Suppose you have an existing pipe or conduit for electrical wires, speaker wires, phone or internet cables. Trying to push something through the pipe will undoubtedly just leave you frustrated. Pulling is the only answer. But, how do you pull another wire through that pipe?

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[edit] Steps

Unwind several feet of the light string and feed a little bit of it into one end of the pipe.
Start up the vacuum cleaner and attach it to the other end of the pipe. Try to seal the connection the best you can to make the most efficient use of the vacuum.
The vacuum should pull the string through the pipe. You will need to watch the end where the string is feeding into the pipe to make sure it doesn't get snagged and stop. It is important to be aware of how much string has been pulled in, so you know when to expect the string's exit on the other end.
Watch the end where the vacuum is for the appearance of the string. If you don't, a lot of string can be sucked into the bowels of the vacuum cleaner.
Once you have pulled the light string through the pipe, attach a heavier string to the end, and pull this through manually.
Once the heavier string has been pulled through the pipe, attach your final wire or cable, and pull this through manually.

[edit] Tips

Tie a cotton ball to the end of the string to help pull it through.
A spinning reel is a great source of easy feed "string".
If you are pulling heavier cables or electrical wires that bind as they are pulled through the bends and fittings of the pipe, you will need to apply a suitable lubricant to the wire as it enters the pipe. Be aware that many household lubricants can do serious and permanent damage to some types of wires and cables, so consult a professional and acquire the proper type of lubricant.