One effective way, to increase web presence, is getting listed in DMOZ.org, or, a similar high profile directory.
DMOZ Listings.
The following tips are for getting a listing in DMOZ.
Identify your most relevant keyword phrases. Search DMOZ using these phrases. Note the topical categories returned.
Go to each category.
Record the topical structure of the page.
Identify the categories best supporting your web pages.
Note the categories importance to search engines and the number of other listings in the category.
Overview other listings. Do your web pages fit?
Overview DMOZ submission rules.
If not, don't bother with DMOZ. You are wasting your time as well as the editor's.
Write your listings.
It's far better to squeeze precise keyword phrases (once, each) in the description. Don't place important keywords, and/or phrases, into the title. Generally, the listings title is irrelevant. At least, search engines using this listing in their own description and weighting won't care.
Topical categories with the least number of listings are generally accepted faster (regardless of editor availability).
Once accepted, if your site has already been indexed, link to the listing page.
This increases the likelihood the search engine sees the listing faster. Once the search engine has the description, drop the link. However, the initial affects of the link adds a little boost to the listing page. This sometimes helps, until quality clones start doing this for you.
Once accepted, use the precise listing in other directories. It is more likely a listing accepted at DMOZ is accepted elsewhere.
Non-profit help.
Consider non-profit sites. They tend to have good recognition in the search engines.
For example, send free software to a non-profit. In exchange, ask for promotional links. Often, you get a link on every one of their web pages.
The cost is a few disks. The benefit is greatly increased search engine visibility (presence and popularity).
Conclusion.
You simply can't get this value, for your marketing buck, anywhere else.