Comments on: Why Not Post LinkBait All the Time? http://www.chrisg.com/why-not-post-linkbait-all-the-time/ Build your business by sharing what you know Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:51:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Chris Garrett http://www.chrisg.com/why-not-post-linkbait-all-the-time/#comment-7598 Chris Garrett Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:45:51 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/why-not-post-linkbait-all-the-time/#comment-7598 @Sonia - Agreed, some are cult of personality blogs, others gain a big audience despite a lack of empathy, others are seen as useful resources and nothing more. You don't need a relationship with a stock ticker but I don't see much point in an information only blog. I want to get to know my readers. Of course, YMMV :) @Jeff - Thanks :) I think the intention again is key, is it to impart useful information or to gain attention? It reveals itself over time @Maki - Magazines attract with the front page, top ten lists, but subscriptions are not sold with top ten lists. I have worked with magazines and newspapers and believe me, the cover does not tell the story :) Your point about blogs having grown through social media, of course is true, but are you mistaking correlation with causality? Is my StumbleUpon traffic because I am courting SU or because SU users like my stuff? I don't bait SU. Just because something is bookmarked and linked doesn't mean it is bait, right? As I said in my reply to Lyndon, I am mainly referring to intentionally attention seeking. While many bloggers are not marketing savvy they still try to emulate these tactics and that is what I am warning about :) @Sonia – Agreed, some are cult of personality blogs, others gain a big audience despite a lack of empathy, others are seen as useful resources and nothing more. You don’t need a relationship with a stock ticker but I don’t see much point in an information only blog. I want to get to know my readers. Of course, YMMV :)

@Jeff – Thanks :) I think the intention again is key, is it to impart useful information or to gain attention? It reveals itself over time

@Maki – Magazines attract with the front page, top ten lists, but subscriptions are not sold with top ten lists. I have worked with magazines and newspapers and believe me, the cover does not tell the story :)

Your point about blogs having grown through social media, of course is true, but are you mistaking correlation with causality? Is my StumbleUpon traffic because I am courting SU or because SU users like my stuff? I don’t bait SU.

Just because something is bookmarked and linked doesn’t mean it is bait, right? As I said in my reply to Lyndon, I am mainly referring to intentionally attention seeking. While many bloggers are not marketing savvy they still try to emulate these tactics and that is what I am warning about :)

]]> By: Chris Garrett http://www.chrisg.com/why-not-post-linkbait-all-the-time/#comment-18866 Chris Garrett Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:45:00 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/why-not-post-linkbait-all-the-time/#comment-18866 @Sonia - Agreed, some are cult of personality blogs, others gain a big audience despite a lack of empathy, others are seen as useful resources and nothing more. You don't need a relationship with a stock ticker but I don't see much point in an information only blog. I want to get to know my readers. Of course, YMMV :) @Jeff - Thanks :) I think the intention again is key, is it to impart useful information or to gain attention? It reveals itself over time @Maki - Magazines attract with the front page, top ten lists, but subscriptions are not sold with top ten lists. I have worked with magazines and newspapers and believe me, the cover does not tell the story :) Your point about blogs having grown through social media, of course is true, but are you mistaking correlation with causality? Is my StumbleUpon traffic because I am courting SU or because SU users like my stuff? I don't bait SU. Just because something is bookmarked and linked doesn't mean it is bait, right? As I said in my reply to Lyndon, I am mainly referring to intentionally attention seeking. While many bloggers are not marketing savvy they still try to emulate these tactics and that is what I am warning about :) @Sonia – Agreed, some are cult of personality blogs, others gain a big audience despite a lack of empathy, others are seen as useful resources and nothing more. You don’t need a relationship with a stock ticker but I don’t see much point in an information only blog. I want to get to know my readers. Of course, YMMV :)

@Jeff – Thanks :) I think the intention again is key, is it to impart useful information or to gain attention? It reveals itself over time

@Maki – Magazines attract with the front page, top ten lists, but subscriptions are not sold with top ten lists. I have worked with magazines and newspapers and believe me, the cover does not tell the story :)

Your point about blogs having grown through social media, of course is true, but are you mistaking correlation with causality? Is my StumbleUpon traffic because I am courting SU or because SU users like my stuff? I don’t bait SU.

Just because something is bookmarked and linked doesn’t mean it is bait, right? As I said in my reply to Lyndon, I am mainly referring to intentionally attention seeking. While many bloggers are not marketing savvy they still try to emulate these tactics and that is what I am warning about :)

]]> By: Maki http://www.chrisg.com/why-not-post-linkbait-all-the-time/#comment-7597 Maki Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:01:26 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/why-not-post-linkbait-all-the-time/#comment-7597 Interesting discussion. Baits not useful to growing a useful audience? I don't really think so. Bait can be considered content of substance to most..and some are satisfied by what they get from it. What we see as bait, they see as good content. I think you're mainly talking from the perspective of a marketer/marketing-savvy reader and how many are there truly? Take a look at the magazines on the news stand. They do bait every issue and they grow. They have loyal readers. There are several blogs with large and loyal audiences and they practically built it all from the ground-up by getting on the Digg frontpage for almost every post they did. Interesting discussion.

