Search Engines need backlinks towards a domain to give it importance. Despite excellent content, many domains remains unnoticed by Google for long time due to lack of backlinks.
It is true that the content is the King. But to enhance it, we need good quality backlinks too. Here are some free and safe methods for link generation.
Using Forums for link generation
Join good forums which supports using link to your blog in Forum Signatures and post one or two very good tips or helpful post. Forget that and join another. If you can generate 10 links per month, is it bad? Forums can be be used like machines for link generation. But, do not overuse it!
---
Keep in mind, forum links are volatile in nature. Most forums has an average life span of 3 years.
Using Blogs for link generation
Some blogs uses nofollow or disallow from robots.txt file. Some do not. Post helpful comment / good feedback for link generation. Do not spam.
Posting good content can itself give lot of links through Pingbacks and thereby a source of link generation from that blog.
Posting guest articles for link generation

Guest articles are always good for link generation.
Link Exchange
Link exchange is probably one of the most important and easiest ways for link generation. Problem is that, reciprocal link exchange cancels each others. We posted before the checklist to be in the safe side for link generation through link exchanges.
Social networks
You can get backlinks from some social networks too. Some of the social network uses too tight methods (like deviantArt) to prevent users / member to use it as a link generation machine.
Never do for link generation
- Spamming
- Posting thousands of links in one forum hoping for better link generation
- Buying links in bulk, Google might penalize you in near future
- Link exchange with penalized domains, posting links in penalized domains
- Never use automatic link generation software
