SEO Linkbait Tips
http://www.sourceinternet.net/articles/21559/1/SEO-Linkbait-Tips/Page1.html
Ben Greenwood
Ben Greenwood is writing on behalf of Fluid Search, experts in search engine optimisation. By Ben Greenwood
Published on 02/6/2012
The strategy of creating ‘linkbait’ is a common one used by search engine optimisation (SEO) specialists and involves creating content designed specifically to attract backlinks to a site from other websites The more incoming backlinks you have to a website, the more the major search engines will favour it on their search engine results pages (SERPs)
The strategy of creating ‘linkbait’ is a common one used by search engine optimisation (SEO) specialists and involves creating content designed specifically to attract backlinks to a site from other websites. The more incoming backlinks you have to a website, the more the major search engines will favour it on their search engine results pages (SERPs).
There are basically five types of linkbait (as identified by Nick Wilson at performancing.com) and each will attract different kinds of backlinks from different kinds of people. Creating content based around all of these is a good idea as it will ensure the widest range of people is targeted.
News bait – being the first to break news or one of the first to highlight news is almost certain to attract links from people who are just catching up and want to credit their own sources; in other words, you.
Contrary bait – see a bit of content and offer a contrary view, linking back to the original piece of content. This could generate an online discussion with many links coming back to your site.
Attack bait – go on the offensive and really have a go at a product, person or site. Careful though – you could anger the wrong people and instead of creating backlinks you could ruin your credibility forever.
Humour bait – Create something funny, especially including a photo or other rich media, and you’re almost guaranteed to get linked to.
Resource bait – some of the best linkbait is that which helps people. Online tools, downloadable spreadsheets, step by step How To guides – they will all attract links if they’re good enough and if you can show authority.
That’s the different kinds of linkbait you can try. Here are some strategies you could use.
Reviews – this falls under the resource bait category (and potentially the attack bait one, but be careful!). By reviewing a product, service or website you save people time in researching it themselves. If it’s a good review then there’s a chance that you’ll gain a link back from the site in question. You will almost certainly get links from people interested in the same type of product / service / site if they think your review was useful.
Applications / Tools – providing really useful tools is a great way to receive links and it, obviously, falls under the resource bait category again. Examples of these include currency converters, mortgage checkers, salary calculators – just find one relevant to your niche, put it online, promote it and you’re away.
Viral Marketing – this could fall under any category really, but humour tends to be one of the most common. Use rich media such as video to engage your audience, promote it to your core audience and sit back and watch as they spread it around their ever-widening social circles!
Top Lists – people cannot get enough of lists. They are easily digested and if they’re useful they will be shared around. It could be a top 10 (or 20, or 100) of websites, advice, jokes, anything – it really depends on your niche.
These are just three ideas, all of which can help create backlinks to a website if done correctly.
Some things to be aware of before you get started:
Make it easy to link to your linkbait through social media widgets or just by providing the code for them to use
Keep an eye on your web analytics, especially the top entry pages data, as this will tell you what linkbait works best for you and you can create more of the same.
Create an intriguing title and market your linkbait in an enticing way in order to make the most of it. The more people that WANT to read it, the more people will share it around.
There are basically five types of linkbait (as identified by Nick Wilson at performancing.com) and each will attract different kinds of backlinks from different kinds of people. Creating content based around all of these is a good idea as it will ensure the widest range of people is targeted.
News bait – being the first to break news or one of the first to highlight news is almost certain to attract links from people who are just catching up and want to credit their own sources; in other words, you.
Contrary bait – see a bit of content and offer a contrary view, linking back to the original piece of content. This could generate an online discussion with many links coming back to your site.
Attack bait – go on the offensive and really have a go at a product, person or site. Careful though – you could anger the wrong people and instead of creating backlinks you could ruin your credibility forever.
Humour bait – Create something funny, especially including a photo or other rich media, and you’re almost guaranteed to get linked to.
Resource bait – some of the best linkbait is that which helps people. Online tools, downloadable spreadsheets, step by step How To guides – they will all attract links if they’re good enough and if you can show authority.
That’s the different kinds of linkbait you can try. Here are some strategies you could use.
Reviews – this falls under the resource bait category (and potentially the attack bait one, but be careful!). By reviewing a product, service or website you save people time in researching it themselves. If it’s a good review then there’s a chance that you’ll gain a link back from the site in question. You will almost certainly get links from people interested in the same type of product / service / site if they think your review was useful.
Applications / Tools – providing really useful tools is a great way to receive links and it, obviously, falls under the resource bait category again. Examples of these include currency converters, mortgage checkers, salary calculators – just find one relevant to your niche, put it online, promote it and you’re away.
Viral Marketing – this could fall under any category really, but humour tends to be one of the most common. Use rich media such as video to engage your audience, promote it to your core audience and sit back and watch as they spread it around their ever-widening social circles!
Top Lists – people cannot get enough of lists. They are easily digested and if they’re useful they will be shared around. It could be a top 10 (or 20, or 100) of websites, advice, jokes, anything – it really depends on your niche.
These are just three ideas, all of which can help create backlinks to a website if done correctly.
Some things to be aware of before you get started:
Make it easy to link to your linkbait through social media widgets or just by providing the code for them to use
Keep an eye on your web analytics, especially the top entry pages data, as this will tell you what linkbait works best for you and you can create more of the same.
Create an intriguing title and market your linkbait in an enticing way in order to make the most of it. The more people that WANT to read it, the more people will share it around.