Baits not useful to growing a useful audience? I don’t really think so.

Bait can be considered content of substance to most..and some are satisfied by what they get from it. What we see as bait, they see as good content. I think you’re mainly talking from the perspective of a marketer/marketing-savvy reader and how many are there truly?

Take a look at the magazines on the news stand. They do bait every issue and they grow. They have loyal readers.

There are several blogs with large and loyal audiences and they practically built it all from the ground-up by getting on the Digg frontpage for almost every post they did.

]]> By: Maki http://www.chrisg.com/why-not-post-linkbait-all-the-time/#comment-18865 Maki Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:01:00 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/why-not-post-linkbait-all-the-time/#comment-18865 Interesting discussion. Baits not useful to growing a useful audience? I don't really think so. Bait can be considered content of substance to most..and some are satisfied by what they get from it. What we see as bait, they see as good content. I think you're mainly talking from the perspective of a marketer/marketing-savvy reader and how many are there truly? Take a look at the magazines on the news stand. They do bait every issue and they grow. They have loyal readers. There are several blogs with large and loyal audiences and they practically built it all from the ground-up by getting on the Digg frontpage for almost every post they did. Interesting discussion.

Baits not useful to growing a useful audience? I don’t really think so.

Bait can be considered content of substance to most..and some are satisfied by what they get from it. What we see as bait, they see as good content. I think you’re mainly talking from the perspective of a marketer/marketing-savvy reader and how many are there truly?

Take a look at the magazines on the news stand. They do bait every issue and they grow. They have loyal readers.

There are several blogs with large and loyal audiences and they practically built it all from the ground-up by getting on the Digg frontpage for almost every post they did.

]]> By: Jeff Quipp http://www.chrisg.com/why-not-post-linkbait-all-the-time/#comment-7592 Jeff Quipp Fri, 15 Feb 2008 10:26:49 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/why-not-post-linkbait-all-the-time/#comment-7592 Agreed completely Chris ... the quality of traffic generated by good quality knowledge expanding content is typically far superior to that generated by a good link bait piece. Great anology too! Agreed completely Chris … the quality of traffic generated by good quality knowledge expanding content is typically far superior to that generated by a good link bait piece. Great anology too!

]]> By: Jeff Quipp http://www.chrisg.com/why-not-post-linkbait-all-the-time/#comment-18864 Jeff Quipp Fri, 15 Feb 2008 10:26:00 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/why-not-post-linkbait-all-the-time/#comment-18864 Agreed completely Chris ... the quality of traffic generated by good quality knowledge expanding content is typically far superior to that generated by a good link bait piece. Great anology too! Agreed completely Chris … the quality of traffic generated by good quality knowledge expanding content is typically far superior to that generated by a good link bait piece. Great anology too!

]]> By: Sonia Simone http://www.chrisg.com/why-not-post-linkbait-all-the-time/#comment-7591 Sonia Simone Thu, 14 Feb 2008 23:29:59 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/why-not-post-linkbait-all-the-time/#comment-7591 This is a really good point. Pontificating is not conversation. A lot of people don't see that there are two pieces to this thing we do--first attract attention so people can find you, sure, but then create a relationship and a conversation. Caro Middlebrook does a nice job of balancing the two, I think. There are a few influential blogs that really are all one-way--all "let me educate you, and you all just listen," but that's hard to pull off, esp. for the long term. It can work if you're extremely brilliant. This is a really good point. Pontificating is not conversation.

A lot of people don’t see that there are two pieces to this thing we do–first attract attention so people can find you, sure, but then create a relationship and a conversation. Caro Middlebrook does a nice job of balancing the two, I think.

There are a few influential blogs that really are all one-way–all “let me educate you, and you all just listen,” but that’s hard to pull off, esp. for the long term. It can work if you’re extremely brilliant.

]]> By: Sonia Simone http://www.chrisg.com/why-not-post-linkbait-all-the-time/#comment-18863 Sonia Simone Thu, 14 Feb 2008 23:29:00 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/why-not-post-linkbait-all-the-time/#comment-18863 This is a really good point. Pontificating is not conversation. A lot of people don't see that there are two pieces to this thing we do--first attract attention so people can find you, sure, but then create a relationship and a conversation. Caro Middlebrook does a nice job of balancing the two, I think. There are a few influential blogs that really are all one-way--all "let me educate you, and you all just listen," but that's hard to pull off, esp. for the long term. It can work if you're extremely brilliant. This is a really good point. Pontificating is not conversation.

A lot of people don’t see that there are two pieces to this thing we do–first attract attention so people can find you, sure, but then create a relationship and a conversation. Caro Middlebrook does a nice job of balancing the two, I think.

There are a few influential blogs that really are all one-way–all “let me educate you, and you all just listen,” but that’s hard to pull off, esp. for the long term. It can work if you’re extremely brilliant.

