Linkbait is a technique not a strategy, it involves creating web content for the specific, primary purpose of getting links pointed to your website.  There are of course other areas where linkbait can be useful, but ultimately it’s about links.

Google is clever and to rank in their search engine, they have ensured that you need links pointed to your website and the greater the number of links the better.  Some websites buy links from other websites, but Google have said they will take action against manipulation of the search ranking through the purchase of links, although things get a little fuzzy though when you start defining what it is to actually “buy a link”. Of course, buying links does come with its own problems, which we can go into greater detail about at another time.

Which is why in this day and age, linkbait is so important to enable you to succeed with your online marketing plan.  If you are considering ways to cut your monthly PPC spend, but at the same time boost your organic listings, then linkbaiting is something you should be thinking about.

This all sounds great, but before you put your linkbaiting skills to work, there are some issues which should be covered.

What is linkbait really about?

It’s simple really, linkbaiting is all about getting other people to carry out a job, it’s as simple as just persuading them to link to the web content that you want to direct them to.

It’s less to do with programming and search engine optimisation and more to do with publishing.  It’s a particular kind of publishing that works with tabloid newspapers, billboard adverting, the front covers of current magazines and if you are old enough to remember the fantastic album covers of vinyl records.  I can hear young 20 something’s a bit confused and thinking, “but I thought all music came out of an iPhone”.

Attention

It’s all about how much attention you can get and so many users of the World Wide Web are now able to surf at the speed of thought enabling them to travel to anywhere on the web in a few short clicks.  What you need to do is get them to pay attention by stopping them in their tracks and taking in what you are offering.  Naturally if you have a great headline this could do it, but niche relativity and of course domain context are highly important.

You really need to engage a company who are passionate about their web design and SEO.  Get this right and you are on your way to running a successful website.