What is link baiting?
Link bait vs click bait
You should note that while there is often a thin line between them, link baiting doesn't correspond to well-known in the world of marketing, and not only, the concept of clickbait. So what is the key difference between these two techniques? Goal.Linkbait
When it comes to linkbaiting, it is important that users that are interested in your content should link to it and recommend it to others.Clickbait
Clickbait, however, ends with clicking on a link, the content which is not always as interesting as its attractive title might suggest. This method successfully encourages to visit the website but not necessarily to stay on the site or create links to it. So clickbait doesn't have a very good reputation - you could say that clickbait is like a nice cover of a worthless book. A nice cover may encourage you to buy this book but would you recommend it to others? Probably not. [caption id="attachment_22389" align="aligncenter" width="571"] The most engaging headlines according to Buzzsumo surveysource: https://buzzsumo.com/blog/most-shared-headlines-study/[/caption] But! Note that even though the mentioned above terms link bait and click bait are not exactly the same, when used properly, they can perfectly work in synergy. Just think about it: you have two tools - one will attract user's attention and the other will effectively keep it. So if you create an attractive and valuable content for your clickbait title, you have a better chance that your content will not be echoed by users - what's more, it will be shared by them.
Several link baiting methods
Link baiting doesn't really have a clear strategy - actually there are lots of methods. You may take different actions depending on who is the target of your message and on the way you communicate. You could say that link baiting is closely connected with good content marketing - because eventually, it is attractive and valuable content that will make users link to your website, right? That's why it's good to keep this in mind when planning your link baiting strategy. If you want to learn more about content marketing and what to consider when creating content, check out our blog post. Do you need help with finding quality backlinks? Try our link building services! So, since we already know the basics, let's move on to how we can bait our links ;-) Below I present some methods.Article
Well, it's not about just writing an article and posting it on your blog. That’s not the point! Remember that you should meet users' needs and make them feel that it is you who has given them answers to all of their questions. Create substantive content, filled with practical knowledge. Avoid overly specialized language - be clear and understandable to everyone. News and real-time marketing are perfect for this type of content. People like to know what’s going on and be up to date with all the news. On the other hand, evergreen content (i.e. something that people will always be looking for), such as tutorials or ebooks, can also be a good solution. You can also consider guest posting - there are many advantages of this solution. By publishing a guest post on your blog, you open up to a new audience, who will visit your blog because of the author, expand your contact network and give yourself a chance for more (good quality) links to your website.Contest
Depending on your business, consider what kind of contest might be both attractive to your audience and beneficial to you. I think most of us like to play and, even more, to win ;-) It's quite clear here - only your creativity limits you (well, unless you decide to organize a contest on a really big scale, then money will also play an important role). Contests not only have a great impact on user-generated content (UGC) but are also a good way to get links. How to use the power of this method? I'll give you a simple example. You’re organizing a contest. The participants may win, let's say... free entry to the training in your company. There are just two terms of participation. Each person must:- follow your profile (Facebook, Instagram, etc.),
- share the contest post on your profile with a description in which he or she will describe in a few sentences why they want to participate in your training (with a return link to your page, of course).