The best way to gain merits on bitcointalk is to make sure that you make all the necessary available contributions that can help other members get answers to their questions and also make contributions that help the forum to grow to the next expected end, this is because most merits sources and other forum members are mostly interested in what you can offer as in form of help and also build the reputation that earns your that trust and acceptance from other forum members.

That being said, merits are earned but not begged for so for that you should work to earn merits and not demand for it this way.