| Linkbaiting is one of the strongest tactics that | | | | buried and never heard from again. |
| new and even current websites have for online | | | | Linkbaiting is not a scam practice, but merely a |
| marketing techniques. It not only becomes viral if | | | | means of letting others know about your site. It |
| done correctly it can sometimes vault a website | | | | is a form of advertising and it does work. Some |
| to the upper reaches of the Internet world. | | | | recent and not so recent sites that gained a huge |
| Linkbaiting is a simple advertising gimmick that | | | | boost through these methods are quite well |
| many sites employ to draw in new readers or | | | | known to many Internet users. Youtube, |
| buyers. It is essentially a play at viral marketing | | | | Myspace, Hotmail and others are some examples |
| by a website owner to hopefully generate a buzz | | | | of sites and products that have become well |
| in the right circles of people who will pass their | | | | known through their viral marketing techniques as |
| website address and their advertisement on to | | | | well as their online advertising efforts. |
| others that they know. Many of these websites | | | | Take Hotmail for example: When the hugely |
| who attempt this method are viewed as nothing | | | | successful free mail system first came about in |
| more then public relation stunts, but for some the | | | | July 1996 not many knew who or what this |
| attempt becomes hugely successful and spreads | | | | service was. However, by using the power of |
| across the Internet like wildfire. This viral effect | | | | viral marketing and in this case links through |
| can drive the fortunes of a site in a whole new | | | | customer e-mails they became a huge success. It |
| direction that may put them into a position to | | | | was only a year and a half later in December of |
| become one of the larger players in an Internet | | | | 1997 that Microsoft saw the marketing potential in |
| world full of small time sites. | | | | this service and its allready large customer base |
| So how does one employ linkbaiting? Well it is | | | | that they purchased Hotmail. This was the same |
| important to understand that linkbaiting is the | | | | for Myspace and Youtube, both of which have |
| content of a site that is used to target | | | | been purchased by large companies that wished |
| link-friendly users. These audiences are normally | | | | to tap into the huge base of users to market |
| from sites such as Digg, Del.icio.us and Reddit for | | | | their own goods and services or that of others. |
| example. The readers of these sites can help to | | | | This is of course is not the norm for many |
| sky rocket the fortunes of a site almost | | | | website owners as the product has to be hugely |
| overnight. This is due to the shear number of | | | | unique, offer something of value or some other |
| people that are visiting these sites and unique way | | | | factor to create a site on the scale of these |
| with which they rate website content that is | | | | giants. Allthough viral marketing can have a |
| presented to them by these very same | | | | positive effect on the bottom line of the site in |
| members. For example if a story from a blog is | | | | question if done correctly. Some times it is merely |
| presented to the community at one of these | | | | a matter of trial and error to finally find that viral |
| sites and the information provided within is unique, | | | | link that draws the attention of many. |
| informative to many or even in many cases | | | | Remember that these link backs that are |
| funny the community will recommend it to others | | | | generated from viral marketing will last if you |
| through a rating system. The higher that a stories | | | | keep your site fresh with new content or |
| rating goes the longer it remains noteworthy and | | | | updated versions of your product. They also will |
| the higher its position is within the communities | | | | have a lasting residue traffic effect beyond the |
| pages to the point of being placed on the front | | | | initial flood of people who come to simply see |
| pages. This is not the only effect that this rating | | | | your site and this is the ultimate goal that you |
| system has either. Other webmasters may then | | | | want. You should be prepared for this flood to |
| place links back to this very site as a | | | | happen even if it does not in your first few |
| recommendation to their own visitors or even | | | | attempts if even at all. Many sites have been |
| e-mail the link to family, friends or ezine | | | | overwhelmed by the popularity that they |
| newsletter readers. | | | | suddenly gain and simply fade away. Plan ahead of |
| Linkbait, however, does not have to be just the | | | | time the moves you will make in the event that |
| content of the website or the article. Many times | | | | your sites popularity suddenly sky rockets. You |
| websites use a photo or a "top 10″ list to | | | | might consider having all of your systems ready |
| draw attention to their web-based software | | | | to launch or in place so that you can properly |
| application or their new site. There are some rules | | | | take advantage of these new visitors. This |
| that are normally followed when attempting to | | | | includes a plan to make a move to a dedicated |
| generate a buzz with linkbaiting: | | | | server if you are currently using a shared server |
| 1. The content, picture etc. should be targeted at | | | | account with one of the large companies. The |
| a wide audience to draw enough attention to | | | | traffic that a good viral marketing program can |
| sustain a viral movement. Remember that | | | | generate will simply eat up your available |
| communities at Digg, Fark, Yahoo! and others are | | | | resources causing your host to shut you down to |
| a broad selection and you need to make sure | | | | bring the server load down and thus destroying |
| that your linkbait needs to attract a wide range | | | | your efforts. If you realize that your product or |
| of people. | | | | site may become popular then you might consider |
| 2. Make sure that it is viral and link worthy. | | | | at minimum a virtual private server. No matter |
| Essentially you want the information, product, etc. | | | | what you decide make sure that the system will |
| to create a discussion that has sustainable power. | | | | be able to handle a sustainable load and possiblely |
| Whether this is done through something funny or | | | | even more growth. |
| that is interesting to group participants does not | | | | Many website owners make the mistake of not |
| matter. | | | | capitalizing on this new found traffic and offering |
| 3. Make the material easily linkable through e-mails, | | | | these visitors any real reason to come back again. |
| blogs, etc. This will help to facilitate the viral | | | | The smart site operators, however, give these |
| advertising you are attempting to create about | | | | visitors a reason to return whether it be an |
| your website and what it offers. | | | | exciting forums, other products or even |
| 4. Make sure that it is timely, topical and useful. In | | | | informative articles. So the question is are you |
| other words if you submit something that has | | | | one of these smart site operators or simply one |
| been talked about for the past three weeks from | | | | of the many who are going to fade from |
| another site then your new submission had better | | | | existence? |
| be a new twist on this old item or it will simply be | | | | |