Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Writing Link Bait to Attract New Readers

Getting LinkNobody likes to read a dull blog! If your blog is simply boring, there is no way for you to develop a strong readership. People will simply read other content that interests them more. If you've been feeling like your blog content is getting stale, then it's time to introduce some link bait!

Link bait is basically content that is controversial or highly interesting in nature. People naturally want to link to it because it is so interesting, and fires them up in some way. Link bait pieces often get many comments as well-- some agreeing with the writer and some disagreeing. There are even some interested commenters in the middle. The most important thing is that link bait generates reader interest so your link is passed around in a viral fashion all over your niche!

You might feel a little bit intimidated to write a lengthy piece such as this. There is no reason to be! Take a look at other blogs in your niche. Then, find the most commonly commented on pieces. You'll likely find that they are link bait pieces designed to garner a lot of attention. Take notes on the blogger's style, what they discussed, and how they discussed it. What could you do generate such interest on your own blog? What got people so interested?

While you do want to be careful to not lose your own style and voice, don't be afraid to be a little bit controversial or even highly controversial. People love drama and well thought out content. Your regular readers will probably appreciate the chance to debate and discuss. They will also be more likely to pass your link along to friends and family members who will be interested in reading the piece as well. You will probably also find that your post is being discussed on forums, other blogs, social sites, and so on!

What this does for you is put out "feelers" in many places on the web. People will stumble across your link and start to read your blog. If the piece is interesting enough, they may want to go back through your archives and see what you had to say on other topics you've written about. If they like what they see, they will likely subscribe to your blog feed and even sign up to your opt-in list!

You don't have to put out lengthy link bait pieces all the time, but it is a good idea every once in a while. It will help keep your blog fresh and keep your readership expanding. Link bait content is definitely a great idea if you want to attract new readers to your blog consistently -- just be ready for people to disagree with you!

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