[NEED HELP] 1st website - 300K Google search results - How do I get ranked?

Hi there,

First post here, so apologies for any seemingly n00b questions.

I created a website quite recently and would like to get ranked. However, I do not know anything about SEO.
Where do I start off, and what is the most effective way to get my site ranked on Google? It's a specific niche which has 297K search results on Google. I think it's not hard to rank on Google, however who am I to say so?

What I would like from you guys, is:
- Any useful, to date, guide which can aid me in achieving the above result. (I see there's a lot of OLD threads <2014 and I'm not entirely sure which threads/guides still apply in the SEO business now).
- Any tips, tricks and anything else which I need to know. What to avoid? What to look for? Please remember I'm a complete n00b on this topic.
- Programs; which one is the best? Why? Which one should I avoid? Why? When should I use X program?

I like to learn the SEO business for myself, so just some pointers are enough for me to get started. If you can answer ANY of the above questions, please do so.

Thank you,
Zeph.

Ya just have to read mate. Everything you need to know is already on here.

Read a lot on this forum

Read some more

and some more

and then take action.

Do you have a starting thread where I can start reading? I see threads from 2010, 2006, 2013. Which one is up to date and applicable? If you can provide me with a good thread which I can actually read and digest, it'd be welcome.