How to rank in the TOP3 on Google and other Search Engines?

What tools do you use to make your site rank in the TOP3 on Google and other Search Engines?
What factors are important for this?
How can you optimize your website to improve its ranking?

That is question like "HOW TO BE THE BEST DOCTOR - CHIRAC"in 3 days. Be sure - this tools does not exist. And between us - most of SEO is just fake. Be on the first position in Google is something like giving posters before supermarket. So try read something about it - good source http://www.google.com/events/io/2010/sessions/seo-site-review-from-experts.html
Be care of same "internet cowboys" - They will try sell you some services - but very often does not make any sense.

Its my opinion that backlinks are the main source of it.

Let me remark first, that the original question is good, because you are specific and the top 3 is what really matters. Research the SERP conversion curve (SERP = search engine result page) and you will find different sources that roughply tell that the top 3 converts best. The click conversion below top 3 drops extremely...

I have been in online busines for half a decade now. Companies invest dozents and sometimes hundreds of thousands of euros in SEO. People create many websites and unique valuable contents to "please" Google into ranking the actual site higher, which generates profits (or expected to do so). In many cases this is an online shop selling physical stuff or some sort of entertainment site selling digital products and services like browser games, music and movies on-demand...

And than we have plenty of SEO agencies around the world. Most of them are scam generating money only for themselves, especially those who are ready to do SEO for some hundred euro per month. They all know that it is hard to tell at first who does a good job and who does not, because you need roughly half a year to assess if the SEO work of a company is worth anything. The contracts typically obligate you to pay, but put absolutelly no obligations to the company.

The problem is that virtually any online business requires that or rank on Google well. Otherwise you will run out of money for paid advertizing before you reach the break even point, and after that you will find out that you could have invested the same amount of money much better!

It comes down to generate good content yourself, or create some sort of a community that does the job for you, or find a niche, or find another business that does not require good rankings on Google.

Hi
My understanding of getting tops in Goggle has dramatically changed.

Back linking from link farms is a big no no. It should somewhat reflect you site subject matter. Many people I know are disavowing links in Google Analytics like crazy. Gone are the days of buying thousands of back links.

They are looking for good content
Longer pages
Niche directories
Join Niche Communities Forums, Blogs etc
Becoming an expert in your niche
No follow links for Affiliates and outbound links
Proper use of Keywords
Good site structure (e.g.Breadcrumbs)
Google Authorship which entails using G+
"Google Search" on your site
Using Social Media


They have not finished rolling out changes We await more.