CainIV - 7:18 am on Nov 30, 2011 (gmt 0)

For what it's worth:

Development tools

OSE
Majestic
Google Insights
Ontolo
Custom tool
Excel

Common Approaches

1. Broken link tool on massive ancient directories and purchase of related domains

2. Broken link tool on the same and the securing of links where domains cannot be purchased

3. 'Links of links' (finding high quality sources and then tracing those back closer to seed sites and working on those grandfather links)

4. Offering value (website fixes, broken link fixes, design assistance

5. Offering value - trading goods or services including SEO services like one-off optimization

6. Ego-stroking. Works often in blog posts and on the phone.

7. Offering tools to help other businesses understand marketing better

8. Building tools

9. Being nice and asking for links