So I have an pretty uncompetitive keyword. In fact Wikipedia is number one and has 0 links pointing toward it. I figure with a couple good backlinks I can pass wikipedia, but I don't know where to get these links from. There is basically no one in my niche, should I venture out of the niche a little?
Hmm I guess I didn't explain correctly. I have a bog about this book. My blog is 3rd. It's not my book. And there are no other websites really besides wikipedia about the book.
What about reaching out to fellow writers ? There are a few writer groups on social networks, along with authors with do-follow keyword luv blogs. While they may not necassarily be authority links, they may help give you a little boost in SERPS.
Depends of the niche, but also you need to consider the added value of your site to the visitors. Means content and links are important but also give the visitors something to have, to get for free, to watch online, something in addition to your competitors.
you could just bookmark your page in a bookmark site. If the category isn't available, then crate the category.
Mention your blog on twitter, and on facebook (with your link of course). That's a couple of links right away. Then do a search for the subject of the book - even of nobody else is talking about the book, presumably there are plenty of blogs or blog posts that mention the subject matter? Post useful relevant comments on some of those blogs. Same with forums. Write a short book review and post it on scribd, squidoo, hubpages, etc. All with links back to your blog. Finally, don't assume that because you cant see any backlinks to the wiki page that there aren't any. Google and YSE are showing fewer and fewer backlinks now.
You cant outrank wikipedia. Trust me. It will require lots of hard work. But if the Wiki link is not that great then people are surely going to hit the back button and find your site.
you wont beat wikipedia. if a topic is popular enough to be on wikipedia, it's clearly competitive. wikipedia has MASSIVE domain authority, it will take you years to beat it.
Don't listen to anyone who says you can't beat wikipedia, that's a daft thing to say. Search for credit cards - where's wikipedia there? Or any number of millions of other searches, you'll find wikipedia low down the list. Wikipedia isn't some kind of magic site. It just gets a lot of backlinks. I've beaten it numerous times, for my own sites and for my clients. Your page is specific to a certain book and you're already high up page one, beating wikipedia will be easy.