Having knowledge of SEO tactics is helpful when marketing your web site. However, you will need more than this to rank well in the search engines when vying for highly competitive phrases. You will need backlinks, the more the better.

A backlink is when one webmaster exchanges links with another webmaster. I will place your link on my site and in return, you will place my link on your site. You will see that having a few high quality backlinks on your site will make it more appealing to the search engines.

Search engines, such as Google, will see a link on your site as a vote for you. A vote means that someone thought highly enough of your site to link to it. The more links, the more votes you have. The more votes, the more important your site must be. This could lead to a higher ranking with search engines and as you know, higher page ranking = higher volume in traffic.

Now that we know why backlinks are important, let's discuss how to obtain them.

No one will "vote" or link to a site that is ordinary or low quality. To get more links, make sure your site has something to offer. Put high quality content that is unique on your site, something that cannot be found anywhere else. People will want to link to your site if they feel that it is unique and informative. If it is everyday or ordinary, they will think twice before exchanging links.

To help you obtain links, you should make the process as easy as possible. Consider setting up a "Link to Us" page that will provide html code for them to copy and paste on their site. Make sure to include your keywords within your anchor text (anchor text is the visible, clickable text of a link) in the code you provide. They will in turn leave their information to be included on your site.

Another way to obtain backlinks is to write articles and submit them to various directories. Along with your article will be a resource box which will tell the readers a little bit about yourself. More importantly, it will include a link to your site. Other webmasters will post your article, with your resource box containing the link to your site, on their site. Providing they feel your article provides something of interest to its readers. One single article could get you dozen's of backlinks.

In addition, you can find other sites related to yours and offer to exchange links, trade content or offer to write a regular column for them. You can also submit your site to free directories that are related to content of your site.

Lastly, find blogs that are related, and post comments. Be sincere, you never know what new relationships may form. You can not only trade links with the blog owner, but also ideas. You remember the old phrase "I'll scratch your back, if you'll scratch mine". Use it to your advantage. Negotiate an opportunity where you will both benefit.