1. Find the right blogs. Good places to start looking are technorati.com and blogcatalog.com. Or go to googlealert.com and type in your search terms, and you will get daily alerts on the blogs in your chosen field.

2. Don't ignore the B-list blogs. Sure, I read the popular ones in my field: copyblogger, dosh dosh, men with pens, remarkable communications. But I often choose to leave comments on the smaller ones because I'd rather get the visibility that comes with being one of five commenters, rather than being buried in 50 or more readers' comments. Find some smaller, start-up blogs in your field and join the conversation. Your comment will definitely get noticed.

3. Have something to say. And I don't just mean, "Nice post" or "Great topic." Give some thought to this. Say something interesting. Make a comment that will add value and continue the conversation.

4. Show respect but don't be afraid to disagree. You can be provocative while still minding your manners. Maybe you read something helpful on the blogger's topic recently. Or maybe you had an experience that was totally different than the author of the post. Most bloggers will welcome differing views as long as you are respectful.

5. Sign your name with your business brand and link back to your own blog when appropriate. For instance, Judy Dunn, Cat's Eye Marketing. If you have recently written on the topic you are commenting on, it's appropriate to leave that link. But be sure the intent is to add to the conversation, not just to drive traffic back to your site.