Why is it so hard!

So heres the problem I am coming across right now. You have to get content on a site to get moved up in googles search results. However, you have to get moved up in googles search results before anyone wants to pay to get their business listed on my site (the content), so where does that leave me? Answer, Im not sure. Im just keeping plugging away writing up one listing at a time, adding my site to one directory at a time, hoping that my traffic improves enough to the point where people will see me as a place they cant afford not to advertise. The Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia is full of businesses, it just seems that most of those businesses arent willing to take risks on new things. They are willing to stick with what they know, which may not be as good, as compared to switching to an unknown that has the possibility to be much better. Progress will come when its ready I suppose. I have no where to go but up, and I am already getting 50-60 hits a day on my site.