So you think you can just go buy some paid links PR 5 or so and make it to the top? Think again, think variety think spread or better still think about attracting links instead. If a link never gets clicked will Google still value it or will its value fall away? Reciprocal links went to heaven along time ago so what is the best way forward is the million dollar question.
Social media has crossed the line in terms of providing SEO value, I use the term ‘noise’ on the web, the more your brand gets mentioned anywhere the more the search engines ‘ears’ pick up on it. The more conversation the more links followed OR no followed the better and results will flow, in traffic and rankings.