tangor - 6:51 am on Apr 6, 2011 (gmt 0)

In data processing, a pivot table is a data summarization tool found in data visualization programs such as spreadsheets (for example, in Microsoft Excel, OpenOffice.org Calc and Lotus 1-2-3) or business intelligence software. Among other functions, pivot-table tools can automatically sort, count, total or give the average of the data stored in one table or spreadsheet. It displays the results in a second table (called a "pivot table") showing the summarized data. Pivot tables are also useful for quickly creating unweighted cross tabulations. The user sets up and changes the summary's structure by dragging and dropping fields graphically. This "rotation" or pivoting of the summary table gives the concept its name. The term pivot table is a generic phrase used by multiple vendors. However, Microsoft Corporation has trademarked the specific form PivotTable.[1][2] Pivot tables can be seen as a simplification of the more complete and complex OLAP concepts.

From Wikipedia

In short it is what has been suggested... look at the competitors, look at their links, then find the "pivot" where links to links cross (sum or average). Go for those first.

Which means you'll send an email requesting a link. But make sure that each request is UNIQUE and HEARTFELT (ie. not CANNED) and provides sufficient reason and readability to the recipient to expend their time to look at your website and decide if they want to link to your site. THAT is the hard part. Also pick and chose who you send those requests...make sure you are not entering a bad neighborhood.