Forum Moderators: open
I have added meta-tags for descriptions and key words and have seen the meta-tag description used in the google listings when my search best matches the meta data.
I have used a free link exchange board to get about 150 low quality inbound links which I am not penalized for but can help my rating. I used simple javascript to keep google from penalizing me for the required outbound link page (which is actually on antoher site entirely).
I have optimized the title to include JUST THE KEY WORDS and used they keywords much in the body.
I have setup the priority page in a star pattern, it links to many pages on my site and those pages only link back to the priority page, this gives the priority page the best theoretical boost. Cross-linking everything just drives all the pages down into the mud. Not giving outbound links from the priority page causes the other pages to be discounted so much that they don't contribute anything back.
That's about it, very specific title, specific matching meta-data, optimization of linking patterns to boost what PR I have available, and avoiding being penalized for hosting a linkfarm. There are a few thousand sites on the topic of my choice and the only site that can beat me is the national headquarters with a PR5, and all I have on that page is PR2.
Interestingly, this site is in a subdirectory, my main site rates a PR4, but I have better inbound linking on the site I am promoting.