Bid-for-position web directories, or simply "bid directories", are an exciting new way to buy text links. As the name suggests these directories allow site owners and visitors to bid for a higher position in the listings. Traditional web directories, by contrast, list links by some predetermined criterion, such as alphabetical order, Google PageRank, listing date, and so on.

This list of top 10 strategies for building links is based on my own experience of building links to my sites throughout the years. It is important to keep in mind that when it comes to SEO, nothing is set in stone. SEO is a cat-and-mouse game, so I will revise this list from time to time as the field continues to evolve.

Please note that the order in which these methods are listed do not necessarily reflect their order of effectiveness.

There is a lot of talk these days about search engines devaluing purchased text links. To be sure, buying text links to manipulate one's Google PageRank or rankings in the SERPs is a widely abused practice that warrants attention from the search engines. The argument is that such attention is needed to ensure relevant search results dictated by natural, rather than artificial, linking.

As an Adsense publisher, I am often annoyed to find my web pages filled with public service announcements (PSA) and ads unrelated to the content of my site. Fewer relevant ads mean fewer click-throughs and ultimately lower Adsense revenues. However advanced Google's contextual ad serving algorithm may be, it is still a computer program (as opposed to a human being) trying to figure out what a web page is about.

If you've read some of my articles, you've probably sensed that I have considerable pride in my Khmer roots.

But what exactly is Khmer pride?

Yes, I'm proud of Angkor Wat, which I think is easily one of the Seven Wonders of the World. I'm proud of our land and our rich culture and heritage. I'm proud of talented Khmer musicians, like Preap Sovath, Youk Tetratha, Meas Sok Sophea, and countless others.

There seems to be a lot of bad-mouthing about reciprocal linking nowadays by SEO "gurus" and amateurs alike, most notably in the various internet forums.
Reciprocal links, according to the naysayers, are virtually worthless because they supposedly do not help your search rankings or pass Google PageRanks to your site.

While no one really knows how search engines factor reciprocal links into search ranking calculations, let's suppose that the naysayers are right-- that is, reciprocal links provide no SEO benefits whatsoever.

There are currently over a hundred million websites on the internet competing for the eyeballs of visitors. How do you make your site stand out above the rest? The SEO and internet marketing gurus will repeat the old "content is king" mantra and will tell you to come up with something unique and original.

Fair enough. But how exactly does one go about doing this? What exactly is unique, original content? With the billions of pages on the net I think you'd be hard-pressed to to come up with something that is truly new and original that hasn't been published or presented in some way by someone else already.