Originally Posted by Barefootsies

Wrong.

Updates. Relevance. Content. Page structure. Links are dead last.

I have some sites on the front page for their category. I have done next to NO link building, other than a few other sites I have. I do not do link trading because many remove your link as soon as you put theirs up.

If you update often. Use good page structure. Including page titles, etc. Then traffic, and good SEO will come easily.

SEO is not the end all magic wand. I know sites in some of my niches with a lot more traffic who are not even ON the first FIVE or TEN pages under SERPS.

SEO is a piece in the puzzle. You are best served by building a small network of similar sites. Cross link them smartly. Update often and use the right page structure.