"Link" v's "Link"

How to LINK for best results

[Salesmaster II]

Studying the Topics of Links-keywords-and Tags, You Guys(and Girls) have given me a FIRST POSITION -with "salesmanship Tips".
Not only that, but often 3 URLS on the first page with any two word combinations of the following: "Sales,Training,Selling,Salesmanship".
I do not SPAM, but merely follow the rules. And ALL this without a single LINK back to me. Thanks GUYS!

Ps.. Not wanting to be greedy, but hearing how VALUABLE return links are, could I ask you enlightened ones to pick these bones...

1) Text links from another site linking to yours must use the keyword in the hyper-linked text... true/false?
and.. fewer words diluting the text are preferable..
i.e. the perfect senario would be a single keyword used as the hyperlink?

2) If these hyperlinked pieces of text are H1 or H2 they are ranked better? T/F
or does this only refer to their value as content?

3)Search engines finding Gif pictures in the content using keywords in the "ALT-TAG" rate well?

...and WOULD THESE SAME GIF PICS
if LINKING to another page rank Higher?
(It has been said that outward links do not benefit you.. so, does that mean the value of a GIF PIC is only of value when evaluated for content? or does it carry value for linking out to content with keywords the same as those in its Alt Tag?).

...OR do you score better if an INCOMING LINK comes to you from a Gif pic with the keyword in its Alt Tag, rather than just a text link?

These questions are asked in particular to being searched by position tech(inktomi)for AOL,MSN,Lycos etc.

[click watcher]

>>>>These questions are asked in particular to being searched by position tech(inktomi)for AOL,MSN,Lycos etc.

i believe that in the paid submit service, off page criteria like incoming links have no relevance at all.

[Salesmaster II]

Thanks Click_Watcher.
Maybe this discussion can be extended at little then?

How would these same questions be answered for non-paying submissions?

[Salesmaster II]

[rogerd]

Salesmaster, this isn't an exact science, but I'd rate the value of incoming links as follows:

Text link - keyword-based (best)
Image link with keyword-based ALT tag
Image link - no ALT

The closer the text link is to your target keyword, the better. I.e., if you are targeting "salesmanship", a link that reads merely "Salesmanship" would be better than one that reads, "A site with salesmanship advice to boost the productivity of your showroom, telemarketing, and field office personnel"

To be completely PC, shouldn't we be discussing "salespersonship"? ;)

[Salesmaster II]

Thanks Rogerd, just what I wanted to hear.
Anyone else have any input?
Also, which Text+keyword link do you think would be better..
H1, H2, or default(normal)?