January 27, 2009 92 Comments

The Subtle Art of Linkbaiting

fish hook If you don’t know the term, linkbaiting is when you write a blog post that causes people to generate links to it. For example, when I write a post like 27 Blogging Secrets to Power Your Community, I know that the post is at once useful, but also great linkbait. The thing is, I think it has to be a subtlety, not a hard press.

I read a great post somewhere (forget where) that said there are seven basic types of linkbait. I loved it so much that I wrote down all 7 types, but forgot to save the URL. So, whoever you are, sorry: you deserve credit.

7 Basic Types of Linkbaiting

  1. Attack Hook – “Why I’m Not Following Chris Brogan on Twitter Anymore”
  2. Humor Hook – Uncle! Why I Quit Following Chris Brogan (pretty good post)
  3. Contrary Hook – Chris Brogan might be wrong.
  4. Incentive Hook – Win an Hour with Chris Brogan (don’t ever try this)
  5. News Hook – Chris Brogan is in Billings, Montana. What?
  6. Ego Hook – Why Chris Brogan is so Awesome
  7. Resource Hook – 100 Blog Posts Mentioning Chris Brogan

Again, that’s not my list.

The thing is, it’s got to be subtle. The people who try the hardest always come off like they’re trying, and it’s just a loud clunking sound from over here. I mean, your audience realizes you’re doing linkbait. You know that, right?

And I’m talking to myself a bit here, too. I know the types of posts that I write that will draw links, and I use that tactic if I’m trying to grow my audience or shift the needle a bit. But if all I did was write posts that attempted to draw attention, it’s like hanging out with the really loud kid in High School. You know what I mean?

As a blogging tactic, relying on linkbait to keep your content relevant feels like cooking fajitas every night. It might sizzle, but is it still magic? You might disagree.

Photo credit L Marie

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  • http://www.firstcollegenowwhat.com Joe Mescher

    Imagine my surprise to learn Chris Brogan Demands Free Chocolate from his readers…

    And that 7 out of 10 American cannot spell ‘YouTube’ correctly.

    These are just two of the many reasons Chris Brogan will always be followed by Joe Mescher on Twitter.

    What a fun post! Thanks for the inspiration.

  • http://www.firstcollegenowwhat.com Joe Mescher

    Imagine my surprise to learn Chris Brogan Demands Free Chocolate from his readers…

    And that 7 out of 10 American cannot spell ‘YouTube’ correctly.

    These are just two of the many reasons Chris Brogan will always be followed by Joe Mescher on Twitter.

    What a fun post! Thanks for the inspiration.

  • http://www.ryancmiller.com ryancmiller

    Very useful post today Chris.. One add though, I think the link baiting techniques will only work if the content behind the titles are useful or spark discussion.

    The downside is that I think you only get a couple of opportunities per user with the baiting. If they check out a post because of the hook and gets burned with the content, the likelyhood they’ll take the bait again or recommend your site is slim to none.

  • http://www.ryancmiller.com Ryan Miller

    Very useful post today Chris.. One add though, I think the link baiting techniques will only work if the content behind the titles are useful or spark discussion.

    The downside is that I think you only get a couple of opportunities per user with the baiting. If they check out a post because of the hook and gets burned with the content, the likelyhood they’ll take the bait again or recommend your site is slim to none.

  • http://keithpape.blogspot.com Keith Pape

    I like number 5, because the next email I read after my RSS of this, was an invite in march to ‘Meet Chris Brogan in Irvine!!!”

    i thought it was funny at least.

  • http://keithpape.blogspot.com Keith Pape

    I like number 5, because the next email I read after my RSS of this, was an invite in march to ‘Meet Chris Brogan in Irvine!!!”

    i thought it was funny at least.

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  • Anonymous

    Great list, thanks Chris. I’m curious – which type of linkbaiting have you personally found to be the most successful?

  • http://annmariemurphy.com Ann-Marie Murphy

    Great list, thanks Chris. I’m curious – which type of linkbaiting have you personally found to be the most successful?

