Search engine optimization or SEO is a long and a very broad subject to tackle. This has so many aspect in terms on how well your site rank in the search engine. Different questions arise regrading the subject but still including me cannot pin point directly that magic on being at the top permanently. But my suggestion below will at least help your search engine position especially if you have a business you are promoting online.
1. Try to create you site user friendly first and or at least can be validated by w3.org. These makes your site to be competitive in terms with your competitor.
2. Try to be descriptive on your description, these will help visitor at a glance go to your site and search engine to pick up those words or keywords from your description.
3. Article submission that can be closely related to your site is useful and make it published to the article sites.
4. Directory submission is a big plus.
5. Forum signature also creates free visitors as well as free backlinks.

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