Before you pursue the time consuming process of cleaning up "bad" links, it pays to understand a variety of potential reasons your site might have dropped in the rankings in the first place. Not all rankings drops have to do with your site's links.

The most prudent linking strategist will develop several different types of strategies, some purely to appeal to the search engines, others far removed from Google but designed to appeal to a demographic. Some, however, choose to take a darker path.

Link opportunities are everywhere. You just have to stop thinking about Google in order to see them. It isn't easy. Yes, Google is important, but nothing is better than doing significant business regardless of which way the Google winds blow.

There are hundreds of ways to build links the wrong way, and just as many ways to do it right. Your goal should be to be able to survive and thrive with or without Google. Never forget the quality, intent and relevancy of the link building process.