In a category that I want to rank for, all sites in the top 10 link to 3 or 4 paid directories. Specific directories for the industry. To list in these directories is costly. But all sites in top 10 link to them. This seems to be a monopoly of sorts by these industry directories. Do I have to bight the bullet? Or can it be circumnavigated by obtaining a higher PR than the directories themselves..
Your best judge of what is working is to list at similar sites as your competitors do. Can you get links elsewhere and still rise above them? yes. But there may be a cost involved in that as well...
Yes, it is always a problem for newbie sites to allow what long standing organizations are spending for marketing. However I strongly believe that latest seo techniques can be a success even while fighting raging competition. That is probably the only inexpensive way out...
Shoot for 11 then. Depending on the keywords I'm looking for, I'll find several sites on the first page that are simply not worthy of even looking at. I'll pass them by and try page two, or even three. Once I get through pages 1-3 (sometimes 4 & 5) I'll click into page 10 and start from there. While getting on page ONE is most certainly tops, to me the dread zone is pages 6-9 which I don't think I've ever looked at. So if you can get a good SERP (even if it's not top) you'll still find that it helps, and once it starts helping, then that in turn helps to get you even better SERP. Good luck! Q
You don't need to pay for links to get ranked high. However, it is easier. If you don't want to spend money then you'll need to spend a lot of time contacting other webmasters in your niche and related sub niches and related parent niches. You need to tell them why your site would be valuable to their visitors. If you get enough related links you'll be able to compete with the other guys on the first page.
Ideally you both obtain the links your competitors have and build stronger links outside of what they already have. It's been mentioned already, but that can take considerable time and money depending on the niche you're trying to do battle in.