How to write list oriented linkbait
Ryan Caldwell of Performancing shared his experience in creating successfull list-oriented linkbaits.
Ah, yes. Please keep in mind that a linkbait is not only in form of a list, but also in another writing style.
Linkbaiting (link baiting, linkbait, link bait etc) is a term that has increasingly being used around the blogosphere. Linkbait is a strategy when writing a post which was intended to withdraw other readers as well ad bloggers attention and then link it into their own blogs.
In term of posting’s topic or entry, Randfish of SEOMoz pointed out that there are two kinds of linkbait: (1) Linkbait - “Link-Worthy, Linkerati-Targeted Content“; and (2) “Attracting Link Attention with Controversy”
Ryan said that the key to writing bait is not objectivity, but being comfortable with subjectivity and opinion.
Here are he usually does when he writes a listbait:
- come up with headline (defines the concept)
- brainstorm list until I’m exhausted
- remind myself that this is not a mid-term exam
- write 1 sentence per item in the list (the “justification” for each item)
- remove any items I can’t write 1 sentence for
- pray that the sentence writing helped clarify my line of thought and jogs my mind for a few more items
- remove the chaff
- flesh out content with pics, videos, links
- identify a number
- refine the headline to fit the final content
# 3 is really an interesting point! 
Thanks for sharing, Ryan! I will try to write my own soon!