]]> By: Chris Garrett http://www.chrisg.com/why-not-post-linkbait-all-the-time/#comment-7587 Chris Garrett Thu, 14 Feb 2008 12:02:44 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/why-not-post-linkbait-all-the-time/#comment-7587 Yes I am referring specifically to the tactics of attention-seeking-in-the-hope-of-acquiring-links :) As you say, sometimes the label is used when the intention was anything but. To me constant attention-seeking is bad regardless, whether in blogging or as a starlet celebrity. If you do not back up the attention with substance then ultimately the strategy will be self-defeating Yes I am referring specifically to the tactics of attention-seeking-in-the-hope-of-acquiring-links :) As you say, sometimes the label is used when the intention was anything but. To me constant attention-seeking is bad regardless, whether in blogging or as a starlet celebrity. If you do not back up the attention with substance then ultimately the strategy will be self-defeating

]]> By: Chris Garrett http://www.chrisg.com/why-not-post-linkbait-all-the-time/#comment-18862 Chris Garrett Thu, 14 Feb 2008 12:02:00 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/why-not-post-linkbait-all-the-time/#comment-18862 Yes I am referring specifically to the tactics of attention-seeking-in-the-hope-of-acquiring-links :) As you say, sometimes the label is used when the intention was anything but. To me constant attention-seeking is bad regardless, whether in blogging or as a starlet celebrity. If you do not back up the attention with substance then ultimately the strategy will be self-defeating Yes I am referring specifically to the tactics of attention-seeking-in-the-hope-of-acquiring-links :) As you say, sometimes the label is used when the intention was anything but. To me constant attention-seeking is bad regardless, whether in blogging or as a starlet celebrity. If you do not back up the attention with substance then ultimately the strategy will be self-defeating

]]> By: Lyndon Antcliff http://www.chrisg.com/why-not-post-linkbait-all-the-time/#comment-7586 Lyndon Antcliff Thu, 14 Feb 2008 11:52:09 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/why-not-post-linkbait-all-the-time/#comment-7586 In regard to this subject, I think what most people think is linkbait is actually the shadow of linkbait. A pale imitation. Of course the term is overused, in truth I would never use the term when talking to people who get it, because the thing itself is irrelevant, it is the effect of the thing we are interested in. And it's the "effect" that should create discourse. Also the fact that people label content with linkbait simply because it's interesting. On my own blog I have posted opinion, hoping someone would find my thoughts interesting and have had it labeled linkbait. I'm neither insulted nor joyous about the fact, but I am acutely aware that the meaning of the term is so vague at the edges it becomes useless. Only to be used when refering to an aspect of marketing which would take too long to explain. I use the term all the time on my blog btw. I think what you are refering to is a specific style of content which has been developed to push all those linkerati buttons. And as with all styles, it fades with time. In regard to this subject, I think what most people think is linkbait is actually the shadow of linkbait. A pale imitation. Of course the term is overused, in truth I would never use the term when talking to people who get it, because the thing itself is irrelevant, it is the effect of the thing we are interested in.

And it’s the “effect” that should create discourse.

Also the fact that people label content with linkbait simply because it’s interesting. On my own blog I have posted opinion, hoping someone would find my thoughts interesting and have had it labeled linkbait. I’m neither insulted nor joyous about the fact, but I am acutely aware that the meaning of the term is so vague at the edges it becomes useless. Only to be used when refering to an aspect of marketing which would take too long to explain.

I use the term all the time on my blog btw. I think what you are refering to is a specific style of content which has been developed to push all those linkerati buttons. And as with all styles, it fades with time.

]]> By: Lyndon Antcliff http://www.chrisg.com/why-not-post-linkbait-all-the-time/#comment-18861 Lyndon Antcliff Thu, 14 Feb 2008 11:52:00 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/why-not-post-linkbait-all-the-time/#comment-18861 In regard to this subject, I think what most people think is linkbait is actually the shadow of linkbait. A pale imitation. Of course the term is overused, in truth I would never use the term when talking to people who get it, because the thing itself is irrelevant, it is the effect of the thing we are interested in. And it's the "effect" that should create discourse. Also the fact that people label content with linkbait simply because it's interesting. On my own blog I have posted opinion, hoping someone would find my thoughts interesting and have had it labeled linkbait. I'm neither insulted nor joyous about the fact, but I am acutely aware that the meaning of the term is so vague at the edges it becomes useless. Only to be used when refering to an aspect of marketing which would take too long to explain. I use the term all the time on my blog btw. I think what you are refering to is a specific style of content which has been developed to push all those linkerati buttons. And as with all styles, it fades with time. In regard to this subject, I think what most people think is linkbait is actually the shadow of linkbait. A pale imitation. Of course the term is overused, in truth I would never use the term when talking to people who get it, because the thing itself is irrelevant, it is the effect of the thing we are interested in.

And it’s the “effect” that should create discourse.

Also the fact that people label content with linkbait simply because it’s interesting. On my own blog I have posted opinion, hoping someone would find my thoughts interesting and have had it labeled linkbait. I’m neither insulted nor joyous about the fact, but I am acutely aware that the meaning of the term is so vague at the edges it becomes useless. Only to be used when refering to an aspect of marketing which would take too long to explain.

I use the term all the time on my blog btw. I think what you are refering to is a specific style of content which has been developed to push all those linkerati buttons. And as with all styles, it fades with time.

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