Creating high-quality content is a premise to rank in Google these days. I can define this as Something that is unique/different/originalUseful/helpful to the communityAnswers common questions in your nicheOriginal researchCreate videosHow to guides and tutorialsCreate lists of helpful resources
I agree with you rpsmith. Some sites, for example free mailers, autoresponders were forced me to upgrade membership. Some of them did not accept me as a free member, even though it was written they accept free members.