SEO Newbie

Im in the same position. trying to get many sites ranked for my company - but being a complete noob, any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

Buy some authoritative links

Directory submission/listing is not enough, you need to also use social sites, blog comments, forum posting, video marketing, etc. Since your target is the local market then it should be easy and shouldn't take long before you marketing efforts starts paying off.

Each business strategy is different.

1. I sketch from zero all the work starting with the keywords analysis. Maybe that's already done, but do it again just in case.
2. Move to content/contexts/headlines. 50% of your time should be spend on them.
3. If It's a local business that's better - go with the Google map listing which is very important. If not I skip that. and go just with Google Authorship in both cases.
4. Follow the CTA (Call-to-Action) - Link Structure (Build linking relationship between on site pages to improve linkability ) - Site architecture - Action Ratio. All need to have a very good connection.
5. Optimize each web page using Yoast Pro or other SEO framework
6. Tracking the performance of conversions on the site
7. Make recommendations for off page optimization. Contact Local - Regional - National Bloggers where we can't influence anchor texts, widgets or BIOs.
8. Start the Social Pages. Go and start campaigns by demographic areas and if possible after niche.
9. Try to gain some influencers on our G+ page so we can have a good share integration.
10. Community services. Integrate on top forums and actually bring value to the boards. Forget about the backlinks benefit. Actually give really good results, really good value to what we post,answer there to gain trust, awareness.
11. Digg for natural links. This keeps the engines active no matter what.
12. No follow attribute for all the backlinks build out there.
13. Classic SEO momentum - Turn the CTA(Call-to-Action) to a valid Click!
14. Distribute content. Rich content, with more than 500 words!
15. Interact with social activity - go to charity, spread flyere, become known local - and get listed on Chamber of Commerce website!

16. Repeat!

Backlinks from directory sites are not quality for me. I think you should build more guest posting backlinks.

Now, you should go behind Google's rules regarding building quality backlinks, source to build backlinks and ways to build backlinks.

For a SEO newbie, I think the first thing you should learn is the services and products you want to promote online. The more you know about your products or services, the more proper keywords you may get for your website and then 'you can join in some professional forums or communities to discuss things related to your products or services and you may introduce your products or services to other members in these kinds of forums because you are professional, they trust you. And this will be surely good for your site SEO.

And by being familiar with your products and services, you can join some social groups, there are many social groups in facebook, they are very active, so if you know something more than others, others will respect you and your products and services. and then your site may be shared by more people and this will be surely good for your site SEO.

Of course, you need to learn some SEO skills after you are familiar with your products or services. Remember that Google is your friend, ask it to show you some tutorials/tips about SEO for SEO beginners.

Wherever you go, create only relevant backlinks otherwise those links would affect your website negatively.