Just a thought

[CWebguy]

Just a thought. How about instead of building links, let others naturally link to us (provided our site is worth a link)? It doesn't seem to me like any of the top companies/sites run linking campaigns. Anybody try this with results?

[wheel]

I fail to see why this is 'either/or'. Link building doesn't preclude someone from linking to you naturally. Link building just means you have more links, faster. You end up with natural links + built links.

Plus, once you start ranking as a result, you get more 'natural' links than if you don't rank.

Don't be looking for a way to weasel out of link building :).

[ashish21cool]

If you are a brand then only expect people to link you site. Else you site will be way behind others in terms of links.
So often you will need to do link building. Dont pile a huge list of sites in few days. Build as if it looks normally.
Best Regards

[reprint]

By link building, are you talking about link exchange - i link to you if you link to me? or i have this great resource that complements your site so please link to me (one way)?

The first might be thought of as artificial but the second i think is natural. Instead of sitting around waiting for your unique resource to be discovered especially if its not ranked highly already, you do a little marketing by contacting those sites or creating buzz. The other website owners still have to decide if your site is interesting enough to link to.