Link building is really simple...just boring as hell! Start off building links any way you can but mix it up, a bit of social bookmarking, story submission, article to ezinearticles and then submit to unique article wizard, directory submissions, blog commenting, PAD submits, just hit it all but slowly and gradually.
Try to automate where possible. Eg. Article submission use Unique Article Wizard and Social bookmarking use Bookmarking Demon. Outsource account creating where possible, check out Odesk for cheap and even test to see if they can actually post to your accounts as well.
If you go the outsource way give them all the content don't have them write it. Spin it all headings and body content with Jetspinner and send it in to your outsources and get them to submit it. If a new site only get about 3 links per day and then gradually scale up. Keep spreadsheets and records of every link submitted, ping every RSS feed to index the links quicker.
And when checking backlink reports always use Yahoo site explorer and never google unless you want to see the disappearing links magic trick.
Remember as well that if your not buying links on highly targeted sites then your going to need more of the other less targeted links.
Hope this helps.