Link Baiting
Previously we've discussed the value of Deep Links. Today we'll look at link baiting.
Fishing terms, relating to search engine optimization? This is just another classic example of the evolution of language to describe processes on the web. Bagging a beauty of a fish is as much an art form as attracting links to pages on your website. In both instances you need a lure, you need to bait the hook. Link Baiting refers to the art of attracting links form other websites by having content or features that are desirable.
The aim of link baiting is to generate traffic and search engine results by making other websites link to you. The challenge is in making other websites want to link to you. This is where the term link baiting comes into its own. Anything interesting enough to catch people's attention will do. It is a challenge to categorise different approaches to link baiting, but the following should cover most of the bases.
Info Baiting – Useful information that is as unique as possible, e.g. Some unique insight that other web surfers can benefit from or obscure information that is controversial and/ or paradigm shifting.
News Baiting – Self explanatory, the trick here is to have fresh and current news that will spread fast.
Humour Baiting – Nothing beats a good laugh. Jokes, stories and funny pictures are bound to find a receptive audience, even if it is graveyard humour.
Social Baiting – A good cause will always generate interest. The telling of the story is key here. Also look at politics and religion as they are always controversial topics that are bound to cause a stir (careful of becoming the next Salman Rushdie though, you've been warned!)
Baiting with Tools and Applications – The challenge is to create something unique or useful enough for people to want to link to. Get this one right and the sky is the limit. Being creative is key here, yet again.
Link baiting and social media go hand in hand. They are viral in nature and a popular concept can spread like wildfire, especially if you devise a mini campaign around your bait so that bloggers and other social media users and networkers are made aware of it. The trick is to identify trends and to be creative in your execution.
Next we'll take a look at Reciprocal Links