Linkbait just sounds plain bad. That’s its main problem. Doing something and admitting to something that sounds so terrible is a very unattractive prospect for most businesses. It’s a wonder it’s so attractive to so many search engine professionals.
The term itself comes from the blogosphere, where the more drama a term has, the better. It’s unfortunate, because the concept has become linked with bad SEO and given a reputation it doesn’t necessarily deserve. This is so much the case that there is a debate about whether linkbaiting is good or bad within the SEO community, which should really know better.
There really should be no debate. Like a lot of terms that float around the internet community, ‘linkbait’ is just a way of describing something that people have been doing for years. A lot of search engine optimisation is drawn from established methods in this way. Labels are really only for easier explanation. The Search Engine Optimization world is based on the concept of organic search, and in the end the terms we use to describe methods are artificial.
The debate, of course, comes from the bad press the term itself generates. ‘Linkbaiting’ gives the impression of manipulating your users in an entirely selfish way. It’s strange that linkbait can never really do this. The only way to get your users to pick up content is to provide some form of value, whether that is a bit of humour or some useful information.
There are several forms of linkbait, and as with other things in the SEO world, some of these are more wholesome than others. One method, particularly popular with bloggers, is to publish something highly controversial and draw the drama out for as long as possible. This method means they can reap links by the hundreds. It sounds hauntingly similar to the methods of ’shock jock’ radio hosts because it is, and it doesn’t provide value content. It is also a method many businesses would not want to be associated with.
Another method of linkbaiting is at the opposite end of the spectrum. This involves the creation of an application that users can use or download for free. These kinds of linkbait work well because it feels as though a material thing is being given to users for free.
An Search Engine Optimization company that discusses linkbaiting is not necessarily one to be avoided. If you are looking around the search engine optimisation professionals available, it is best to discuss the precise methods the company has in mind. The merits or drawbacks of linkbait depend on the specific strategy being employed. Consult our experts at SEO Consult about link-drawing content.
When it comes to linkbait, it would perhaps be better if the industry didn’t worry so much about terminology. Attractive, super-shareable content can never be the kind of value-free junk that linkbait sounds to be. As usual, keeping the benefits to your site’s users in mind will help you determine whether a linkbaiting strategy is really the right choice for your site.
