Confused about how to get backlinks for your website? So, there are two ways in which you can get backlinks.
Either you ask people to link to your website or don’t ask people; let them come and make this decision by themselves.
A study by Ahrefs looked at 1 billion pages. Result? More backlinks mean more traffic from Google.
In our study of 1 billion pages, we found a strong positive correlation between the number of websites linking to a page, and how much search traffic that page gets from Google.
Link building is important 🔥 pic.twitter.com/twWjF1gTWr
— Ahrefs (@ahrefs) March 21, 2022
This graph shows the importance of backlinks in getting traffic to your website. But how do you get them naturally without asking?
Here comes “link baiting.” This technique is like a magnet pulling visitors and more backlinks to your website.
Let’s continue reading and learn how link baiting works and how it can make your website popular.
What is Link Baiting?
Link baiting is a technique that is used to create content that would attract other websites to link to it. This will result in improving the website’s position in search engine rankings. Also, the primary goal of link baiting is to generate as many inbound links as possible.
The compelling content can include:
- A detailed guide
- A surprising research findings
- An informative infographic
- A useful tool
How to Use Link Baiting?
Here’s a simple idea of using link baits and how they can help grow your website.
- Create Excellent Content: Make sure your content is helpful and one of a kind.
- Get Others to Link: If people find your content useful, they will link to it.
- Increase Your Site’s Visibility: More links mean higher visibility on Google, which brings more visitors.
Link baiting is a smart method to gain more traffic to your website. It makes people want to link to your content on their own because they like it.
Types of Link Baiting
We can divide the content into 4 main categories:
- Controversial Content: Do you have a different take on an industry trend? Are you willing to go opposite the flow? This kind of content can bring a lot of attention and hopefully backlinks, too.
- Data-Driven Content: You did an original research. Great! People always want to link to trustworthy and well-researched stats.
- Comprehensive Guides: This one is tricky. You need a lot of authority in the niche. Then, create a full-fledged guide. Everyone would want to link to it.
- Newsworthy Content: Always keep your eyes and ears open. Keep yourself updated on the latest industry news and developments. Any content covering that might land you a few links.
How to Create Effective Link Bait
Creating link bait isn’t just about crafting content; it’s about making your content irresistible. Here’s your blueprint to make content that’s so good that everyone wants to link to it:
1. Be Useful and Unique
DON’T create content just for the sake of it:
- Solve Real Problems: If your content fixes an issue or answers a burning question, it’s gold. Think guides that walk users through solutions step by step.
- Become the Go-To Resource: Strive to create the definitive guide on your topic. When you cover all the bases, others will not only reference your content. They’ll rave about it!
2. Catch the Eye of Publishers and Their Readers
Your content should be equally attractive to the readers as well as the publishers in your niche, which are not your direct competitors. Here’s how to do it:
- Back It Up With Data: Solid numbers make your content credible and link-worthy. Imagine the clout when you say, “According to our study…” — it’s powerful!
- Visualize It: Who doesn’t love a good infographic? They’re like candy for the eyes and a shortcut for the brain. Make sure your visuals are as shareable as they are pretty.
3. Stir Some Emotions
Emotions make us human. Can content with emotions resonate with readers:
- Flatter With Ego Bait: Feature interviews or mention big names. Watch as they share your content in their circles, bringing you those sweet, sweet links.
- Challenge the Status Quo: Got a new take on an old idea? Share it. If it’s good enough, watch the debates (and links) roll in.
4. Stay Timely and Trendy
Always keep an eye on what’s new in the industry.
- Tap Into the News: Link your content to current events or hot topics. It’s like catching a wave; it’ll carry your content further and faster.
- Engage With Interactives: Quizzes and games are not just fun; they’re magnets for links. Make something that people can’t help but interact with.
5. Tell a Story
Who doesn’t like a good story? We all are suckers for a good one.
- Connect Through Narrative: Everyone loves a story. Whether it’s a personal journey or a case study, if it resonates, it links.
