Your post would have stood out on trending and that will make you a target for downvotes if you bought votes. If you look on Steempeak those downvotes will be very clear.

The fact is that even getting on trending is not going to make you that visible due to the low number of active Steem users (for now). Most people who have been here a while will not even look there. I don't know how many of your thousands of followers are active, but you could be doing the right thing by interacting with commenters. Engagement is the key.

Try posting without buying votes and see how it goes. I would hope people would not continue to downvote you, but it is an individual choice. You may make less, but making anything is good.

Have fun.