You just have to be creative and try new things. Some things work, some things don't and some things that work today won't work a year from now.
I know that I've personally never submitted anything to a link directory because my opinion is that it seems like it would be a retarded thing to do and that even if most people disagree with that stance right now, they won't for long.
I also feel that, by and large, exchanging links with same niche sites is the online equivalent of placing one end of a big siphon tube into my toilet and then, while carrying the other end, walking outside my apt down the hall and into my neighbors apt so I could place the other end into his toilet and then setting up so as the same dirty water will flow back and forth between the two toilets.
But that's just me.
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