New Linking Strategy of 2007

1. Focus on Direct Traffic from Referrals
   If you get a link, want and expect traffic.
   Make sure the link is located above the fold and in a very good location on the page.
2. Focus on Indirect Traffic from increased position in the SERPs (because of high rankings in search engines)
   Make sure you have already gone and tested which keyword phrases which converts best on your site. It will force you to use that anchor text in a great linking campaign and great ranking, great traffic, and great results in terms of sales.
3. Let go of old, outdated methods.
   The old reciprocal linking methodology will not work today. Make sure that you only exchange links with relevant sites.

Why is Linking Important?
In order to gain Link Popularity and Link Reputation!

Which is which? Text links and Image links?
In terms of link popularity and link reputation, the image links do little for you. What would boost you is the text within a link called anchor text.

It's not going after the biggest and best keyword phrase.
It is after the best keyword phrase for your site.

Keep in mind that the Google PageRank is an info 3-5 months delayed. This is to protect their algorithms from competitors, and from black hat and spammers to manipulate their process.

If you really want to check your actual links/backlinks, use Yahoo Site Explore as the measuring stick on how you get links, instead look at the total value what the site can bring. Google does not count the full amount of links but they show links that they don't actually count. You will not know which links are counted or not.