There's a new word in the online world's that's gaining a lot of attention as of late. Linkbaiting has fast become a buzz word to describe a host of practices that can help publishers increase their incoming traffic. While the practice itself is a matter of contention in some arenas, the simple reality is the concept works and it isn't always shady or underhanded.

Although the word linkbaiting is new, the measures it defines are not. The term is used to categorize a variety of different methods publishers employ to gain incoming links to their websites or blogs. Some of the measures are thought to be quite reputable, but some are not. Examples of methods that fall under the linkbaiting definition include generating high-quality content that gains incoming links, creating contests and awards programs, crafting tools for other websites to use that happen to link back to one's site and even writing attack posts and comments about other sites.

The term linkbaiting has earned a dark reputation in the online community, but the fact is many of the measures it defines are anything but shady. Most publishers work their tails off to come up with effective ways to gain traffic and incoming links. In doing so, they can realize increase revenue potential. Linkbaiting can be a great tool to make this happen. Some of its practices are so beneficial, in fact, many SEO optimization businesses offer linkbaiting packages to their clients. On its own, linkbaiting is not bad. It's all a matter of how the effort is handled.

The reasons why linkbaiting has become rather popular, despite its reputation, are many. The biggest is the traffic gains. If traffic gains are high enough, revenue potential tends to go up along with it. Making money on the Internet requires traffic. It's that plain and simple. Linkbaiting can increase traffic, so it's practiced. A secondary and also big motivational factor for linkbaiting centers on this method's ability to help raise page ranking status. When a site has more incoming links, it tends to rank higher.

Linkbaiting does have its benefits, but publishers need to know a few things about it. One of the most important is to make sure that any incoming traffic gains are not single-stop visits. To do this, one's site or blog needs to be informative, useful or interesting. Boosting traffic on a site that doesn't offer readers much of anything can be a real waste of time. For a linkbaiting campaign to be truly effective, incoming traffic should be enticed to return.

The techniques that constitute linkbaiting are quite extensive. Common ones involve creating tools and widgets other websites can use that link back to another site, hosting games, surveys and contests, writing solid pieces, scooping other sites on big news stories, reporting more deeply on a topic or even adding humor and fun to a site. Some of the best linkbaiting ideas involve nothing more than creating good content to engage and re-engage visitors.

Some of the undesirable methods for gaining incoming links can also be beneficial. These include writing attack pieces about other sites or issues, going for controversy or trying to drum it up, focusing on the shock factor and more.

Linkbaiting itself is not really a bad word. Although the term can describe some methods few enjoy using, the idea behind the concept is a good one. Those who tend to do very well when using some of the practices are publishers that happen to offer something for a visitor's trouble in stopping by.

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Author Jeff Alderson develops newbie-friendly search engine marketing software. He is an expert on boosting traffic and sales. Jeff recommends using Ad Word Analyzer to uncover niche keywords for your website. Click here for other unique link popularity articles.