Can someone post a step-by-step plan for a total newbie to start moving up rank

Hi i would like to know if someone would give me some easy straightforward tips for improoving my websites rank, i am new and all this is a bit confusing. Is there a list anywhere of places you can get follow links? and can anyone help out out with what steps to do first? like maybe do a certain few things, then something else after that. But just spelled out clearly.
Im sorry if its annoying but im sure everyone was new at some stage, please help:(