There are three simple rules for how to write a killer blog post; unfortunately, nobody knows what they are. Let's do 100, instead . Time to upgrade your trusty blog-writing toolbox with your choice of the many ways to write it, get it read, and get it linked better .

1. Ask a blogger for a favor , especially if you have no intention of reading their blog. Bonus points for starting your request like-a-so: "Hi, I don't read your blog, but would you mind..." 2. Use messaging on social networking sites ( StumbleUpon , MyBlogLog ) to ask people to visit your site. Bonus points for not visiting the sites of those you ask. 3. Sport the dollar signs in your eyes with pride. Whether it be links, traffic or money, we're all here to serve you . Demonstrate your dedication to self-enrichment with every comment, email and post. 4. Avoid writing comments that resemble actual conversation. Comments that begin and end with "Great post!", "I agree!", or "Ditto!" are best. Bonus points for fawning. 5. Copy another blogger's content. Bonus points for not linking to their original post. They love that. Gold star for submitting your copy to Digg. 6. Borrow heavily from another blogger's post

This article is for those who have read metric tons of "how to get traffic" articles and either: have yet to see encouraging results, or just want to find out what this so-called "guaranteed 1-step plan" is. The typical list we're familiar with looks something like this: Use social networking Link effectively Comment well Be active on forums Blah Blah Blah to the Blah That's all fine advice (especially the "blah" part), but we'd all appreciate more than recycled versions of the conventional wisdom. Conventional wisdom is valid as far as it goes, but also tends to be overly-general and far from guaranteed. Let's change that. The 1-Step Plan To Get Readers For Your Blog Have A Conversation With One Person As in, two-way communication. Dialogue. One-on-one. A real, actual conversation. You might link to other blogs, write good content and comment all over the place, but how often do you actually connect with someone else t

The people listed below are but a small selection of the outstanding commenters here at FTM, each of whom has a blog well worth checking out. The comments section of a blog is where its true life is. While monologuing has its place (particularly when a would-be hero lies helpless in your clutches), dialog is the true key to success in the world of words that is the blogosphere. For challenging us with your unique perspective, raising the level of dialog, or just being plain sassy , I salute you: Ms. Q : An amusing muse Jonathan Philips : Reservoir of positivity Liz Strauss : The original SOB Avinash : Just cool Jesse Somer : Bane of the impetuous Kumiko : Certifiably enthusiastic Andy Beard : Remarkably sane Two Knives : Whose blades are not ceremonial.

Jesse of Blogspoke is; I, myself, am not. I've been talking to him about it at his blog, and I think it's a great conversation to have. Sure, blogging-for-money is a wading pool of low expectations. Low barrier of entry, little-to-no risk and, frankly, full of folks easily amused by splashing around without accomplishing much of anything. However, it's full of potential; and - as I told Jesse - although it's easy to get snarky about all the wannabes out there (which I do on occasion, and could be accused of being one, too,) there are people out there with a vision for how they want it to be, who raise the level wherever they go. Walking the talk, so to speak. Technology will eventually get us to a place where our online activities become a part of - or even integral to - how we earn our income. Will that future have room for lowest-common-denominator thinking, writing, and marketing to the level that it exists online today? I don't think so; but getting there will

Scenario #1 If you: Regularly create high quality, valuable content Actively promote your blog Don't make a reasonable hourly wage You are UNDERPAID. Scenario #2 If you: Spend more time checking ad/earning stats than creating high-quality, valuable content Are more interested in monitoring traffic than promoting your blog Also don't make a reasonable hourly wage Whatever trickle of income (if any) you're making is JUST RIGHT - get used to it. If you are a Scenario #1 blogger: Keep doing what you're doing; you will likely be rewarded sooner or later. You are a winner. If you are a Scenario #2 blogger: Punt the ads, get off the daily traffic rollercoaster and spend your time doing something productive; like building and promoting a blog you can be proud of. Winners do it. That is all.