The days of using the "add URL" page to submit your website to Google are long passed; major search engines find new websites through incoming links. When using directory submissions, you can get your website listed in Google and other major search engines in a matter of days sometimes, not the 4-6 weeks it takes using Google's "add a website" page.
Regarding article/directory submissions - I've been having good discussions with a colleague about link value as it relates to their affect on SERPs. His theory is that the traffic volume that links generate may be a more important factor than the quantity and Page Rank of linking property. We drive a lot of traffic from Digg/Twitter and other social media links (bookmarking internal blogs). Does anyone have an opinion about this "traffic" factor that may or may not have a positive affect on SERP's?
All most all are equal important, if you only looking for increase Page rank then Article Link will give you paga rank
Social bookmarking is good for fast increase traffic on your website. other submission Article, Press Release submission is also important for increase page rank or traffic.
I always use Directory submissions - many do not but this form of SEO gives you extra backlinks. I see SEO as a layering effect over your website/blog, So you do need to use several different ways. RSS and Social bookmarking, is very important in my book, and for my blogs, I use this method after every post is published. I have built up some great traffic that way in only a short space of time and for one of my blogs, nearly every page has a Page Rank, with the home page a PR2. That blog within 6 months, got to over 20,000 visits per month. Consistency is the key! As usual, if you feel you would like any further help, please contact me.
Directory submission, Article submission, and social bookmarking are the good for increase traffic and create backlinks. this are the more important in seo, and our website.
Quality article submission seems best after penguin update but from my opinion all mentioned steps are important except 2) Link Exchange with relevant sites.
Article submission and social bookmarking is one of the best way to get backlinks and also helpful for search engine results.
Every factor you have mentioned has its own benefit.Write some relevant articles and submit which has high pr it will quite helpful.Concentrate on getting the relevant backlinks. PR is based on your quality backlinks.