A Consultant can certainly help in this area. While no single reciprocal link site is as significant as any one search engine, our links collectively total more visitors than any one search engine. News Groups Listen carefully - never sell your product in any way or form in a newsgroup or discussion group. You join these groups to obtain information about what the market needs, and to keep an eye out for new competition, not to sell your product. And always, if your posted message has a product name in it, respond only and directly to the person posting the question or to the list manager.
Blatent advertising is a definite taboo violation.
This is a sensitive area, but it is worth your time to join a few groups. Be prepared to get a lot of mail if you join a lot of groups. A Forum is basically a board where you may post questions and comments, and where others may reply. If you have a topic and can find an appropriate forum, you get to demonstrate your expertise and may get visitors. Be careful, and do not advertise.