linking to a web site

As a new person (yes, a "Newbie"!) mi sites are fairly recent (less than a year) and I have been looking into every possible strategy to get traffic.
Funny thing is that today, a lot of the internet "Gurus" were pitching us simultaneously two UNSURPASSED programs to get incredible traffic from affiliate management.

Well, here is a shocker for you: I PASSED ON BOTH OFFERS!( although I must admit I was very tempted by John Reese's offer to get his Gorilla blue print...)

Bottom line is that it seams that there is as many traffic strategies as there is internet marketers!
I am still very confused about all this: adwords, article massive submissions, blogging, videos, SEO (nah! too expensive), etc
Here is what I just send to my webmaster:

Dear Webmaster,
I have just learned by someone who knows a lot about linking
that shared links are not that great search engine wise.

Anyway, we will not change the existing links but I will not accept further
exchanging links as this is of very little value.

I do know how to get incoming links now!! ...and it requires no work from your part!...
and it's not adwords, because that's another...

Thank you,

Nathalie
www.drnathaliefiset.com
www.joinmeatthetop.com
P.S. If you can imagine it, you can achieve it.