Try to Understand Them.
Work at understanding where Google is coming from.
Try thinking like they think.
Do the things that would make you happy if you were Google.
They are very secretive about their algorithms.
But they are VERY open and vocal about their philosophy and what they are trying to do with their Search rankings and results.
So read what Google staff themselves are saying on their blogs, and take that as gospel in directing your efforts.
Sure, it may be more work. On the other hand, you won’t disappear from ALL search results the next time Google catches on to what you are doing, or makes an algorithm change.
That’s how we work. The result? We have sites we haven’t touched in three years that still dominate search rankings in their industry.