Comments on: Why LinkBait Doesn’t Translate To Dollars

By: Jeremy @ Agence Web Marketing

Jeremy @ Agence Web Marketing — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 19:44:51 +0000

Great article Lisa, it will make us think more than once before adventuring in the realm of linkbaiting for all of our clients.

But I do think we can achieve a nice balance between bait and content; something like contentbaiting :).

By: Lisa Barone

Lisa Barone — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:21:00 +0000

Thanks, Tace. :)

By: Lisa Barone

Lisa Barone — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:20:43 +0000

Thanks, Jennifer. You make a good point that businesses need a variety of different content components to make sure they’re getting the most from their efforts. That may include some of the shiny stuff, but you need much more than that in order to really attract and keep someone. Thanks for the comment!

By: Lisa Barone

Lisa Barone — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:18:49 +0000

I definitely think there’s room for baiting people as a way to capitalize on what’s hot/attract links, but you do have to be aware of what you’re doing. At the end of the day, you’re trying to attract people – you’re trying to get people to buy. And I think the meaty stuff paired with a compelling call to action is time and time again the best way to do that. Just because people stop to watch the car wreck doesn’t mean they’re engaged enough to get out and help.

By: Lisa Barone

Lisa Barone — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:16:50 +0000

Ha, it’s okay. I appreciate you jumping in like you have and sharing that article (wow. 2004? Time warp!). Based on that article, I think it’s interesting to think of your Web site as an ad. I mean, “the paid, public, non-personal announcement of a persuasive message by an identified sponsor”? That definition may be closer to the truth than some would like us to believe, no?

By: Lisa Barone

Lisa Barone — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:13:41 +0000

I agree that there is definitely room (and a reason) for both, but like you said, businesses shouldn’t expect either type to be something different than what it is. I think conferences/blogs are really good at pushing the flashy stuff and do a worse job promoting the meaty stuff that causes people to connect with your brand.

By: Lisa Barone

Lisa Barone — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:12:12 +0000

Isn’t all politics linkbait, really? :)

By: Tace Thompson

Tace Thompson — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 11:36:54 +0000

Here Here Lisa, spot on article, simply put lets all be humans together and interact on that basis, making the internet a better place for everyone.
With Best Regards Tace

By: Jennifer Rotman

Jennifer Rotman — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 03:02:38 +0000

Timely conversation in light of Perfect Market’s report. I think a lot of publishers and advertisers/marketers go sideways when they fail to see that their business might be comprised of a wide and rich range of content components, and not just the short-burn, in-your-face bait. So your article makes an important distinction between the one-hit “gossipy” linkbait pieces versus content that is reliably valuable and engaging–which too can be made up of some part “linkbait.”

By: Mike Murray

Mike Murray — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 23:48:54 +0000

Great piece – and good reminders. Businesses routinely want people to link to them for no reason or miss the boat on link bait (i.e. good content that can convert). Link bait is OK – nothing wrong with getting links. But the content should be rewarding for the visitor. It can translate into revenue. It depends, in part, on how much money was invested in the link bait in the first place. I appreciate what you wrote about making them feel something – “whether it’s smarter, overwhelmed, scared, in love, disgusted, anything…” I still think link baiting can be part of along-term strategy – influence natural rankings that can eventually lead to more conversions.