6. Simplify Sharing
- Make Buttons Obvious: Place sharing buttons where people can easily find them, not tucked away at the bottom of the page.
- Ensure Mobile-Friendliness: With so many people browsing on their phones, your site and content must look good on small screens.
7. Learn and Adapt
Watch and Learn: Keep an eye on how your content performs. What worked? What flopped? Every piece of content is a learning opportunity.
Best Practices of Link Baiting
Wondering how to get your content noticed and shared? Here are some smart moves to help your articles and posts become link-worthy:
1. Share Everywhere
Okay, it is literally a link bait, but some promotion won’t hurt.
- Go Beyond One Platform: Don’t just stick to one place. Spread your content through various channels like social media, newsletters, and even webinars.
- Collaborate with Influencers: Partner with big names in your field. Their nods of approval can catapult your content into the limelight.
2. Smart SEO
We have to take care of our crawler friends, too:
- Choose Smart Keywords: Pick keywords that are specific enough to attract the right crowd but broad enough to keep your bases covered.
- Enticing Titles: Create titles that beg to be clicked. Think of them as the flashy sign for your content.
3. Engage Your Readers
Interacting is key to building community.
- Encourage Comments: Ask questions and stir up discussions. It’s not just about talking; it’s about listening and responding.
- Direct Calls to Action: Sometimes, a simple ‘Please share if you like this!’ can do wonders.
4. Use Data Wisely
It’s not a piece of cake. Data can give helpful insights into what is working and what is not. Remember, improvise, overcome, adapt!
- Monitor with Analytics: Keep an eye on your traffic and shares. What’s working? Learn from that.
- Adapt Based on Feedback: Use insights from your data to fine-tune your content strategy.
5. Keep Content Fresh
Okay, you created a good piece of content. Now, what? It’s not over. You have to keep updating to stay relevant.
- Regular Updates: Bring older posts up to date with new information or insights. It keeps them relevant and useful.
- Transform Hits: Got a popular blog post? Turn it into a video or an infographic to reach even more people.
6. Build Relationships
- Genuine Networking: Forge real connections with other bloggers or journalists. Real relationships lead to natural link-sharing.
- Guest Posts: Write for other reputable blogs. It’s a great way to reach new audiences and link back to your own site.
Examples of Successful Link Bait
Here are 6 link baiting examples we curated. We used SEMrush’s backlink analytics tool for analysis. Let’s check these out:
1. How a Car Engine Works by Animagraffs
- Industry: Automotive and Education
- Content Type: Interactive Graphic
- Creator/Publisher: Jacob O’Neal for Animagraffs
- Objective: Educate users about car engines in a fun, visual way.
- Strategy: Uses detailed, animated graphics to break down engine components.
- Results: Attracted significant attention, earning real backlinks from hundreds of domains.
- Visuals: High-quality animations simplify complex concepts.
- Why It Worked: Combines stellar visuals with a solid education, appealing to gearheads and newbies alike.
- Dive Deeper: Animagraffs Car Engine
2. Semrush’s Most Visited Websites Study
- Industry: Digital Marketing and SEO
- Content Type: Research Study
- Creator/Publisher: Semrush
- Objective: Highlight the most trafficked websites in the U.S.
- Strategy: Data analysis to create a compelling, citation-worthy study.
- Results: Over 8,000 backlinks from more than 1,000 domains.
- Visuals: Eye-catching charts and graphs.
- Why It Worked: Delivers sought-after data with a punch of authority.
- Learn More: Semrush Study
3. The Points Guy’s Monthly Valuations
- Industry: Travel and Finance
- Content Type: Data Resource
- Creator/Publisher: The Points Guy
- Objective: Provide updated valuations for loyalty programs.
- Strategy: Regular updates of critical data for travelers.
- Results: Over 65,000 backlinks from 2,400 domains.
- Visuals: Clear, concise valuation tables.
