One of the web’s premiere specialists on Social Media Marketing, Dosh Dosh teaches us this week about “baiting.” Attracting links and traffic is crucial to blogging and we all do so with “bait,” so it’s really not the cuss word we all pretend it is- it’s a natural part of blogging. Some of us use Digg, Reddit, StumbleUpon or other social media sites with one of the goals being to become viral. The words “link bait” are often misused to exclusively refer to blogs or websites that don’t offer any relevant material, rather list links to other blogs in hopes of return links which is deplorable but is simply a misuse of link baiting.
Dosh Dosh notes that “to increase the chances of success, you just need to focus on two main factors: relevance and distribution” to increase your hook’s popularity.
If you don’t frame your bait and make it relevant to the audience, you’re giving up a lot of attention from the start and your material will struggle to develop traction.
A good piece of content may not market itself beyond your existing reach. Unless your bait is truly extraordinary, it is not likely to propel itself into massive popularity. Do not just create an excellent piece of content and leave the distribution process to luck. Pick the right messenger and provide auxiliary support.
Be sure to read Dosh Dosh’s article in full here, and let us know if shedding light on “link bait” changes your approach.
Free Real Estate Blogs
February 9, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Great article. Link Bait is easier said than done though… obviously. A lot of people worry more about getting on the front of digg as opposed to just creating consistently great content. Create the content and THEN worry about going viral … so many folks don’t think this way though, they want the grand slam instead of hitting consistent singles and doubles….. If you build it and it is great, they will come!
Greg Cremia
February 11, 2008 at 7:24 am
The reason link bait has a bad name is because the easiest way to achieve virility(?) is to get nasty. Make fun of someone or expose someone and the links will flow.
Negativity, however, has the ability in itself to become viral and this side effect can negatively impact a service oriented business like real estate.
It is hard to get viral about hometown real estate.