Means what you are talking right now i am using the same technique for the getting to the top. A total SEO. Means on page optimization and off page optimization.
I would say my best tecnique has been reading on dp forum and then applying what i have just learned.
Doing keyword research and embeding them usually gets the job done! But the search engines never tell You IF they are even going to index You or how long it takes. But go for it!!
I will usually target keywords with lesser competition first so that I can get at least some traffic to my website. and then I will get as much backlinks as possible, usually through article directories and also press release distribution sites and use the more competitive keywords as my anchor text.
There is no quick way to the top. If there was, Google would just shift their formula to stop it. The only thing you can do is build your rankings organically with content, new site pages, blogs, linking building, proper keyword density, and other items
Good content without links is like having a great candy shop in the middle of the desert. You need both.