Thanks Doug I think its important to remember that links can send traffic as well as improve rankings.  I was just wondered if DMOZ is that important for rankings anymore?.

Do we think that Google has a check list that it uses to judge the "legitimacy" of a website by the fact that it would pay for a link on something like BOTW and that it has accounts on the main social media channels.

Thanks Doug I think its important to remember that links can send traffic as well as improve rankings.  I was just wondered if DMOZ is that important for rankings anymore?.

Do we think that Google has a check list that it uses to judge the "legitimacy" of a website by the fact that it would pay for a link on something like BOTW and that it has accounts on the main social media channels.

I wondered if people had a list of the top five or ten links you should build for a new website in order to add some sense of authority.

For example should a new website start with key social media websites such as Twitter, Google+ and Linkedin ?

Or top level directories such as BOTW and DMOZ?

Should they local for niche website directories in their location or vertical?

If you had to choose five links - free or paid which would they be?

Hello

On a lighter note just wondered what Christmas song's are the favorites of the SEO industry?

One from each of us in our team:

• Fairytale of New York - The Pogues
• Santa Claus is Coming to Town - Jackson Five
• White Wine in the Sun - Tim Minchin
• Last Christmas - Wham!
• Christmas Wrapping - The Waitresses

Very very odd. I can't see a reason why they are there at all and the mixture of branded and URL links jars on a website such as that?

You can also think of using different professions as qualifiers such tips of IT interviews, SEO interviews, graduate interviews. It is also worth think about market trends. In the UK degree courses tend to end in May or June with an up swing in graduates looking for work at this time. You could make sure well in advance that you have content to match this niche that is ranking well. Work on at least a three month time lag. Also look at the job board career sections and see what they are doing and if there is anything you can do better.

Also use social media and social bookmarking once you have the content up to spread the word.

Hope this helps.

Good luck.

I wondered if people had a list of the top five or ten links you should build for a new website in order to add some sense of authority.

For example should a new website start with key social media websites such as Twitter, Google+ and Linkedin ?

Or top level directories such as BOTW and DMOZ?

Should they local for niche website directories in their location or vertical?

If you had to choose five links - free or paid which would they be?