Before you can build a "Free Site" (the standard kind submitted to Link Lists), you really need to spend a few days looking at lots and lots of the Free Sites listed on the main Link Lists where you want to submit yours some day.
I say this not just because it's true ... but also because it's not only about understanding structure. A monkey can learn structure. It's about understanding how to use that structure to motivate the customers who are actually interested in where you want them to go next.
The other option is to just build sites which pass all the rules but rarely make a sale.
So, at least you have a choice.
HTH
