Hi Jared, the answer to links is to think of it as
PR (Public Relations). How would a company get itself into the press? Same ideas apply to getting a company mentioned in other publications (including the media of the web).
Offering a prize/competition to third-party competitions sites or online media sites will always get you a link, of course, but not for free.
Sponsoring and supporting local events and charities can get you mentioned (and linked to) in their website, and mentioned in local blogs and sites too of course.
Links are publicity, and that means giving people something to say about you - something that they want to tell others about you (with that link).