What Are Link Baits Anyway?

Before starting, we answer the question – why does link baiting get hated on anyway, and why the negative connotation on this tactic. It’s important to understand that the tactic, in its most fundamental definition, can refer to any content that is created to attract plenty of links. Looking at this fundamental definition – it does not connote any negativity or positivity—just yet.

What makes a link bait positive or negative is how it used and how the technique is classified. Like a powerful artifact from fantasy films, link baits can either be used for the side of good or evil; it all depends on who uses it. A link bait can be an excellent piece of content that took a number of weeks or months to create or compile, or can be something posted right away, attempting to be something shocking, outrageous, and downright bad. These are the basic extremes of link baiting.

Aside from these two types of link bait, there is a third type, which is a non-link bait. This is a type of content that is called a link bait, but is apparently not as outstanding as the first two types. This third type is usually incorrectly termed as link baits, and is satisfactory at best – and even while comparing it to negative link baits, this type of link bait is the worst.

Why? Because it pretends to be a link bait and seems like one, but it isn’t at all, hence does not provide or produce the desired results of that are generally generated by link baits.

So, Which Is an Excellent Link Bait?

Now that we have the third version (or the pseudo-link bait out of the way), the question is, what makes excellent link bait? Well, most people usually condemn negative link baiting – but people continue to glorify quite a number of distasteful things and content. At the same time, we commend the practice of positive link baiting, but positive content sometimes fails to take off and generate interest.

So, what makes a link bait excellent is not its negativity or positivity. It’s more of how the content is responded to. So, even if we do complain about a negative link bait—those people who get angry about it and respond to it basically link to it, making the link an excellent one in its own right, because it has achieved its goal. People may get angry over a piece of content, may find it disgusting and anything similar – but they will continue to share it, feeding the system.

Positive link baits, on the other hand are of course, better. But that’s only when they generate the desired links. You’ll know a good link bait when you see one, because it’s insightful, inspired, creative and well-thought of. However, the thing is, both positive and negative link baits can get the same amount of attention.

Who Gets to Judge Excellent From Not?

In the end, it’s up to us readers and linkers to choose and decide what’s actually good or not, and this comes in the form of distinguishing the good from the bad. If the content is simply common and mediocre, it’s not a link bait at all. It is just content. If the content is derogatory, insulting, inflammatory and the like – then it’s negative and it’s not worth sharing at all.

And if that piece of content is well thought of, creative, inspiring and the like – well, you know what to do .

On the headlines:

1. Creating misleading hype that is only loosely connected to the content.
2. Headlines that have content considered “fine print.” Worst case in point: promising to give a certain number of pointers or promoting the participation of a particular guest blogger, only to indicate at the bottom of the article that the remaining steps or the actual guest’s blog post can only be read in a different upcoming article.
3. The headline when used effectively, can be a powerful hook in itself. Poorly conceptualized titles can waste what would have been a well-written article.

On the content topic:

1. Nobody likes a perpetual ranter who completely misses the point (if there was one to make in the first place). Articles that seek to win hits by being scandalous or antagonistic without any real reason are only inviting trouble. Sure, an initial spur would increase visits, but if there’s no real value, return readers are not very likely.
2. Copy-pasted articles, whether literally committing plagiarism or continuously recycling ideas, are a surefire way of being forgotten in the long run. Any bet for link baiting must have some aspect of “freshness.”
3. Many have written about carefully choosing hooks for link baiting. Read up on those. Not using them is a mistake that can easily be amended.

On the article quality:

1. It is an insult to your readers to present them with a clearly unedited article – rushed/illogical flow of ideas, grammatical mistakes, typographical errors, broken links — all indicate sloppy work which likely translates to sloppy content as well.
2. Never underestimate the importance of the visual/design impact of the article. Cluttered, difficult to read pages are more than likely to discourage readers.
3. Give credit where credit is due. Citing references is the most basic application of this.
4. Not speaking the target audience’s language means a missed point of connection. (Jargon – its abuse or inadequate use can both be the weakest points of the article.)
5. Link spamming – anything with “spamming” involved is a no-no for anyone planning on being successful with link baiting.