Create a quiz on your blog. Provide interesting content found else where on the net in your blog. Yes you may loose that visit but they are likely to return to see what other fun stuff you have found. Remember the webs a big place.
I own a blog and the best thing I've come across is StumbleUpon. It really works. Also Guest Blogging on major blogs will help get your blog's name out there.
Wow! Some great tips so far, I'm pleased we are all coming together! Here's another tip from me: Link out to blogs in the same niche as you, they will notice the in-bound link and check your site out. They may keep reading it and link to one of your blog posts in the future.
One way to add visitors to your blog is to create "survey" about your blog, viewers usually would like to provide their opinion about your blog or site, by making a survey you can identify reasons on why do you think they will come back, also do specify at the end of the survey to provide comments, suggestions or anything else that visitors can interact directly to you on what they want or expect with your blog.
There are more or less 4 main tips for promotion : 1. Content : This is the most important of them all. No content - No use. It need not necesarily be original but it must be good and useful. 2. Social Bookmarking : This is a important aspect as most of the search results for blogs in google turn up witha dig, technorati, etc link. 3. Word of words : Advertise it in all your forum postings by putting the link in signature. Get your friends to do this, etc. 4. Bulk mailing : This may be a black hat method but if you do it only once and not spam people'e mailbox, it would be good. You could introduce your blog to people
blog theme should be attractive which can attract people.. Social Bookmarking, Blog directory submission is also best idea....
give free report or ebook if possible. people love free gift put your link at the cover page. Then give permission to anybody who download the ebook to give it to their friend. their promoting your site at the same time their give it to other people.
" Certainly some good ideas here, sounds like lots of work though." Once you get the big picture and make a plan, go forward ONE STEP at a time. Time is on your side. Work with it. Not against it.