Content, as you might already know, if the first item search engine spiders look for when they’re cataloging and indexing web pages. The second item they look for are links coming into and out of your website. The links coming into your site have more weight than the ones leaving your site, which is what makes generating incoming links a very important search engine strategy.

Here are seven ways to generate incoming links.

1. Write and publish quality content. People, other website owners, link to relevant content. If you write and publish tons of quality content, you’ll receive tons of incoming links.

2. Online directories. While there are many directories that charge for a listing, there are also several that will list your company’s site for free. Click here for 17 free directory listings.

3. Write articles for other sites, article marketing. Writing articles and publishing them on other sites including article marketing sites, is a great method for getting inbound links.

4. Write press releases and submit them to online press release websites. Be sure to include your website link at the end of the press release so media representatives can contact you, but also so you have an incoming link and interested visitors can find your website.

5. Reciprocal links. Some reciprocal links are good as long as they’re coming from relevant websites. The trick is to balance reciprocal links with one-way links. Mix up your linking tactics so it looks natural to Google.

6. Blog. Blogging is a spectacular way to generate fresh content and guest blogging on relevant blogs works a lot like article marketing, you generate links to your site in each blog post you write. You can also include links back to each of your web pages and allow your readers to reprint your blog posts as long as they keep the links in place.

7. Participate in social networking. Posting tweets, and Facebook posts create incoming links to your website. In addition, when you comment on forums and other blog posts you also create incoming links via your signature.

As you’re creating and implementing your search engine optimization strategies, take the time to consider and include these linking tactics. While you may not be able to complete them all at the same time, instead focus on one tactic at a time adding to your SEO strategy as you grow.