There is so much information out there about optimising a site for the search engines that sometimes, you can’t see the wood for the trees. And a lot of it is in the form of Top Ten lists (unimaginative linkbait), so here’s mine:

1. Optimise your site as much as possible without spamming (it’s the only thing you have complete control over)
2. Build links to your site.
3. Build links to your site.
4. Build links to your site.
5. Build links to your site.
6. Build links to your site.
7. Build links to your site.
8. …you get the idea.