tedster - 3:38 pm on Oct 26, 2009 (gmt 0)

The very basics are:

1. Use the keyword on your page -- in text and in the title.
2. Write code with no significant errors. Some bad code can stop indexing for parts of the page. So use the W3C Validator [validator.w3.org] and understand what the massages are saying,
3. Publish a site with content that people will gladly want to link to -- and get the word out about it
4. Do not look for ranking "tricks", especially when you are an admitted beginner.
5. Be careful about what advice you take in - especially if it's on a forum or blog. Look for the date, first of all. Many techniques were discussed a few years ago that would be deadly to use now.

The Google link: operator, and even the Webmaster Tools reports, are not very complete ways to see your backlinks. Many people would rather use the Yahoo Site Explorer [siteexplorer.search.yahoo.com].

But to move beyond those basics is a major story. I'd suggest you look through the threads in Hot Topics area [webmasterworld.com], which is always pinned to the top of this forum's index page.