If there is one thing I love about the many Google algorithm updates, it is how many Search Engine Optimizer wanna-bes throw in the towel and give up. Not saying this to be mean, but fact is, SEO just got a whole lot simpler. And yes, it is still a wonderful way to drive targeted traffic to a site!
I’m not saying SEO got easier – Google made sure of that. In fact, I believe the reason why so many people gave up on SEO all of a sudden was because it started to smell like work (it is a lot of work). If you don’t mind getting your hands dirty, here are some of the resources I use to get my niche sites ranking high in Google.
RankCrew: I’ve been using them non stop for the past 9 months or so and have gotten fantastic results. I’ve tried just about all of their packages but keep coming back to using the Authority Site Links packages as well as the High PR Forum Profile Links packages because they simply work for me.
I do notice a pattern though where Google will take approximately 30 days before they boost my sites as a result of those links – so don’t expect it to rank you overnight.
I know the RC team submits those links to an indexing service already, but I still submit them to Linklicious myself and will generally buy a fiverr gig or two to build some 
backlinks to those links. I find it helps to get the linkjuice flowing and the credibility growing.
Having said that, RankCrew is not my only source for backlinks. I do have my own private blog network (PBN). Although small – it is powerful. PBNs can get expensive very quickly though – but are definitely worth considering if you got a budget for it and you KNOW the niche/keywords you are pursuing are worth their weight in gold.
Guest Posting: I believe it to be a very much under utilized resource. I know Google does not like to see do-follow links from guest posts (which kinda killed the “guest posting” phenomenon in the SEO world) but it is still a very effective option in my opinion.
If I didn’t have a small PBN myself, I would focus a lot more on guest posting. And yes, a lot of the website owners you send an email to will ignore you (at least they ignore me, lol) but the few that do respond make it worth your while.
I keep my emails to them short and generally only ask one question: What would I need to do to make a guest post on your blog?
If it is not a blog, ask them what it would take for you to get a backlink on their site. When they tell you their requirements (which some will), do it (as long as it is within reason) and you will have yourself a solid backlink.
The advantage of guest posting over PBN is that you don’t have to pay for ongoing fees like unique IP hosting, domain renewal, new content, etc. The downside is that you have little control over the link. Generally speaking though – guest posting has served me well.
Reviews: How about this? Leave a testimonial in exchange for a backlink (beneath the testimonial). I haven’t used this one much but it’s a great way to not only tap into some solid link juice but some great free (targeted) traffic as well – especially if the testimonial gets put on a high traffic sales page.
Treat your money site URL like a business card: Leave it in acceptable places that you wouldn’t mind getting leads from. Don’t litter questionable neighborhoods with it or your results will very quickly become questionable too!
One of my favorite quotes on achieving success (in this case – SEO success): Figure out what it is you really want. Find out how much it will cost you. Then set out and pay the price in full!
Conrad,
Great article, in the past my main focus has been on website building but now I think I have a pretty good handle on that. So my next push is trying to get qualified traffic to my sites and this article gives me some great tips on how to do that and also reinforces the PBN network as a way of getting good backlinks.
I think I’m going to try that when I get a better handle on what needs to go into a PBN network. Last but not least I have heard that google doesn’t like backlinks from guest posting to much but I’m guessing if you do it right you can get some pretty good backlinks that way, which evidently you are doing.
Thank You
Richard Schwartz