The content of page links comes from is also an important consideration, as are absolute number of links. The more out-going links, less valuable is benefit passed on.

Avoid links pages if you can, Google is getting better and better at spotting lists of links.

Directories

Getting a listing in directories is important but only a few are really valuable.

The importance ones, being:-

Dmoz – A free directory but very slow to be updated by its human editors, powers around 250 search services.

Yahoo – Increasingly challenging Google. JoeAnt Gimpsy Business.com Allthebizz.com Skaffe

Put it to work

You now know what it takes, difficult part now begins, you have take a good look at quality of your current content, and start building your links. How long it takes to get good SERPS will depend on how competitive your chosen phrases are.

If you follow my advice here, you will get there; it takes time, and be patient it will work.

I wish you best of luck, if you want advice then get in touch.

How can I best use links?

1) Directory listing Get your site listed in Open Directory Project (Dmoz) which is free – Google uses this site to assist its indexing, it is used by many 100’s of other search engines. Get a listing in Yahoo directory £199 ($299) as this leading directory. There are many regional and lesser-known directories that are also worth considering.

2) Request links Start by visiting open directory, and search using your keywords – you will find sites listed here are normally already well ranked. Select sites you feel will be open to a link request. Put a link on your site first then ask for a reciprocal link.

Try also using Alexa (www.alexa.com) – to identify highly ranked sites then use their “show links to” feature to identify their backlinks (sites linking in) then approach these too.

3) Promote inter-site linkability Internal links as well as external links contribute towards Page Rank – a site with a good link structure is also more likely to appeal to potential link candidates than a site with a poor structure.

4) Publish articles Consider paying professional authors to write articles on your behalf – then submit them for publishing on condition that a link to your site is attached. This can be a very successful strategy but time and effort is needed for it to pay off.

Conclusion

A good link strategy can greatly benefit a sites ranking on Google – be very careful that your links are carefully chosen as Google is clamping down on abuses of links.