It depends if the seed needs light to germinate or not. If it needs light I will broadcast in sand on damp soil and do a 'footplant' where you step on it to push it into the ground. Broadcasting in sand also works really well for fine seed like poppy seed. I lose some seeds to birds but mostly the birds prefer their fav seed that I put out for them. I use Tom Clothier's guide for light germination needs
http://tomclothier.hort.net/
