Saturday, December 6, 2008

Using Linkbaiting to Locate new Links

By Ryan Kane

Usually, when you think of link building, you think of mundane form submissions and emails. this is not the only option, you can actually assist other sites to come to you. Obviously, link baiting cannot be the sole means to finding links. As in any business scenario, having someone else do the work is what we want. Linkbaiting just happens to be the most natural, and easier, ways to achieve this.

Although the term is a relatively new one, the concept of link baiting dates back to the first time one web site created a hyperlink due to genuinely interesting content on another web site. If your site contains valuable, interesting, unique information and articles, other sites will eventually link to you. Depending on how catchy and "linkable" that information is, it will spread on its own, virally, to other sites.

Everyone would want to have their site contain interesting content without having to do any work for it. In some industries this is almost impossible. In this case, the best thing to do is to create your articles with an interesting, linkable headline. Think outside of the box, as to what would catch a reader's eye....it is usually not a boring or broad title. Make it a more to the point headline.

That headline exhibits a couple of very linkable traits. Perhaps the most important is the numbered list. As you explore link baiting further, you'll find that an overwhelming number of popular articles are named and written in a numbered list format (alternatively, you'll often see the "How to' format). Both techniques are used to increase readability, linkability, and the sense that the reader has stumbled on some interesting, unique information that can be browsed quickly. In addition, the headline addresses something beneficial to the reader: how he or she can save money when buying (specifically) stainless steel sinks. Although the inclination might be to shy away from specificity to attract the greatest amount of readers, for the purposes of link building and relevance to the reader it is best to offer specific information.

Submitting Your Article and (Catchy) Headline: Once your article is written and added to your web site, your job is to publicize the link and headline. Social bookmarking sites like Digg, Propeller, and Mixx offer easy article submission and are great outlets for getting your link into the wider Internet. When submitted to this site, sites with interesting articles can get huge boosts in traffic in a matter of hours. With great articles, catchy headlines, and consistent article submission, your web site will be getting new links in no time!

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