There is no one way to achieve success as a poet or a writer, and indeed, in many ways you must choose what that success will be and how you get there. You define success in publishing by choosing which elements are important to you, measuring how much of each you want, and in some cases deciding whether you are going to invest time or money in any of these things. Always check a publisher's guidelines before sending in your work and consult a lawyer before signing any contracts. Don't be afraid to ask questions and to expect comprehensible answers. It is an unfortunate fact of literary publishing that it yields little money, especially for poets.
Many writers end up receiving a few free copies of the printed work and no more.
More often than most would like, no payment is available and the writer must settle for the honor of being published and the hope that publication will prove a career enhancement and reputation builder. This is not unusual, especially when you publish with small presses and literary magazines whose editors work at producing quality literature, not for profit but as a labor of love. Some organizations ask that the writer pay them to produce printed copies of the work. These businesses offer basic printing and sometimes even promotional services for a fee, which may be sizable. Presses are usually run by editors who work with the writer to present the work in the best light possible.