Link baiting

�Just wanted to reprint something from our forums here for your view. Its a piece we wrote on link baiting and a brief description of some of the methods used. Depending on the site in question, we sometimes suggest a link bait strategy to our clients which can get them good quality links with a comparatively low cost.

Its fun and one of the hot SEO topics being discussed currently.

Content baits
These are your blogs, articles and news flashes that will get other webmasters to link to your page. This method is most widely used and requires only the time and skill to write quality content.

It is hard to control where and how your site gets linked to via this type of link bait and is most effective in certain niches. SEO and Tech being ones that would logically be most beneficial from this type of link bait.

Xenyo Advice:
Such is the nature of this type, you need to have good original information, well written and researched. The topic of the piece will determine whether or not it is bait worthy as well so you can bear that in mind.

Examples: Blogs, articles

Script baits
These are scripts that webmasters can install or add to their pages which includes a link to your site. The quality and need of the script will determine whether or not this link bait campaign is successful.

If you do not do your own coding, there will be a development cost for the script and the time frame is usually longer than preparing content baits but this method can work beautifully and get links from established sites in your niche. It can also be quite targeted depending on the type of script and you can determine the which page is linked to.

Xenyo Advice:
Do your research thoroughly before starting your Script bait campaign. You need to be certain that there is a need for the script you are offering which includes whether or not a better more established script is already available.

Bear in mind that just completing the script is not enough and you need to market it and keep the buzz going.

Examples: Web counters, Forums scripts, Templates

Reciprocal baits
Reciprocal baits are also quite common and there is discussion on their effectiveness in terms of SEO. The most basic type of reciprocal baiting is a links exchange where you offer to swap links. A further development on this model is providing a directory where the inclusion will require a reciprocal link.

In my opinion, creative use of this model can provide good results especially if the campaign is targeted right.

Resource wise, there are ready made scripts for more common uses of this method such as the two mentioned above.

Benefit wise you can get targeted links from your field and to the page that you require.

Xenyo Advice:
The simplest and true advice is that there must be an apparent benefit to the catch. For example, you wont get much response on your newly created, no traffic site if you are looking to lure in SEO websites.

Target marketing the campaign to the right group is also important and creating the right buzz in a target community bring

To get the best approach a custom written application is required to elevate your campaign from the crowd.

Examples: Reciprocal Directories, link exchange programmes

Branding baits
This is the ultimate of link baits as you have created such a brand in your field that people just cant stop linking to you. How to do this has been discussed on numerous business, marketing and motivational books so I’ll conveniently skip this part.

Xenyo Advice:
Work on a beautiful product or service that you love to bits and remain focused.

Examples: Google Homepage, Vbulletin, YouTube, MySpace