There are a bunch of blogs that post this topic. But I have noticed that they do not include extensive information about some subjects. One of those subjects is the specifics that will help during your social networking campaign.

A way I get traffic to my blog(s) is by designing a custom graphic, like a “stopping by to say hello” graphic, and then creating the html code and linking it on myspace comments. I have thousands of myspace friends, and I go to their pages and just post my comment code which brings in clicks. I am a graphic designer, so that helps. But you can do something simple with Photoshop or some other design program. You can also post bulletins and classifieds on social networks that allow it.

Another big way of driving traffic is to search for other blogs, and take part in commenting on their posts. The ones that allow you to imput your url, and name are best. When someone likes your comment, they click your name and go to your blog (or website). Just be sure not to spam them with a link inside of your comment. And be sure to make your comment relevant and in depth to add to their post. You will probably get a return comment by the blog owner too!

Write articles, and press releases. There are lots of free press release websites out there that you can submit to. They tend to rank very high in search engines and can easily drive traffic to your website. Write about what you know, and do your research to make the article or press release large. A large article that will keep a reader is much more valuable than a short one that doesn’t include all the essentials.

Submit your blog to directories, and rss feed sites. These sites specifically index rss, and will bring in some major traffic to quality blogs.

Utilize social indexing/bookmarking sites like reddit, digg, and others. These sites allow for a quick submission, and have a HUGE following

The free options out there are simply endless. It is just a matter of going out there and doing it. When you are just starting out a blog, it might seem like a major undertaking to drive traffic to it. But once you get the momentum, there is no stopping you. Remember that your determination is the biggest factor in getting readers. If you fail to post and maintain your blog, chances are it will fail miserably. Get er done!

I get people that ask me all the time about how to get listed in DMOZ. The facts are this. DMOZ is completely volunteer driven. I am one of MANY volunteers in this vast human edited directory. People tend to submit their website to DMOZ because they think it is the holy grail of search engine marketing. Sure, Google uses ODP (Open Directory Project) data, but it should not be your eggs in this one basket.

DMOZ volunteers are selective about the sites that they index. We only index sites that are unique meaning not like every other site in the directory. If you have a web development site, don’t expect to get listed in a day. You may end up sitting in queue for review for years.

Your best bet to get listed is to follow the submission guidelines to the letter. Avoid a bunch of ads on your site. Make sure your pages all work. Make sure your contact information is on your site. Make sure it does not contain illegal content. If you are not sure, then go to DMOZ and check the submission guidelines. Go over them thoroughly and don’t hit the submit button until you are 100% sure that your site will qualify for a listing.

NEVER offer an editor money for a listing. Chances are, your site will only get blacklisted for life if you do so because it is against the rules for editors to accept money. If you ask, we will blacklist you as a precaution so that we don’t have any fingers pointed at us in the future.

I know that there are lots of sites out there that offer bad advice. As an editor for DMOZ, let me tell you now. Just follow OUR directions, not someone else. It truly is your best bet. After you submit it, ignore it. You have done everything you can and the rest is simply a waiting game.

I just read a story about how the Texas Motor Sports company offered a radio dj $100,000 to change his name for one year, and to get a tattoo with their .com on himself permanently. With this idea, I am now for sale.

So here’s the deal. I am NOT willing to get the tattoo. My body is valuable real estate. Just ask my wife. But I AM willing to change my name to your .com for 1 year at a price of $100,000. I am NOT JOKING here. I am dead serious. I believe that this will generate HUGE publicity for you, AND for me.

After 1 year, I am going to change my name back legally to my original name. But in the meantime, I will be introducing myself to everyone as YourCompanyURL.com

Interested? Let me know!

I am currently accepting new big name clients for pr campaigns. When I say big name clients, I mean that you must be a celebrity, ceo, or another well known name.

The services I am open for at the moment is internet pr campaigns: damage control, brand promotion, event marketing, etc.

Again you MUST be a big name. My services are not cheap, and I have to be able to provide you with personalized service. If you meet this qualification, leave me a voicemail at 708-414-0343.

Marketing is something you can read about online. There are vast internet resources where you can go to, read, and become an “expert”. But the fact is that if you do not understand that marketing is an ever-changing industry, then your expert title will mean nothing. Being an expert doesn’t mean that you retain information that you read, and regurgitate it on request. Being an expert means being creative, and innovative on a daily basis.

Being creative and innovative sometimes means risking everything. There was that time when marketers left a device in the open public, and everyone thought it was a terrorist attack. I admit, people over-react, and mostly are stupid. The good thing is that you can capitalize on stupidity. But stupidity is not your greatest marketing tool.

Effective marketing stands out. Think about the absurd in current society, then come up with a way to use it in a way that generates attention. This is the formula to a successful marketing campaign that will become viral. Viral marketing explodes into leverage, which means that your advertising dollars have been recouped many times over.

Effective marketing in current society (America) would be some bald dude with a colorful tattoo on his head, and wearing wings or something. It has to stand out apart from the competition. DRTV uses this concept, but unfortunately many campaigns are way below the bar. There are commercials that you remember like the funny Geico lizard. Then there are those obscure commercials that simply remove themselves from your brain the instant that the 30 seconds are up.

Using the effective marketing concept paired with current technology such as social networking, and internet media, you can really make a branding dent with little effort past that of using your creative brain.

Feel free to mention your creative concepts below.

As an advertiser, what do you look for in a blog site when considering whether or not to buy ad space? Especially when a blog is non-specialized?

Consider this. The target blog reaches over 1 million readers every month. The blog publishes posts about everything from technical tutorials, to the wife not putting out. Do you advertise your product that cleans car rims?

Non-specialized sponsoring is a tough topic. There are blogs out there that are specific to an industry. Take problogger for example, who posts about creating a successful income from blogging. You can advertise your new blogging platform on that site, and probably get many downloads/purchases.

I would like your input here about whether or not you would advertise on a blog that is not specialized, and why or why not.

Looking for a way to keep your website updates with fresh content without having to actually spend time researching and typing? If you hire a blogger, you can get the content requirements that you need without using your precious time as an investment. You can find bloggers to write 1,000 word articles for as cheap as $8 a piece.

If you need someone, I am available. I have various knowledge, but am able to research any subject based on your need. Blogging, if you don’t know, is the best way to get search engine spiders like googlebot to stay on your website, constantly indexing.

I recommend WordPress as your blogging platform, and I can install it if needed. I find that WordPress has a bunch of free, essential plugins that allow your blog to be search engine friendly, and integrate with social networks and other modern media.

When someone says blog marketing, you tend to think about comment spamming. You would either go somewhere and submit a copy/paste comment on a related (or unrelated) blog, or you would get an automated software to do it for you. The problem with that is that blogs like mine, which provide unique quality content require admin approval for comments. Your spam can easily be picked out by simply glancing at it. We also notice the link you submit and how it may or may not be related to our blogs. What happens then? Your spam is sent to the trash can. It never makes it to live viewing.

Blog marketing in an ethical way though is a very good thing. Not only does it help your traffic and link building, but it helps the blog that you posted on because you are contributing a valuable comment to the website. We as blog owners appreciate this.

When attempting a blog marketing campaign, you should search blog directories such as Technorati for blogs that are related to your website. You can open them up in tabs on your browser, and read one of the posts on them that you find interesting. You can then post a relevant comment that adds to what they said, or explains why you agree or disagree with the author.

Most blogs will allow you to provide your url, which gets posted to your name. When someone sees your valuable comment, and likes it, they will click your name and go to your website.

I invite you to do some blog marketing right here, and post a valuable quality comment.