WH newbs questions, everyone gets things cleared :)

Okay so this is the case:

I have a WP site up, with some 10-15 articles ranking not so good (working on it). Mostly I do article submission to article directories, manual blog posting, manual forum profile links.

I'm currently #37 and I have some questions that would help if answered.

Here we go:

1.When submitting articles why submit more than 1 article, do more backlinks from one domain count? If not what's the point in submitting more than one article per directory (I am submitting more than one per directory, just don't know why)?

2. For blog posting, I've heard niche related comments are better. Not niche-related can help or not( i know that count but still)? Any way to speed up the commenting (not automating, like with SB)?

3. How to keep akismet from blacklisting me? Blocking commenting from IP? Is proxy the only solution?

4. On forums if i put the link (with or without anchor text) in the signature and comment a lot, will I get any SEO benefit?

5. This would prove most helpful for all newbs: How many links a day would be the best?
Article submission: X
Blog commenting: X
Forum profiles: X

Don't have to answer everything, pick one and help me out, someone will pick another one

Thanks a lot!

1. Well I have submitted to multiple directories and have the same article showing up for more than 1 backlink in Yahoo Site Explorer. I'm assuming that this means that more than 1 backlink is counting.

2. Related ones are probably better but sometimes VERY hard to find. I find high PR blogs and normally make a manual comment so I know it will be approved.

3. If you don't want to worry about Askimet don't blast to Wordpress blogs. There are other blog platforms you can use Scrapebox with without worries even if you did get banned by Askimet.

4. I don't understand this question.

5. Just do something each day. I don't think there is a perfect schedule to follow

4. Well I get 1 backlink from putting the url in website input, but if i put my url (with anchor text keyword) in the signature and comment a lot on the forum, do I get more backlinks whatsoever?

You will get signature links... Link juice will depend upon lots of factors as usual but still you will get links...