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  • http://customercommunicationscommunity.com Ben

    Good post. I think that your point about people trying to hard is a good one.

  • http://customercommunicationscommunity.com Ben

    Good post. I think that your point about people trying to hard is a good one.

  • http://blog.angelaconnor.com AngelaConnor

    The posts that take off for me usually are the lists or the “this or that” post. it seems that when I don’t over-think people really latch on.

  • http://blog.angelaconnor.com Angela Connor

    The posts that take off for me usually are the lists or the “this or that” post. it seems that when I don’t over-think people really latch on.

  • http://blog.budgetpulse.com/ Craig

    You always need some type of hook to grab the readers attention and to hopefully get it linked out.

  • http://blog.budgetpulse.com/ Craig

    You always need some type of hook to grab the readers attention and to hopefully get it linked out.

  • http://www.keithburtis.com Keith Burtis

    Chris, it goes beyond linkbait. it makes the person seem desperate. When they are high profile bloggers it’s even worse. What I love is the link bait headline that they port over to twitter and post it there. The headline never fits into 140 characters so the tweet look s like this at the end “if you have an opinion find out more about…….”
    Chris, you know that people will link to your content but you put the value in your posts. We have come to expect that.

    Keith

  • http://www.keithburtis.com Keith Burtis

    Chris, it goes beyond linkbait. it makes the person seem desperate. When they are high profile bloggers it’s even worse. What I love is the link bait headline that they port over to twitter and post it there. The headline never fits into 140 characters so the tweet look s like this at the end “if you have an opinion find out more about…….”
    Chris, you know that people will link to your content but you put the value in your posts. We have come to expect that.

    Keith

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  • http://www.99daz.com Darren Daz Cox

    no need to be mean Chris! I have a couple of ‘Chris Brogan is an under-rated artist’ posts but not to generate links.

  • http://www.99daz.com Darren Daz Cox

    no need to be mean Chris! I have a couple of ‘Chris Brogan is an under-rated artist’ posts but not to generate links.

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  • http://piotrj.wordpress.com Piotr Jakubowski

    Chris,

    I’d have to say this linkbaiting strategy has reached new heights with the emergence of the 140-character limit of Twitter. The good thing out of this is that we’ve been developing better copywriters.

  • http://piotrj.wordpress.com Piotr Jakubowski

    Chris,

    I’d have to say this linkbaiting strategy has reached new heights with the emergence of the 140-character limit of Twitter. The good thing out of this is that we’ve been developing better copywriters.

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  • http://anniegirl1138.wordpress.com annie

    Link bait? That’s an actual thing that people do? Shit, where have I been? Not here, but nice to have found you.

  • http://anniegirl1138.wordpress.com annie

    Link bait? That’s an actual thing that people do? Shit, where have I been? Not here, but nice to have found you.

  • http://LEEDBlogger.com Andrew

    Love that the ‘humor hook’ guy then linked back to your post on why people SHOULD follow you. Funny stuff.

  • http://LEEDBlogger.com Andrew

    Love that the ‘humor hook’ guy then linked back to your post on why people SHOULD follow you. Funny stuff.

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  • http://www.mybestfriendtraining.com/training-an-older-dog.html Training An Older Dog

    Sometimes, I can't think of anything to write about, so I go and read. Then, after reading, I find myself inspired. When I link back it's to give credit where credit is due.

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  • seolions

    you need to get natural links from visitors, great articles gets automatic recogination, without forcing them to a corner to do,

  • seolions

    you need to get natural links from visitors, great articles gets automatic recogination, without forcing them to a corner to do,

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  • http://twitter.com/kennysilva Kenny Silva

    Chris, I was doing a little research on what linkbait is and how it could be useful. I totally agree with what you said about being the loud kid, but understand that you do have to 'speak up' from time to time in order to be heard. Thanks for the post!

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  • http://websitedesigningcompany.us Website Designers USA

    I think instant link baiting ideas can work really well but you have to be fast and quick witted, a good example of this was the day Google instant came out someone created an image depicting Google as an instant coffee (caffine and instant)

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