What still works?

Yes, Google has changed their approach towards private blog networks. Now, all sites that use this type of networks primarily as their major source of backlinks are running a risk of losing their rankings and online authority.

As Matt Cutts said, now private blog networks are easily being targeted by Google. At best all links coming from them will be devalued, at worst, your site will get penalized for utilizing such link building method.

So we advise you to stop this practice and start building stronger backlinks from niche-relevant authoritative websites.

There are lots of guides on the Web that will teach you how to build such links in the post-Penguin world.

Basically, all of them will tell you that getting links is done via:

- creating useful, valuable or entertaining content and promote it in various ways;
- outreaching niche-leading bloggers and offering high-quality guest posts;
- getting listed in high-quality notable directories and directories that are specific to your niche or industry;
- writing high-quality press releases;
- monitoring and engaging into various online discussions on forums, blogs, etc. Just make sure that you post meaningful comments, initiate interesting threads, etc. That will help you build your online authority and leave some links to your website or blog.

To find sources mentioned above, you can analyze your site competitors backlink profiles and try to build links with the same websites, post on the same forums, submit to the analogue directories, etc..

Hope you find this info useful.