Link baiting is nothing other than adding some bit of content to a website that will make other people want to setup links to your site. This is a great marketing method that can increase traffic, and make others aware of your website, giving you the number of inbound links you need to boost your search engine page rank. On the other hand, if not done right, baiting for links can actually work against you and give you a bad reputation. The key to success is writing seductive content.
The following three features have to be kept in mind when writing good link bait content.
Know Your Stuff
Seductive content will be attractive, not just because it is interesting but because it is based on sound research and facts. People want to learn something that is useful, and if they like what you have done, then they will want to link to it. This promotes your website and will result in a noticeable increase in page rank within a short period of time.
Before starting, you should also determine your target groups, type of content needed and what you need the links for. Once you know what kind of people you want to link to your site, you can then determine what content will most appeal to them.
Don’t Rub Others the Wrong Way too Often
Seductive content should impress and attract people, not turn them off. Even though a bit of controversy or some harsh statements can stir up a lot of interest and a lot of links to your website, doing so too often or doing it the wrong way will hurt your reputation. Viewers will also not take you seriously if you use controversial content all the time.
Take Your Time When Creating Content
Content should not be written in a few minutes, published and then expected to be successful link baiting material. Thought should be put into what has to be written and it has to be kept at a length that will not cause people to become bored with it. It is better to write for viewers who scan through content and not only read it word-for-word. That does not mean that just snippets have to be good, because once you attract attention and persuade others to link to your site, people will be reading your content, the more extensive it is the longer it will be talked about.
Ways of making content seductive is possible by having small parts of it stand out. This can be accomplished by bolding headings or sub-headings, adding images, including videos or placing emphasis on short segments of the article. Also, use unique styles and wording. It can take time and many drafts before the right format and material is created, so always start link baiting well ahead of time so that you can make revisions as often as necessary.
If done properly, baiting for links is a great tool and tactic when it comes to promoting a website. It takes some practice, but seductive content will captivate readers and just compel them to link to your rewards.
image credit Travelin’ James
