Link baiting is a recent term used by SEO geeks and professionals which basically means that you create something such as a resource, product, video, press release, or anything else that will create “buzz” about you and get people to talk about you.

This is a relatively straightforward concept, but is a tricky one nonetheless because you need some outside-the-box thinking to create something unique and attractive. As a result of your creation you will get lots of natural and organic traffic which will boost the credibility, readibility, and popularity of your blog.

Here are some ways to linkbait (taken from Jim Westergren’s blog):

• Make a valuable resource (lists, special reports, history of, how to, etc.)
• Interview (e-mail/phone) prominent people and publish it.
• Build a useful tool
• Write an interesting article
• Run a newsworthy ‘event’ such as a contest
• Test something new that has not been done before
• Be the first in doing something on the internet
• Write something controversial
• Be the first to write the latest news in your niche
• Be the first to expose a scammer
• Disagree with an authority
• Write some funny humor
• Make an interesting picture
• Be the first to research and document something
• Make a theme, plugin or piece of software
• Make a tool that others can put on their sites but that links to you
• Make a joke about a known person
• Make a resource that is just in time for a major event
• Write an outrageous theory and back it up with logics
• Write useful comments on something that is happening
• Give something valuable for free
• Coin a new acronym in your niche and get people to talk about it

A couple of my own additions:

• Write an ebook about your niche or something related. An ebook will boost your credibility quite a bit and will increase your knowledge in your own niche – guaranteed. If your blog (or yourself) are not known well then offer the ebook for free on forums and various sites. People looove freebies.
• [I was going to add something here but I didn't write it down after the thought came - arrgh]
  

Whatever you choose, think through it, make it look professional and be sure that it will attract visitors. Here are three aspects you should focus on to make your link bait successful: curiousity (urgent, limited, huge discovery), money, and free. With these three things get started by hooking your visitors all too well: hook, line, and sinker.

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