Linkbaiting (aka Link Baiting) Part 2 - Classification and Types

Author:: Pascal-Denis Lussier
Date:: November 12, 2008

In part 1, “The Good the Bad and the Annoying,” I introduced the term linkbaiting and perhaps went on a bit of a rant as to why it can be perceived as something negative.

In all fairness to Search Engine Optimization (SEO) companies and to all those who ‘linkbait’ honestly, I will reiterate the following in the hopes of dispelling the negativity ‘linked’ to the word: the act of linkbaiting is only as bad as the linkbaiter! To make my point: two bakers are selling donuts; one makes his with wholesome ingredients while the other throws a handful of bugs into each doughnut. The act of selling doughnuts isn’t bad, but the mad baker is!

Linkbaiting is an essential marketing tactic that is crucial to good search engine placement, which is why SEO gurus can offer their services.
And linkbaiting is everywhere on the Web. Like most things, when it’s good, it doesn’t annoy us!

The following is a classification system I devised based on research done for this segment and the lack of clear classification available. Linkbaiting techniques that are commonly used can be divided into three main categories:

1. Offer / Proffer: Essentially this category groups any method that offers something or in turn asks for your participation or for you to provide something. Examples include contests, quizzes, surveys, offerings or promises, etc.
2. Referencing: Simply put, getting others to include a link on their site or an email.
3. Exclusivity / Trendy-ness: Although exclusivity and being trendy will certainly drive 1 and 2 above, this category refers to your ‘product’ i.e. reason behind your Web site, rather than external links driving people to your Website. Luck has a lot to do with this, but with ingenuity and cunning, it is possible to create a community, cult phenomenon or just a ‘buzz.’

Each category above can be broken down:

1 a. User participation
b. ‘Freebaiting’
c. Link-backs
d. Creativity

2 a. Search Engine Placement: Tags, keywords, etc
b. Ad placement
c. Using ‘comments’: i. Extol
ii. Condemn
d. Content
e. Spam

3 a. Being the only one i. Expertise / Quality of information
ii. Uniqueness of site or product
iii. ‘Scoops’
b. Controversy
c. Humor
d. Awards and competitions
e. Sense of belonging / loyalty
f. Media attention

We will look at each of these in future posts.

Until then, happy clicking!

Tag : Linkbaiting, Link baiting, Methods, Freebaiting, Advertising, Web, Internet, Classification, Practices,

Main Tag : Linkbaiting Classes

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