- Why It Worked: Essential, regularly updated info that travelers can’t fly without.
- Explore More: The Points Guy Valuations
4. The Beginner’s Guide to SEO by Moz
- Industry: SEO and Digital Marketing
- Content Type: Comprehensive Guide
- Creator/Publisher: Moz
- Objective: Be the go-to resource for SEO newbies.
- Strategy: Extensive, evergreen content with useful images.
- Results: First organic result for many SEO searches, with over 2,059 domains linking.
- Visuals: Helpful diagrams and screenshots.
- Why It Worked: It’s a one-stop shop for SEO learning backed by Moz’s clout.
- Read More: Moz SEO Guide
5. Global Peace Index by Institute for Economics & Peace
- Industry: International Relations
- Content Type: Research Report
- Creator/Publisher: Institute for Economics & Peace
- Objective: Rank global peacefulness and identify trends.
- Strategy: Annual comprehensive analysis of global peace metrics.
- Results: Widely cited by scholars and policymakers.
- Visuals: Informative charts and global maps.
- Why It Worked: It offers a deep dive into a globally relevant issue with data-driven clarity.
- Further Info: Global Peace Index
6. 2018 Social Media Demographics by Pew Research Center
- Industry: Social Media and Market Research
- Content Type: Research Study
- Creator/Publisher: Pew Research Center
- Objective: Update demographic data for social media usage.
- Strategy: In-depth analysis across diverse demographics.
- Results: Essential reference in countless marketing strategies.
- Visuals: Detailed demographic charts and graphs.
- Why It Worked: Provides invaluable insights for tailoring social media strategies.
- Learn More: Pew Social Media Demographics
These examples of link baiting show how helpful they can be in attracting backlinks naturally.
The Positives and Negatives of Link Baiting
Link baiting is an awesome technique when used correctly. But If you are not paying attention, things can go south. Let’s analyze the upside and downside of link baiting:
The Good Stuff:
- Interesting Content: Even when content satisfies the intent and provides all the answers. It is never a bad idea to make it catchy. It creates curiosity and interest and never bore you to death.
- Trust: If you always tell the truth and don’t exaggerate, people will trust you more. They’ll keep coming back and will want to share your stuff.
The Not-So-Good Stuff:
- Tricky Headlines: Okay, now, a little bit of controversy is good as long as you give what you promise. But are the Headlines just there for clicks and have no quality content? That is a bad news.
- Lacking quality: You might get caught up and use all your energy to make it catchy. But you provide generic content. Remember, you still need to craft excellent content. Many articles out there are just clickbait and might not provide much value.
Conclusion
If you have reached this far, then you have mastered how link baiting is done.
But this is just the beginning; you need to keep your momentum.
- Socialize: Backlinks are like a golden connection in SEO. So next time someone links to you, be a good sport and say thanks! You might find something in common. Who knows, maybe you can team up and create something even more awesome together!
- Keep Making Awesome Stuff!: This is not a one-time stuff you need to keep giving back to the community. So, good luck with it.
- Become the Know-It-All: As you continue to make such content. You will gain authority in your domain. And you will become a trusted source of information.
Now, it’s over to you. You have all the wisdom to implement link bait. Go! Conquer the world of content marketing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the quickest way to see if my link bait is working?
Check your content's share and like counts; if they're climbing, your link bait is catching on!
How often should I try to create link bait?
Aim for balance; too much can overwhelm your audience, but a few well-crafted pieces a month can really boost engagement.
Can link bait still be effective if I'm not in a fun industry?
Absolutely, every industry has a unique angle or untold story that can captivate the right audience.
What should I do if my link bait doesn't get the attention I hoped for?
Take it as a learning experience: review what might not have clicked with your audience and tweak your approach next time.
Is there a risk of my content being too promotional when I'm link baiting?
Yes, there's a fine line—focus on providing value and maintaining authenticity to keep your content from feeling like a sales pitch.
