Category Archives: BackLinks.com News

clickbait for link building

Should You Use Clickbait for Link Building?

When you’re doing anything SEO, one of the most important elements of your strategy is your titles and anchor text. In other words, the words and phrases you use to attract more eyeballs to your website.

Titles are important, but at what point does an exciting headline become clickbait?

The word clickbait has a negative connotation. It is associated with appealing-looking content that doesn’t make good on the promises made in the headline or description. In this post, we’ll be discussing the use of clickbait for link building and how you can use the technique in a more ethical way.

Clickbait: Right vs. Wrong

Clickbait is associated with content with the sheer purpose of creating revenue through increased traffic. One could argue that anyone with a website wants to drive traffic and make money — so there’s nothing wrong with that.

With that in mind, it’s important to know the difference between driving revenue and manipulating users into visiting your site. The latter option prioritizes clicks over quality and doesn’t bother to stay true to the facts.

The buzz-worthy clickbait headlines typically involve some unbelievable premise–i.e., “Child Stars Gone too Soon” (with a picture of someone who is alive and well), “How Eating Tomatoes Can Cure Cancer,” etc.

These sensational “articles” are why the term clickbait has a really bad reputation. Clickbait for link building doesn’t necessarily have to be this low-value thing — if you craft good headlines that lure people in, you’re still essentially using the clickbait principles.

Some Examples of Clickbait Done Right

  • Super Surprising Ways You Can Use Tofu
  • Google’s New Algorithm Just Decimated These 3 Websites

But again, link bait, like clickbait is completely subjective. So, you’ll have to be sure you’re speaking to your audience.

Why Do We Fall for Clickbait?

With clickbait, chances are, you’re aware of the manipulation at hand. But, time and time again, a ridiculous headline can grab your attention. Or the promise of something you know probably isn’t possible. Yet, somehow, whether its boredom or sheer curiosity, you can’t help yourself.

Clickbait vs. Linkbait

If we’re talking link building, there’s another term for this deception — link baiting. Instead of clickbait for link building, we’ll introduce you to the term, link baiting.

Linkbait is a piece of content that has been created to get webmasters or owners of influential sites to link to that article, blog, whatever, or share it on social media.

Like clickbait, linkbait can be subjective. Some people consider linking to a photo or another article link bait, while others don’t mind. That said, if you’re creating content with the primary goal of catching links, you probably won’t have much luck.

Make Sure the Headline’s Promise Matches the Content

Okay, we’ve already discussed the importance of a powerful headline. A headline that makes people click. But, all that falls by the wayside when you make promises that you don’t keep on the page.

Clickbait headlines that fail to deliver can do more than increase your bounce rate, they hurt your reputation, too. Creating clickbait headlines for link building only gives readers a reason not to trust your website.

So, whatever instant results you might see from your initial efforts — failing to operate with integrity can backfire.

Does the Content Offer a Benefit to the Reader?

Not only do your headlines and anchor text need to represent what you’re offering on the page, but the actual content needs to be good, too. The best way to use clickbait for link building is to create content that is reputable (and links to high authority sources) and is engaging.

Look toward sources like industry studies or expert takes on an issue that relates to the rest of your site. Adding layers of credibility will attract high-quality readers, some of whom may link to you down the road.

Aside from citing reputable sources, you still want to create content people feel compelled to share. Content isn’t limited to blog posts. Make a video, write an op-ed, use your unique voice. Regardless of what your content is about, it needs to build a connection. And when you connect with your audience, the links will slowly, but surely roll in.

Parting Thoughts

In the end, clickbait, in some capacity is good for generating traffic. In the sense that, the “clickbait” you are using isn’t a trick. Snappy headlines are what attract customers to your site, after all–but, you’ll have to focus just as hard on keeping those eyeballs on the page.

For more about link building, buying, and more, check out backlinks.com.

Link Sellers: New Tools = New Opportunities

We recently added a couple new tools that open up a ton of new earning opportunities for your new and existing sites. The first one makes it easy-cheesy to add new sub-pages while the other allows you to mass validate all of your eligible link pages with the click of a single button.

Check For Eligible Sub-Pages Tool

In the past, we know it has been a bit of a hassle to add sub-pages because each one had to be added and validated individually.

With the new “Check for Eligible Sub-Pages” tool, you can easily add the top, indexed sub-pages with just a few clicks.

To use this feature, log into your BackLinks Control Panel and click on My Link Ads. From there, you will see a “Check for Eligible Sub-Pages” button under each of your home page listings.

