Let’s Go Fishing! Whatcha Got For Link Bait?

[mjtaylor]

Attracting links naturally by providing content so interesting or unique that people link to you is the best way to get links. But if most of the threads in SEO forums are any indication, people spend a lot more time on forum posts, blog commenting, article and press release writing than they do on creating compelling content.

I’m not sure why we do this. We know content is king, why do we spend so much time generating backlinks offsite when we could get so many more, higher quality links if we have the right link bait on our site?

Perhaps we just don’t think we’re creative enough to come up with a winning idea. Perhaps we think too big and assume it has to “go viral” to be a success.

Let’s toss some ideas around and see if we can help each other come up with some ideas for link bait. Share an idea or tell us when you last gave away a link and why. Let’s get our creative juices flowing.

Here are some ideas:

• Give away something of value for free (an e-book? a consultation?)
• Be the first to write about news in your field
• Develop a tool and share it
• Interview someone famous in your field and publish the article on your own site
• Get controversial – start a debate
• Run a Contest

What can you add to this list? Can you share a success you’ve had with attracting links naturally? Or something you saw you wish you had thought up yourself? Or an idea that won’t work for your site, but might for someone else’s.

Show us what you’ve got under that thinking cap!

[mjtaylor]

I know someone has some link bait success to share ... or an idea for one ...

[nightcrawler]

Originally Posted by mjtaylor

I know someone has some link bait success to share ... or an idea for one ...

Hi,

Just a very simple question, I know Content is King, but what if the website is static?

[mjtaylor]

What do you mean by static?

[kbeus21]

Even if your website is static you can create an article directory where you publish your content. Keep the template and publish articles which has really helped my website. Here is what my article directory looks like on my static website~ http://makemoneyfree.comuv.com/artic...directory.html it is not really big since I started only a month or two ago, but about once a week I add an article which helps my position in Google.

Now with the link bait my best experiance is when I spent a couple days creating a list of the top social bookmarking websites ranking them all and giving a description. It is not something easily duplicated and as of right now the post itself is ranked higher than the main blog URL. This is also where I give the most links out to if I see someone creating a big list one that needs to be bookmarked I will give it out whether on forums, my blog, my site, or wherever. Some of the big lists include the thousands of free directories over at directory critic and the article directory list that is at http://www.masonworld.com/masonworld...irectory-rank/ if you notice the page rank is three just one behind the main page masonworld.com.

So if I could add something to your list I would add big lists

[nightcrawler]

Originally Posted by mjtaylor

What do you mean by static?

Static means where we don't add much of content regularly, it can be a company website regarding the information or services. And usually the content is added only once.

[nightcrawler]

Originally Posted by kbeus21

Even if your website is static you can create an article directory where you publish your content. Keep the template and publish articles which has really helped my website.

Why would someone create an article directory for static website? It does suits with your niche as you need to update on money making ideas, but on other static websites keeping an article directory sounds odd to me.

[mjtaylor]

My question should have read: why would your web site be static? What sort of site would not benefit from additional content? Offhand, I can't think of a topic that has no related news, can you?

[nightcrawler]

Well I don't want to confuse it just came in my mind after reading

people spend a lot more time on forum posts, blog commenting, article and press release writing than they do on creating compelling content.

Just thought what to do with static websites!

[mjtaylor]

Well, again, why would any website need to be static?

Are you saying that as an SEO, you aren't in a position to help your clients by suggesting compelling content that will attract links?

And even if that is the case, perhaps you could *imagine* what sort of content you could add to that static site *if* you could add something and share that with us.

[nightcrawler]

Originally Posted by mjtaylor

Are you saying that as an SEO, you aren't in a position to help your clients by suggesting compelling content that will attract links?

Yes I always suggest, but there are so many cases clients aren't interested in changing or adding a content they just need SEO done on their website and get backlinks. Yes I do agree with you quality content attract people to link to it (link bait).

