This article in the Times discusses various ways that bloggers drive up hits (including those old stand-bys, providing good content and posting every day). However, it seems to have neglected one really easy way to send your hits through the roof: get mentioned in a New York Times article...
Reminds me of a recent show I saw on CNN, where they were discussing Hillary Clinton and whether or not the media was spending too much time on her. *cough* *cough*