Fishing for Links
Host | 30 January 2006 | 2 Reviews »
Links, links, links… more links, please. We love links!
This is the mantra of those of us in SEO. To put it very simply, links from a website pointing to another one is a "vote" for the recipient website. All of the important search engines factor these votes, one way or another, into their ranking algorithms. The more links the better, so we are all on a quest for more good links.
Sometimes, we can quickly net a legion of links by using the right link bait. Link bait is something placed on a website that attracts links from other websites. It’s generally believed that Aaron Wall, author of SEO Book, coined the term.
Link bait can take many forms:
- Information that no one else has, such as an exclusive interview.
- A photo, audio clip or video clip related to the news – tsunami waves, for instance, or a local event.
- Some kind of reference that people will want to return to again and again say, a dictionary of rapper slang or lawyer lingo.
- A useful tool that people can either download from your site or, better yet, must go to your site to use – think mortgage calculator
- Something funny – everyone loves to laugh and forwarding funny things to friends is a widespread pastime.
- Something interactive to interest people, such as a quiz or a survey. Occasionally, someone really hits it big with link bait – remember the JibJab video that everyone was watching and talking about before our last presidential election? (www.jibjab.com – clip entitled "This Land") It was funny and related to the news. Not only did it attract a legion of links to the website, it also got the creators mentioned on the national news, which drove even more visitors to the site.
What can you do to cook up some tasty link bait on your website?
Mary Bowling – Blizzard Internet Marketing, Inc.
February 8th, 2006 at 1:14 pm
One of the best bits of link baits I have seen on our client websites is a “webcam” that shows a live photo or movie of the area. Many local websites will link to your webcam if you set it up… look for an upcoming article on how to set up your own webcam.
Another way to generate links is to have a “local attractions” area on your website that highlights local businesses. If you do this, consider adding directions to other local businesses on how they can get added to your own website. Typically, this is a “trade links with us” area that gives other websites directions on how they can link to you on their site, and then request a reciprocal link on your own website. One word of caution: keep the links on-topic. Make sure that your link partners make sense because they are in your area or relate to your business. If you are a hotel in California, there is no reason to link to a resort in Bangladesh or a shoe company in New York.
September 7th, 2006 at 3:25 am
I recommend people consider the lifetime value of a customer when planning their linkbait. That way you can be way more generous with what you give away and the results are faster. Great for viral pickup as well.