When you click the button, the system will search for your most authoritative sub-pages for that domain. Uncheck any you do not want to add, click the button, and all of your selected pages will be automatically added!

Then, follow the instructions to add the code to the pages. (For most website types, you can either install the plugin or add the code in an include file so you only need to add it once.)

From there, you just need to validate that everything is working properly, and we have a new tool for that too!

Mass-Validate Pages Tool

So, you have added umpteen pages and included the code…The only thing left is to verify the code. In your control panel, at the top of the My Link Pages section, you will see a new button to mass-validate your inactive pages (if you have pages that qualify).

There really is no explanation needed. Just click the button and you should be good to go!

Log Into Your BackLinks.com Account or Create a New Account

As always, let us know if you have questions!

Get Ready for 2015 with a Free HOTH!

Ring in the new year with a multi-tiered link campaign from The HOTH.

Use your free HOTH Mini (a $60 value!) to diversify your link portfolio, boost your rankings, and support your high voltage links from BackLinks.com.

Just purchase $100 or more in BackLinks.com credits, and we will send you a coupon code for your free HOTH. The code will automatically be applied when you create your HOTH campaign.

This offer ends at midnight on New Year’s Eve, so get your order in today!

Log Into Your BackLinks.com Account or Create a New Account

* Limited to it to one per user. Please give us 24 hours to send the coupon code.

Not Sure What To Do With Your Free HOTH?

Greg Webb Contact Greg Webb at:
1-800-737-5820 ext 14
Skype: GregNextNet

BackLinks.com Changes Metrics

From PR to DA – BackLinks.com Changes Metrics

With access to data for hundreds of thousands of link building campaigns, we know pretty quickly when things start to change in SEO. So, when Google announced they would no longer update PageRank in the toolbar, we weren’t really surprised. In fact, we had been expecting it since a survey we conducted last year.

Why Are You Changing Metrics?

One of the benefits of the BackLinks system is that you receive credits back if a page with your link looses PR. Since we can no longer get accurate PR info, there is no way for us to verify that you are getting the PR value you are paying for.

Why MOZ Domain Authority?

Since our survey last year, we have been tracking and evaluating a number of site criteria and we feel confident that the most reliable alternative is MOZ Domain Authority. We chose to switch to Domain Authority because:

1) It takes a number of metrics into consideration
2) It updates more frequently than PR, and
3) We have a reliable method for getting and tracking the data. (Learn More…)

Advertiser Questions

Will My Monthly Costs Change?

Nope. To make the transition as smooth as possible, we made it so that your existing links will continue to be billed at the same rate for as long as you have them. 1 credit still equals $1 per month, so your existing orders / recurring payments will not change.

The MOZ DA-based pricing will only apply to new links, which includes links created when your existing queues run and new links that are placed to replace links removed by our link monitor.

Will BackLinks.com Prices Change?

Since 1 credit still equals $1 per month, the only thing that is changing is how you spend your credits. Instead of basing the cost of a link on the PR of the page, the cost will be based on MOZ Domain Authority.

Home page prices won’t change. But, sub page prices are now 25% of the home page price. Also, sub domains (ex: health.mysite.com) now count as sub pages.

To view the new DA-Based pricing, click here.

What Will Happen With My Existing Link Queues?

Your existing link queues have been mapped to the corresponding DA ranges. So, for example, if your PR range was PR 1-2, your DA range is 10 -19.

Likewise, if a link is removed by our link monitor and needs to be replaced, it will be replaced on a page in the corresponding DA range.

Where Can I Get More Info?

The best way to see what is going on is to log in and check it out. But, if you still have questions, please contact us.

Log Into Your BackLinks.com Account or Create a New Account

Publisher Questions

Will My Earnings For Existing Links Change?

Nope. To make the transition as smooth as possible, we made it so that existing links will continue to be billed at the same rate as long as you keep them on your site. Credits are still worth the same monthly revenue, so the amount you have earned for your existing links will not change.

The MOZ DA-based commission will only apply to new links.

How Much Will I Earn For New Links?

The commission per credit will not change, just the metric. Instead of basing your commission on the PR of the page, it will be based on the MOZ Domain Authority of the site.

The only other changes are that sub page prices are now 25% of the home page price, and sub domains (ex: health.mysite.com) now count as sub pages.

To view the new commission rates, click here.

Where Can I Get More Info?

The best way to see what is going on is to log in and check it out. But, if you still have questions, please contact us.

Log Into Your BackLinks.com Account or Create a New Account