I’m out there every day for you folks, trying to find new and interesting stuff to help you punch up your blogs and help out your bottom line, but man, this is always a surprise.

Today, I give you validation out of nowhere.

I’ve been consulting a list of blog points on web entrepreneur Seth Godin’s blog, and one of his–number fourteen–was almost exactly the same as one I gave you maybe two weeks ago.  Check this out:

14. Be snarky.  Write nearly libelous things about fellow bloggers, daring them to respond (with links back to you) on THEIR blog.

Okay, I don’t suggest libel, or even NEAR libel, but the idea of combining two of my earlier concepts–comment on other people’s blogs and be snarky–is entirely too exciting an idea not to mention.  Plus, it’s always awesome to see that other people you’ve never heard of think about the same way you do; it’s something like validation of your thought process.  Naturally, you want a few new and interesting ideas that no one else has had, but when others in the field occasionally think like you do, it’s a good sign that an idea’s got some heart.

So if you’re thinking about starting that minor flame war on your blog, folks, then be sure to invite someone else along for the ride!

Popularity: 3% [?]

Strange question to ask, I know–but sometimes, in blogging, one of the surest ways to get attention is to pick a fight.  I don’t mean that in the tradtional sense, of course, I mean that in the new blogosphere sense, in which you find a blog you disagree with, work up a list of reasons why they’re wrong, and tip them off in the hopes that you’ll get a counter argument going from the other end that, in turn, references you.

Sure, you can go in guns blazing, with a big post entitled “Why This Blogger Shouldn’t Be Allowed To Breed” or “Five Reasons Why This Blogger Is Too Dumb To Tie His Own Shoes”, but these strategies are more likely to get you ignored, or possibly sued.  There’s nothing wrong with a little snark–it keeps your readers engaged–but it’s like any spice; too much will ruin the soup that is your blog.  It’s also better to keep your snark targeted at governments or corporations who are used to this sort of thing anyway and will look horrible going after a lone blogger in the media.  Any time you can accurately use phrases like “David Vs. Goliath-style matchup” or “picking on” in a description between you and them, it’s probably a safe target.

But keep your cool, have your reasons well in hand, and let fly with an occasional barb or three and you should be able to get some attention, some links, and some traffic.

Popularity: 2% [?]