Can a new site beat competition with OLD domains?

[PitbullNPythons]

My website is pretty new. And we offer area specific widgets. For as new as my site is (this year, really), and as competitive the terms we are aiming for, I think we rank fairly well.

Although there is the yo-yo effect happening from week to week. I guess its a yo-yo effect?, one day we rank #8 next day we rank #6 go figure.

The thing is, I am competing against some sites that have web histories into 1998. Can I ever beat them? I really want to beat them, not just for monetary gain, but for some personal reasons....one of my competitors fired sevaral people I know well for no real reason.

Any advice for a new site to compete with well established, linked, and ranking sites? The thing that gets me is many of the ones outranking me are so guilty of keyword stuffing, selling links, etc. When will they get slapped? I think its bul that some thin sites beat out useful, original, and unique sites only because G "trusts" them. Sorry this got way too long guys.

[tedster]

No question that you can beat an established domain - more likely on longer query terms first but eventually even on competitive terms. However, it will take building a solid online business that creates happy customers who sing your praises around the web, rather than looking for SEO tricks the way you say your competition does.

It can be a lot of work - but I have definitely seen it done. As I read recently, think most of all about marketing, rather than "working the algo".