How to Create ‘Link Bait’ Articles for Backlinks

Yes, pages need backlinks to rank. But not all pages on your website deserve backlinks.

That’s why it’s a good idea to create “link bait.”

Link bait refers to pages that are designed to become backlink magnets.

It’s the kind of content bloggers and journalists find so valuable that they link to it.

Not only do such backlinks result in more traffic — you can distribute the authority of these pages to other web pages on your website with internal linking.

Here are some best practices for creating link bait:

Create content that users can use right away

…like tools, calculators, templates, checklists, and cheat sheets.

Code Canyon is a popular site for getting tools added to your website on the cheap.

Make your link bait opinionated by giving readers something new to think about

Share a different perspective about a popular topic, a controversial idea, or discuss a subject from a unique angle.

Make your content visually appealing so it’s easier for users to consume and enjoy your piece

People process visual information much faster than text.

So content that’s easier on the eyes – e.g., images, infographics, graphs and data visualization, broken up into smaller paragraphs – is more likely to get backlinks relative to content that looks like a big wall of text.

Add newsworthy elements to your content will help you get more links

Journalists and bloggers are constantly looking for news, so give them what they’re looking for!

You also might consider signing up for HARO (Help A Reporter Out), but it requires some legwork.

Tell a story

Sharing facts and stats through stories makes your content more appealing, easier to digest, and magnetic enough to attract backlinks.

As author Yuval Noah Harari wrote, “Humans think in stories rather than in facts, numbers, or equations, and the simpler the story, the better.”

Related

• Market Research Software
• Content Creation Tools