Linkbait [ lingk bayt ] SEO noun: the process of creating and promoting content that’s primarily designed to attract links.
Standard form: “we need to create some linkbait”.
Active form: “that’s an AWESOME piece of linkbait!”
Passive form: “…the client’s just been sold three pieces of linkbait per month”.
Modern form: “It’s not linkbait anymore man, it’s all about Likebait now”.
Here’s some more detail on this swearword…
Origins:
A word that has its linguistic roots in the dark, one-dimensional realms of traditional SEO, where traffic’s not important, shares aren’t important, discourse isn’t important. But links are almost as important as life itself.
Current Use:
This term’s still frequently used but should be going out of fashion, not because the idea behind linkbait is a fundamentally bad one but because of the tunnel-vision that the term communicates.
Content shouldn’t be created just to get links. That’s short sighted, surely?
Maybe not in the bad old black-hat days, but definitely now.
It could be argued that linkbait isn’t just about links anymore: but that’s a bit like the fragrant denial of saying SEO isn’t about search engine rankings anymore. If that’s the case then isn’t the term redundant?
Issues:
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It’s all about Likebait now.It’s not all about links anymore. - ‘Bait’ is plainly patronising and manipulative.
- The announcement of linkbait usually precipitates a hastily prepared infographic or eBook.
- Cliches are annoying. And it’s a cliche.
- The words inevitably conjure up unwanted imagery of fishery, or mammal traps.
Questions: Does the term still have value? Should the term be replaced with something else? Is it all about Likebait now?