Yes, that shows you how quickly things change out here. A couple of years ago those things you mentioned may have been enough to at least get you started. And now that the Web has gotten more saturated, this is a common frustration.
Not to sound like a broken record but of course it starts with good content. I'm sure you've heard that gazillions of times. Once you are sure you have that then it's time to start hanging out where your audience hangs out. In your case, poker forums, other gambling blogs, gambling related facebook groups, etc. just to get noticed. Build relationships with people in these spaces.
When people begin discovering your site and find it useful, many of them will link to you voluntarily. I've found that most of my NON search engine traffic comes from people who freely recommended my site because they found it useful. Not from an exchange. So a lot of it is just getting out there in your space (whatever that space is) and making yourself known. Also as you begin to get found in the search engines, other Webmasters may discover your site as well.
That's why it' so important you are constantly thinking of new ways to re-invent your site. If it looks like all the rest, no one will want to give you those free backlinks. I'll be the first to admit, it's not as easy as it was years ago and the more saturated the net becomes, the more challenging it is to get started with your first site.
Relationships and networking are becoming more important than ever, by the way. Here's an example. I bought and reviewed Darren Rowse's Pro Blogger book and sent him a quick email telling him that I liked the book and wrote a review on my blog. Moments later I checked my blog traffic and noticed traffic from Twitter. Darren has a HUGE following on Twitter so I got a nice flow of traffic for half a day or so. Out of that traffic came a few emails from people who found my blog through Darren and said they subscribed to my RSS feed. Who knows maybe a few of these people may voluntarily link to my blog.
Little things like this add up over time. You have to constantly look for ways to get yourself out there. Now, I honestly did not contact Darren in hopes of him linking to my blog. I really wasn't expecting that, but it reminded me of another networking and marketing tactic. Find reputable people in your niche and make yourself known to them. Review their site, products, etc. and drop them a line letting them know you appreciate their work. Of course they aren't going to always link to you, but putting yourself on their radar may have some long-term benefits.
It takes time to build traffic but the little things you do over time can add up to nice rewards in the long run. I know it's rough out here but it's coming down to the webmasters who can be the most persistent, innovative and creative are the ones who will thrive.
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