Manual link building is a ton of work, but I think it's worth it in the long run. You can write guest articles demonstrating your expertise for relevant websites in order to build links back to your site. That way, you're not only getting link juice -- you're also driving targeted traffic to your site and building your brand! I toyed with the idea of taking a short cut by using a service like Build My Rank but I don't think it's worth it in the long run. Imagine if those links get devalued or Google finds out where your links are coming from and penalizes your site. I don't think it's worth the risk, especially if you are making your living online. It's a marathon, not a sprint! Another good resource is HARO (help a reporter). People send out queries asking for expert opinions. If you provide a quote and the website uses it, you typically get a link back.