How do some our competitors get dozens if not hundreds of blogs to write random blurbs about thier topic (with the keyword/link)? I know they pay for this, but where do they find them?
Websites like smorty.com, payperpost.com, reviewme.com, and sponsoredreviews.com all pay bloggers to post about a website. They could also simply contact blog owners in their niche personally and ask for a review.
visit BST Forum and you will see lot of blog owners selling blogposts on their blogs. some blog owners sell review meaning they will write a short review of your site including your keyword hyperlinked to your site, others will make you submit an article which they will post on their blogs.
On my blog, I offer guest posting.This means that people can make a post (home business related) and they will get 2 links back to their site and full credit of the post, and I will get fresh content.