Getting Back on Track
Here is my idea to get a link bait,

I usually research the top searched keywords which are of hot topic and then search information about it, this works out well if you make a quality content. I got a backlink on link wheels topic by following this idea and later on content was shared on other websites as well.

[woogley]

for it doesn't matter if it is a static site of dynamic. As long as your site has a high quality content using a competitive keywords

[~CReed]

Originally Posted by mjtaylor

I know someone has some link bait success to share ... or an idea for one ...

• Create a glossary specific to your niche; provide professionally translated copies as well (worth the cost ).
• Compile a list of industry/reference resources (government, professional associations, academic departments, institutions, trade organizations, licensing agencies).
• Create annual or other statistical reports showing industry sales figures, customer demographics and trends. Provide graphs, charts or other visuals.
• Create a page of simple tutorials.
• Create an award - in some niches there are still those who crave a little recognition. Create a list of the recipients and provide a small blurb about each recipient.
• Join professional or other trade associations; some provide lists of members with links to their sites.
• Submit a few articles about your business or company to your local newspaper; include a link to your website. Many newspapers have online editions and provide links.
• Create a "bookshelf" or "library" and list books and periodicals related to your niche.
• Review products from your niche or industry. Do an actual in depth product review with images or diagrams. Drop test an item from the neighbors roof and host the video. Place a trailer/teaser on YouTube with a link to your site to see the whole video and ending.
• Coin a silly term or acronym - in keeping with the whole do follow craze, how about "YouFollow"
  YouFollow - A trailer/teaser on YouTube that viewers can follow on over to your site.
  Be sure to add them to the glossary you created earlier.

What ever you do, get creative!

[HTMLBasicTutor]

Originally Posted by woogley

for it doesn't matter if it is a static site of dynamic. As long as your site has a high quality content using a competitive keywords

The confusion over what was meant by the word static has been cleared up above.

It was used in reference to a website that is not updated often as far as content goes. i.e. static content.

It was not meant to refer to the technology used to build the site.

[linkseller]

I think run a contest with great prize will work great for link back source.

[DocC]

Originally Posted by ~CReed

• Create a glossary specific to your niche; provide professionally translated copies as well (worth the cost ).
• Compile a list of industry/reference resources (government, professional associations, academic departments, institutions, trade organizations, licensing agencies).
• Create annual or other statistical reports showing industry sales figures, customer demographics and trends. Provide graphs, charts or other visuals.
• Create a page of simple tutorials.
• Create an award - in some niches there are still those who crave a little recognition. Create a list of the recipients and provide a small blurb about each recipient.
• Join professional or other trade associations; some provide lists of members with links to their sites.
• Submit a few articles about your business or company to your local newspaper; include a link to your website. Many newspapers have online editions and provide links.
• Create a "bookshelf" or "library" and list books and periodicals related to your niche.
• Review products from your niche or industry. Do an actual in depth product review with images or diagrams. Drop test an item from the neighbors roof and host the video. Place a trailer/teaser on YouTube with a link to your site to see the whole video and ending.
• Coin a silly term or acronym - in keeping with the whole do follow craze, how about "YouFollow"
  YouFollow - A trailer/teaser on YouTube that viewers can follow on over to your site.
  Be sure to add them to the glossary you created earlier.

What ever you do, get creative!

Those are some great ideas, CReed! The first five are especially imaginative.

[tonton0192]

I think I'll try the "free giveaways" since most people opt for free services on the net.

[jokerbook]

Originally Posted by mjtaylor

What do you mean by static?

is that mean like portofolio or company profile??

[toorhamza]

What is a static website??

[DocC]

Originally Posted by jokerbook

is that mean like portofolio or company profile??

Originally Posted by toorhamza

What is a static website??

Referring to static versus dynamic.

An example of a static site could be a site constructed for the sale of an e-book, with excerpts, TOS, ordering/purchasing, author biography, etc., which once established, will change little or not at all.

A dynamic site, on the other hand, could be a site like a news site, or even a blog, that changes often, with the addition of new content. Such change may be automatic, using feeds, or may be manual, such as in the case of a typical blog.