you can download quirk to get all information about site.
you can download seo guide from seomoz for complete explanation of onpage strategy.
its useless to submit your website in thousand of dir. submit it only pr directories.
have you ever tried Google analytic?
do you ever use Google keyword tool?
its useless to submit your website in thousand of directories.
unique contents and quality backlinks will help lot in ranking.
what do you mean by external link? you mean outbound links?
i had the same problem but that are index after a week when i submitted my post in bookmakrings sites but i will keep now 'shabbir' point also in...
you can submit the article in different sites after spinning it.
you take backlink from both no follow or do follow sites as will get traffic and backlink both.
learn and apply is big tips to create backlinks.
rank up your site from daily work you will get traffic.
just follow the google rules and guidelines to take backlink and no worry about white hat and black hat.
backlink watch and seo quake will give your competitor backlink details.
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