How to play Tidehunter? How to play support?

Hi, I am learning the game (30 games at the moment) and decided to try Tidehunter because it is recommended for "new" players. I watched some videos in youtube (gameplay and full games) and read some guides.

I try to be very "supportive" going to the safe lane. There I try to get some denies and pull the lane a lot. In mid / late game I try to help my team mates with ganks as initiator (usually with) and in team battles with the ultimate and hopefully blink dagger + ultimate. I also try to place some wards (I have a map with recommended locations) and wander around the runes describing them to my partners. I play quite defensive and try to keep me alive.

This is the theory, the reality is that I suck. So far 8 games and a winning rate of 37.5% with tidehunter (my overall is 43.3%, bad anyway). In my last game with tide (lost) I did KDA 2 7 3, and in my previous one, which we won, I did 0 1 6. My best game 1 3 16, but usually my numbers are very low, like 2 0 6. The number of LH is always very low, and the number of D is also low. This means that my exp per minute is very low, so I am under lvled, also my gold per minute sucks, so I have problems to buy items, and I become very bad in late game.

I feel very very weak in 1v1 or team battles unless its ganking (stunning and running away).

I'd like to know how to play tidehunter properly, how to get more gold and exp, what should I do in lane phase, how can I be better in combats.

If any of you is intereted in any replay, this is my last game: https://dotabuff.com/matches/35951802

thank you!

EDIT: Great tips! best dota community! this is my last game https://dotabuff.com/matches/36065315 which I think I played better (3 1 10 in 30 minutes) but I think the game was an easy one