Im stealing this from David Naylor because I like its simplicity. SEO explained in picture, and more importantly as a cycle and a continuous process.
- Invest in content to get links
- Get the links and you get traffic (either through rankings or referrals)
- Get the trafficand you get the money (and profit, business model allowing!)
- Invest the money back into the content and the cycle continues!
Remove any part of the cycle, and it just doesnt work!