Linkbait - It’s a Cliché for a Reason
written by John Chow
This post was written by Matt Jones, the author of Blogging Fingers
Much like the phrases “write quality content” and “content is king”, “linkbait” has become such an over used phrase some bloggers have made resolutions not to use it anymore. However most of those phrases are repeatedly thrown about for a very good reason; because there is something to be learnt from them. However, there is a little extra in the story of linkbait.
Recently on the BBC news, the UK has been described as having a ‘knowledge economy’, I.e. where the commodity being traded is knowledge. It’s interesting that this is much the same as blogging. I guess all the latest booming industries mimic the UK…
A linkbaited article is essentially a blogger offering up his knowledge for trade. In-fact every blog post is, only by using linkbait the post has been especially well packaged in the hope to impress more potential buyers, who pay with a link.
Linkbait has gone from being a ‘must know phrase’ to being an old and overused gimmick within a matter of several months. It’s almost dangerous to say it (in-front of muggles), for fear of being shunned.
Why did the phrase “Linkbait” rise and fall so fast?
The answer is quite simple. Linkbait started of as part of a “lingo” that all the cool kids were speaking. Much like in video gaming, if you asked what the words “leet/1337″ meant and didn’t use them excessively you could prepare to be ridiculed and not included in the fun. Just like those phrases, linkbait was snapped up by everyone who understood how topical it was.
You can accuse me of confusing analogies (UK economy, Harry potter and now video gaming) but after all, isn’t making use of topical analogies the “in lingo” of today?
Conclusion
Linkbait may be getting very old but it had its use in the past as a buzzword and although we all want to stick it in a home it’s actual meaning of writing remarkable content remains the same.
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How to use Linkbait effectively to help on SEO?
Yeah, I read in the SEO-Theory. That link bait is just a term for contests or prize to generate link backs. For whatever reason if you can tie the contest in your blog correctly it would look like such a bad thing. It’s good if it can flow with the content.
don’t overdo it and i think john has set us a very good example
But i still cant understand
over do what?
you have a good point!
What? I don’t get it….
Same here. What is he trying to tell us?
You can check out the SEO Theory White papers on Link Baiting.. here’s a snippet and their link.
[Link baiting has become popular among some SEOs because it borrows the best techniques from other areas of SEO Theory...]
source: http://www.seo-theory.com/papers/introduction-to-seo-theory.pdf
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The phrase “linkbait” has been overused and now many are avoiding using it….but perhaps not avoiding doing it!
Good point!
That’s a good point. I say we have topics titled LINKBAIT train / contest / prize giveaway.
Exactly.
Kumiko that’s very true, it’s use is the same as ever only now the bloggers who over-used the phrase to start with are realising the general population understands the term, so it no longer makes them seem more knowledgeable.
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That sounds pretty non-evil.
What is wrong with the term “linkbait”? It perfectly describes a link that has anchor text that is somewhat deceiving or controversial to “bait” someone (to visit it).
It has nothing to do with “writing remarkable content”.
Linkbait is no different that other things people do to trick others into visiting their site. Domain names, ad text etc.
Lewis Empire, there is no trickery involved. My point is simply that as a phrase it is going out of fashion and that isn’t because the phrase no longer has any meaning.
Who said anything about trickery?
Trick?
there’s nothing wrong with the term LINKBAIT.
it does have sth to do with “writing remarkable content”, for example if you write a good piece of article, then many will use it and linkback to the source, the article naturally becomes the linkbait
If you write a good article that naturally gets links it’s simply a good article. You can’t call it linkbait, otherwise you’d be calling everything you like to read on the web linkbait.
You could call it “linkable” or “viral” or something along those lines though..
I’d go for linkable and viral, yeah.
Okay, that explained the article perfectly for me. Thank you
good explaination!
On the web, if the content is remarkable, bloggers often “remark’ it with a link.
Or an answer, for that matters.
I think it has a negative connotation because of the phrase. Bait and switch scam technique. I think its hard to disassociate the word bait as good.
>>It has nothing to do with “writing remarkable content”.
Really? Than why do all the blogs with remarkable content have all the links?
You’re clueless.
I don’t care if it’s a fad or not, I want links. LoL
To get links is linkbait much better that other ways of getting links.
Isn’t the goal to get links, by any evil means nessesary?
By any means?
Hi Matt,
do you the link to the BBC article? i would like to read that.Thanks
Another fine example of linkbait….
Link bait works well, like my post on the secret to getting more relevant traffic to your blog
Personally, even the word, “linkbait” just grinds on me.
Bait is just a word that doesn’t sit will with other does it.
Does link grind or does bait?
Many words and phrases become cliches with overuse, but until an alternative is invented linkbait will stay.
By the way, I’m not sure about the uk having a knowledge economy. Many people I know over here don’t even know what a blog is.
linkbait seems to work for me.
do a google on “allison stokke photo” and you’ll see my blog at no.1
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=allison+stokke+photo&btnG=Google+Search&meta=
I used to love to go fishing…
How about linkage — sounds better, doesn’t it?
Linkvault calls it vaultage.
[...] out this post from John [...]
ahhh how I love linkbait
Well certain words or abbreviations like SEO have survived. I feel link bait will to a point as well. Really link bait falls under a overall social media campaign anyways:
http://www.jaankanellis.com/link-baiting-and-social-media-optimization-huh/
Etymologists of the world rejoice.
It doesn’t matter if you or any individual likes/dislikes a word.
And don’t me give me, “yeah but it’s a made up word”. All words are made up.
Definitions of words are not static, understanding of such words depends on your cultural knowledge, as well as technical knowledge. Multiple definitions of words co-exist until a merging is forced by it’s users.
Sure, the word has an edge, it helps cut through the crapola of marketing speak with amazing efficiency.
I see what you are saying but do not totally agree. I know some people who to this day continue to build extremely great link bait. There is no “sponsorship” involved. It’s all based around writing an article that is so good or so informative that people all over the blogosphere will use it as a resoruce and link to it… FREE. Imagine if you built the 100 best widgets I used to make $10,000 a month on my blog. People will quote it, link to it do everything with it and it will result in hundreds or thousands of new links. That technique still works you just have to have a) authority and b) a great imagination as most top 10 lists and things of that genre have been done to death!!!!
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