Since Google displays hits based on a ranking algorithm and the most important ingredient in that algorithm is the number of links coming TO your site from other sites, IN-LINKS are the most important thing. But they can't be links from just any site (your Mom and your pals won't do) - they need to be from sites that are (a) relevant to your content, and (b) themselves already indexed by Google. The best way to get there is, as one of your replies suggests, to be the best bloody site of your kind that you can be, offering something that's in high demand. You can also politely ask other site webmasters to link to you (offer a reciprocal link to them). But even where and how they link to you is important. If they just add you to some "link list" it may not help much. It's better if they link to you from inside their own content, which makes you look more serious and important to the Google indexing crawler. This is a very HARD thing to do. I recommend you start with a good book on search engine optimization (I like "Search Engine Optimization for Dummies - seriously). Good luck chucksp Carpe Manana

Ballmer's a screamer in meetings, too. I stood outside a conference room once when I was at MS and heard him reaming somebody inside. Word is that that's a common style at Microsoft, including Gates. Zero tolerance for not having your stuff together. chucksp Carpe Manana