Linkbait Content: 6 Ideas for Article Hooks

As you might have read, I'm doing some blog improvements with Easton Ellsworth and his Visionary Blogging program. One of the things we talked about was creating what he calls "linkbait content" for my executive coach marketing site, ContentforCoachandConsultants.com.

I'd like to share his linkbait ideas and some of mine, because these ideas for content are good and easy to translate for any niche.

Unless you are a techy-type, and into search engine optimization, you might not be clear on what "linkbait" really means to you and your online content marketing efforts.

Wikipedia defines Linkbait like this:

Link bait is any content or feature within a website that somehow baits viewers to place links to it from other websites. Matt Cutts of Google defines link bait as anything "interesting enough to catch people's attention." Link bait can be an extremely powerful form of marketing as it is viral in nature.

Here's why this is important:

Link bait in search engine optimization

The quantity and quality of inbound links are two of the many metrics used by a search engine ranking algorithm to rank a website. Link bait creation falls under the task of link building, and aims to increase the quantity of high-quality, relevant links to a website.

Part of successful linkbaiting is devising a mini-PR campaign around the release of a link bait article so that bloggers and social media users are made aware and can help promote the piece in tandem.

Social media traffic can generate a substantial amount of links to a single web page.

Here's the key, this sentence in Wikipedia: Sustainable link bait is rooted in quality content.

A site achieves greater authority in the eyes of Google and other search engines when external sites are linking back to it. Any article or webpage or blog post that a lot of other people deem important enough to send their readers to, by linking to it, gains authority.

This is why it's important for you to have a lot of content on your sites, with a variety of keywords that your ideal clients would be using when they do a Google or a Yahoo search. Some types of content work better than others for getting other people's attention and for getting them to link to you.

Linkbait Content Ideas

What kinds of content are people more likely to link to? Easton suggests 4 categories, and gives examples of what I could do for my executive coach marketing site. These can be changed for your own niche. I've added two more categories to the list:

1. A resource list (change the topic to what's relevant to you in your niche)

        • 101 Top-Notch Resources for Business Leaders (or pet groomers, or writers, or orchid growers)
        • 55 Must-Read Leadership Books
        • Top Ten Marketing Tactics for Executive Coaches

2. A list of facts/myths
        • 35 Common Myths About Leadership
        • 20 Improbable Facts About Company Newsletters

3. Talk in depth about readers' fears
        • The Biggest Risks of Newsletter Copywriting
        • Company Blog Post Do's and Don'ts  

4. Benefit-focused articles
        • What Newsletter Readers Really Want
        • Make Your CEO Newsletter Sparkle and Shine in 5 Easy Steps
        • Everything You Need to Know About Engaging With Your Blog/Newsletter Audience

5. List of best sites, best blogs, best newsletters:

People are always happy when they make your list, and they're going to write about it, and link back to you. Especially in a field where people are seeking best sites to emulate, this is a great resource that easily gets spread around through Twitter and other social media sites.

6. Something really funny or touching (hardest to do, I think)

Maybe you have something that went viral and got you a lot of links. Please share with us here and give us your link...

Comments

[Charles Crawford]

Thank you for this excellent article. I have been trying this for months (at least I thought I was). Your points bring it together for me in a way that I'm sure will help me see improvement on my site. Your 6-point list gives me something real to work with.

[TheCluelessCrafter]

Thanks, Patsi. I really do see now that lists are an important part of the blogger's arsenal.

[Jenny Pilley]

Thanks for this info Patsi. There are many things here we can all learn from. We all need a little help in finding the right ways to target our audience and this is it.