Summary: Link baiting means creating content that naturally attracts links. This post shares 3 effective techniques for creating link bait content.
This is a guest post by Andreas Horch.
Many Internet marketers speak endlessly about the best ways to create links. It is often said by most of these people that the best way to build links is to create a good, competitive and quality content regularly, aiming to constantly maintain a level of uniqueness.
Though promising, this method has one loophole: Even the best content relies heavily on external factors. Simply said, quality content alone does not get you any attention; it still needs other sites to link to it.
This method is not at all appealing as it seems to be. There should be better ways of enticing other webmasters to your site and eventually link to your content.
Link building generally takes a lot of time when you only rely on getting links through regular content you publish on your website and if you don't post something innovative that would almost win you the Nobel prize you may wait in vain for even a single link, because of the vast amount of content and information published on the Internet every second.
However, there is a way where you can "lure" webmasters to link to your site. This is what is commonly known as "Link Bait." Link baiting strategies are growing in popularity, especially with the vast amount of content and information on the Internet. Here are 3 effective content techniques that you can use to do this strategy properly.
1. Write an article reviewing or comparing services or products of companies or individuals and publish it on your site
Companies just can't resist the idea of free publicity, in whatever medium or channel. Try to give emphasis in creating content that promotes these companies, and you'll eventually see some or even all of these companies linking back to your site from their own.
Do not just go about and post anything for the company without proper preparation though. You have to let the companies of the products or services that you are reviewing know about what you will do for them. Give them a set of questions for them to answer and to serve as your reference when you write the article.
If you become an expert in this format over time, you can now start giving out "seals of approval" and having those seals would mean that you reviewed or ranked the company under your most scrutinizing eyes.
2. Catch the reader's interest using a well documented controversy
A controversy always sparks intrigue to whoever hears it. Likewise, in the world of the Internet, a controversy can also be used to create disputes and thus gaining better exposure. If you have something interesting to say, webmasters would most likely link back to your site. The recent controversy about the "4G iPhone" that was written by Gizmodo literally rake lots of exposure and thus created numerous back links to their site.
Go ahead and speak up information or words that can bring you well out of the comfort zone. From an SEO's point of view, stirring up controversies is a better exposure and may be effective link bait.
3. Get ahead and be the very first to report a particular news or story in your industry
Any breaking news can give a critical impact especially if you are the first one who's going to tell the story. Anybody who is into SEO would strongly agree with you. Just one word of advice: Report news that would have been reported by others within your industry. You can definitely find other members of your industry that would get interested and would automatically link to your site.
Blogs can also be a regular medium for any news. It is a form of media after all; just don't forget that you are doing this partly for the links that you will receive in return for the effort.
The best thing about link bait content is that it is well supported by Google. So you don't have to restrain your own creativity, and enjoy creating good content by setting a goal of getting links for each and every article that you provide in your website.
About the author: Andreas Horch is a professional search engine marketing consultant with over 10 years experience in the Internet marketing industry and CEO Linknami.com, which offers link building and blog advertising tools for individuals and small businesses.
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