Quality link building methods??

[websearchseo]

I am getting more and more confused by the messages out there about "post Panda" link building methods.

Apparently Google has devalued many of the old methods such as Article Marketing, Profile Linking, Web 2.0 content etc. But all I hear is that instead of that you must create "quality content" that users want to link to naturally.

But hey.... how do users find your quality content if you don't already rank in the search engines??

Isn't it a bit chicken and egg?

So, if I write what I think is a really good blog post or product page now, I can not really do anything to help it along in getting some decent rankings so that people will actually find the page and maybe link to it??

I also hear that "Social Signals" are becoming more important for rankings. Facebook likes and Google +1's

Can anybody tell me how you encourage people to like and +1 the standard info pages of your website, like "Home Page" or "Service Page"? or is the future of search all about "commentary". Do I need to write a witty interesting blog post that appeals to masses that then links to my service or product page. Do I need to tweet to my non existent followers about a page I cant get ranked in the search engines? or blog "quality content" to no-one because I have no traffic coming to my website??

As you can probably tell, I am very confused with the messages, post panda. I would greatly appreciate it if someone could help me with the order of the new Search Marketing strategies.

If I write a quality web page, then what? If I don't already have a traffic source either in Social Media or other related web pages, what is the best way to go about gaining rankings and traffic from search?

Thanks

[websearchseo]

Thanks Greg,

I totally get your point about "Earning" links.

Struggling a bit with the notion that my competitors will give me a quality link in return for content. why would a competitor do this?

I am also struggling with the notion that "The more quality links you get, the higher up in the serps you go. Its that simple."

In my recent experience (post panda), that simply isn't true. I have clients with really good link profiles that totally blow away the competition (according to seomoz site explorer), there on-page SEO scores are all "A" yet they rank below many inferior pages and sites.

I suppose my worry is that so many other factors are coming in to play that I don't understand.

I will keep on "earning" links and see if it has the desired effect.

Thanks again

[AndreVanKets]

"what is the best way to go about gaining rankings and traffic from search"

I think it can all be summed up in 2 words.

Outreach and Hussle. Stop thinking about how to "build" links (low value) Rather spend your time and energy "earning" your links.

Create a awesome blog post about your niche, find a competitor or a relevent website and give them the article in return for a link. They get awesome content, and you get a awesome and powerful link!

The more quality links you get, the higher up in the serps you go. Its that simple. (or not)

I would advise you watch more whiteboard Fridays!

GREG