Yes, it can be done. Here are 7 ways that a site can acheive increased link popularity without having to exchange links:

Directory Submissions - Submit to Open Directory and other sites like JoeAnt and Gimpsy. These are all human reviewed directories, therefore search engines will consider that your site must be of pretty good quality to be listed in them. Submission to these sites is free, but there can be quite a wait to get reviewed, since editors are unpaid volunteers. In addition to a link popularity boost, a listing in Open Directory will get your site listed in other Open Directory powered sites like Google's web Directory, AOL's web directory and many others.

Tips For Directory Submissions:

Editor Check - Is there an editor for your desired category? If not, consider applying. For Open Directory, this can give you power to add your site much more quickly.

Link Title - Don't try any tricks to get keywords in your title if they are not in your company name. This will get your listing edited if listing is approved or rejected outright. The title must be your official website or company name.

Description - Again, don't try to insert extra keywords here, it could backfire and your description will be edited or your listing rejected. The description should be short and concise. Just tell what your website offers and give some product or service examples if appropriate. Again, keep it short!

Be patient! - It may take weeks or months to be reviewed. If you've submitted before and are still not listed, try writing a polite note to editor of category to see if there was a problem.

Paid Submissions - Paid submissions to quality directories and portals is also a good idea. It is well known that a listing in Yahoo directory area will give you a good Google PageRank boost. Listing in Yahoo directory area is $299, so skip this option if your budget is limited.

Pay-Per-Click Search Engine Submissions - Google lists results of many smaller pay-per-click search engines. This can help link popularity if your site is listed in these results for your important keywords and phrases. There are hundreds of these smaller PPC engines that offer a free advertising credit just for signing up. Take a jaunt on over to PayPerClickSearchEngines.com for a good list of them. Submit listings under all your important keywords and phrases and include keywords in your title.

1. Offer other web sites free content to post on their web site. Include your link on all of your content. The content should related to your web site because it will be in front of your target audience.

2. When you visit a web site you've enjoyed a lot, write a review for site. Write about benefits you gain from web site. Tell them they can publish it on their web site if they link to your web site.

3. Allow other people to publish your e-zine on their web site. Include your web site's ad and link in each issue you publish. This may also help you increase number of people that subscribe to your e-zine.

4. Market your web site as a free web book. Design your web site with a title page, table of contents, chapters, etc. Just allow other people to give away web book by linking to your web site.

5. Give your visitors an instant article directory. Tell your visitors they can instantly add a free article directory to their web site by linking to yours. Just place your ad or banner ad on top of article directory for your main web site.

6. Allow other web sites to use your discussion board for their web site visitors. Just have them link directly to discussion board. Include your web sites ad or banner ad at top of discussion board.

7. Start a members only web site. Tell visitors what's in your members only site and what it costs to gain access. Offer them a free membership if, in exchange, they link to your web site.

8. Offer your visitors a free sign up to your affiliate program. Pay them commission to sell your products or services. Just give them an affiliate link to track their sales. People will link to your web site to make extra money.

9. Create your own award site for other web sites. Give winners a graphic or text link to place on their web site when they win. This will link your web site to theirs and draw more traffic to your web site.