Where to start?

Iam an experienced professional in website development but very new in serach engine field. Iam wondering where to start. I have read books and forums on SEO and pageranking. I SEO'd my site and submitted to search engines.

DO I have to now?
1) get Reciprocal links (for page rank)?
2) write Articles with my website signature
3) Post to forums with my website signature
4) Post Blogs with my website signature

Are these steps effective and legal(according to google)? I sometimes get boggled with the enormity of the tasks. But I know Iam capable of doing it. I just want to know what are the right steps for getting higher rankings. Can anybody guide me with the correct steps with correct order.
If somebody wants, he/she can give me tasks for his/her sites and guide me. I will do it as a learning experience and act of gratitude.

Why no replies?
Im also willing to know answers of the same questions.

SEO is alot of hard work. I am not joking! Their are lots of ebooks out there! So why don't you look around.

Also a great resource is lynda.com they have a great video tutorial on SEO.

if your looking for some help with SEO then i suggest you hang around SEOchat.com forum...im sure people can help you out there... if your looking for useful articles on the subject then try here http://www.webcredible.co.uk/user-frien ... imisation/