As all website owners know, the more sites linking to yours, the higher your search engine rankings will be. What everyone may not know is that there are many ways to get links.

Here are my favorites.

1. Submit your website to directories. Some require a fee, but most do not.

2. Submit to classified ad websites. Many are free.

3. Request link exchanges with other webmasters. This takes persistence, but is worth it if you have a reasonable success rate.

4. Do some podcasting.

5. Make a few simple videos and submit them.

6. Sign up at at social bookmark and other social websites. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it can really help you.

7. Issue press releases. A simple release can net you hundreds of links.

8. Start blogging and link from your blog to your website (and vice versa).

9. Write articles and send them to article distribution sites. Include an author’s box with a link to your website.

10. Post on forums and comment on blog sites. Caution; do not spam.

If you are not already engaged in all of these activities, try at least a few new ones; the more the merrier. Soon you’ll be in position to judge which activities have the greatest payoff for the time you spend on them. At that point you are in great shape.