Want to be on the very first page of Digg.com? You’d be famous, right? Here’s how to do it.
Link Bait has one specific aim — get me to the top of Digg.com. The idea is that once you get there, others will click through to your site and you can reap the rewards once they arrive. Of course, it’s not that simple but if understand the mechanics of how Digg works —and what interests Diggers—then you’re one step closer.
So, pull up a chair, grab your coffee and sit back.
1. Study Digg – this is the number 1 mistake people make. They don’t hang out on Digg, get a feel for what’s happening and learn to judge what will work or not. So, sign up, log in and engage.
Why bother?
Well, it’s like writing a travel guide on Italy without ever having pizza on the Step of Rome. Once you’re there, everything makes more sense. Digg, Delicious and the rest are all the same.
Tip — if you want to succeed with link bait, focus on one site. Don’t spread yourself too thin.
Ok, you’ve signed up. Use a real name if possible, not greenpig715.
People relate to real names; they are more likely to dig you if you sound human than use an avatar. But there are exceptions, I know.
2. Create a Swap File.
A what?
This is a file where you will keep links, snippets of text and other link bait that impresses you.
Told you it would take some time!
Now, this isn’t hard. You just need a text file and then copy/paste in whatever stands out.
Why is this so important?
Ans: headlines.
3. Headlines
Look at the DIGG homepage. What do you see?
Headlines. Lots of them.
Copy and paste the top 10 headlines into your swap file. Do this as often as you can.
Notice anything?
Most of them are lists.
- 5 ways to sleep while working
- 7 ways to wash your iPod
- 10 ways to alienate your children
People like lists. And what else do they like?
4. Benefits
Give your heading an extra boost by adding a nice, juicy benefit.
For example,
- 5 beers that get you drunk faster & make you smarter
- 7 ways to break your iPod & get an instant refund
- 10 ways to alienate your children & win an award
You get the idea.
All of these are slightly idiotic but—here’s the thing—you’re tempted to see what’s on the other side of the link.
5. Write to be scanned
No-one reads on the web, they all scan.
So, write to be scanned.
Write your article or blog post so that readers will scan down through the article — like you’re doing now — go, “yeah, I like this” and then, fingers crossed, hit the DIGG IT button and do us all a good deed.
Sounds to easy. It is. You need to also…
6. Add ‘off-beat’ images
Avoid PC junk. Add an image that captures the mood and will appeal to the reader. Something with an edge but not too risky.
Humor also works. Get it wrong and you look lame.
7. Credibility
It takes time but if you join other networks and comment on others post, guess what?
They’ll hang out with you and give you a few digs. This does work but it’s a really slow way to generate link bait. It does work, but, well, it’s not for me.
8 & 9 Test & Re-Test
Here’s something I do and it works.
Write a 300 word article. About anything. Doesn’t matter.
Spend 20 min and come up with 20 variation on the same headline. Have fun. Shuffle the words upside down, inside out and back to front.
It’s yours to play with. Enjoy it.
- Mon – submit the 1st headline. On Wed, record the Diggs.
- Thurs – change the headline and submit it. Record the Diggs.
- Sat — change again and submit it. Record the Diggs.
And so on…
Then what happens?
Patterns begin to emerge. Some headings bomb.
No-one clicks on them.
Not even your Mom, kids or pet Labrador, Caesar.
Others take off!
Paste these into your swap file (remember him) and use this as a starting point.
Twitter is also another way to test headlines.
Remember – No-one bookmarks tweets.
It you know how to write, people will click thru.
And finally…
10. Practice
Like all things, the more you practice, the better you get.
Focus on writing amazing headlines, develop super-sharp content, and you’ll get the Diggs.
Want to know more?
Top Diggs of the year
7 Days – http://digg.com/all/popular/7days
365 Days – http://digg.com/all/popular/365days
Check these out and you can see what people are interested in. These are the big hitters.
Avoid news of the day type material. The web is saturated before you even get there.
Write, submit, Digg.
What do you think?
What’s the best example you’ve seen of link bait? Was it the words or the images?
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