One way that I can think of for getting free quality links is submitting your website to link trade directories. This way people can find you and of course you can find others as well.
Directories are indeed an easy way of getting links, if you have the time, or are prepared to pay someone to do it for you (or use software)
directories are good for getting your website indexed and getting some backlinks, however i would not rely on them for traffic.
Article Submission, Forum Posting and Blog Commenting are more effective ways to get backlinks on your web site. Social Bookmarking is also good way for getting backlinks and index your website on search engines. The C-Class IP of the directory whether it is for articles or general directory, should be unique to get benefit of more backlinks.
I once paid somebody $20 for 2,500 directory submissions! Remember that TIME=MONEY so outsourcing is the way to go sometimes.
ProCash - who did you use to outsource? Were all the directories used have a high PR? I presume you used the above link or did the outsourced person use their own resources? How do you track that it worked? Thanx N.
I don't think that this is the most effective way to get links. Understand that when submitting url to directories that all are not permanent.