I couldn't find the details about how to earn merit as a newbie, and how to earn sMerit, I think this information is not here in this forum. I understand making useful posts will earn merit but what it means?
I have written a few useful posts but I have only 1 merit. Someone liked one of them for sure but it wont be enough to rank up.
There might be few threads which are offering merits for the newbies/ Jr Members for the good posts.
You can write on this merit giveaway thread (
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5195967.msg52973742#msg52973742) with the post you think should be merit.