important threads. They've already read it all, and you aren't doing anything that specifically benefits them.

#3 Don't make threads to benefit #1 because they don't have any merit!