Research

It’s also about identifying those who link, what kind of content do they link to. It’s the current market that goes to define the content. You may think you have the idea, but the truth is that your readers will decide what you will publish and your idea will come from researching the space. If you haven’t spent time researching the very niche you are going to publish, then in all honesty you will probably fail.

Distribution

You then need to ensure that the content is shown to as many potential linkers as is possible, and the nature of social media marketing can assist you with this but a powerful online network is vital. For those who have no access, this is likened to hitting a brick wall. But it can be solved by taking the time to build a network, or buy the people who have built that network.
It’s important to realise when considering adding linkbaiting to your strategy that it takes a specific skill to create something worthy. It would seem that for successful linkbait to work, there is always an element of simplicity that makes the whole creation look simple. In reality, to create something which appears so very simple can be quite a difficult process.

To create linkbait, this three step process should be followed

1. Find who links
2. Discover what they link to
3. Show the linkers the content

Successful linkbait must contain the following elements:

1. Attention grabbing
2. Entice the reader to consume the content
3. Instil a reason for the reader to share content

Linkbait is not a sales message whose intention is to get you to buy a particular product. The purpose of linkbait is to simply get you to link by using a range of emotional triggers. Many times it has been said that we do not buy rationally, but that we buy emotionally. Linking is no different, it must reach the linker and trigger the correct emotional triggers.

If you have discovered that your online marketing has way too few links, then linkbait as an element of your whole plan could well be the answer to your problems. It has to mesh with your other online marketing elements such as PPC, Search Engine Optimisation, link buying, blogging, article writing, social media, etc. Of course having a brilliant website in the first place will help and if you get your web design just right, it’s a good beginning.

It is very important that it should not in any way harm your branding strategy. Naturally the whole tone of your linkbait should never be detrimental in any way to how your brand is perceived. So with all this in mind, if you work for a bank and you think that “Great Gadgets Bankers Buy with their Bonus” is a good title, then think again. In today’s climate, it doesn’t strike me as a great idea right now. Even though this would ensure the banks receive links, linkbait should never be about gaining links at any price.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.