Well pickles are most easily connected with nostalgia and if made badly can lead to nausea. so here are some tips I inherited and some I read.
while making pickles avoid moisture like plague. so if it a mango pickle that you are making dry mango pieces partially in the sun for half a day.
use sea salt. since we are all so health conscious mix normal iodized salt with sea salt which is non iodized and not processed.
use freshly ground chilli powder, mustard etc. this will keep the pickle fresh longer and give a stronger flavour.
for those of my friends with continental taste buds whilst making pickles that use parsley .roast parsley a little and then use as given in the recipe . this as you must have guessed reduces parsleys water content.
for pickles requiring olive oils avoid using extra virgin olive oils as they are very mild and lack flavour as compared to olive oils with husk i.e. non virgin olive oils.also they are less expensive than their virgin counterparts.
follow these tips and let me know how your pickles turn out. actually parcel me those pickles cause I guarantee u ur pickles will be simply the best.