So what does that mean?

Odds are you have a personalized viral flash video email in your inbox right now! For some time now link baiting has been an effective means of social advertising. Link bait is defined as any content or feature within a Web site that somehow entices viewers to place links to it from other Web sites. I prefer Matt Cutts definition of link bait, which is “anything interesting enough to catch people’s attention.” Businesses shouldn’t ignore this new media marketing technique as it can be an extremely powerful in forming a viral buzz about a brand, product or service.

Link baiting, though previously considered to be a deceptive marketing method, is now used as a soft sell tool by industry leaders like Microsoft, Burger King and Office Depot. Link baiting is typically one of the following:

  • Informational - Provides information that users find useful.
  • Newsworthy - Provides fresh current event information and obtains citations and links as the news spreads.
  • Humorous - Tell a funny story or a joke that link back to your site.
  • A Cool Widget - An object that can be embedded on other Web sites, along with a link.

Link baiting first caught my eye a few years back when Microsoft launched the Ms. Dewey search engine. I have to admit, I spent several hours asking her random questions and forwarding the Ms. Dewey link on to my friends. Another impressive link baiting campaign was the Office Max Dancing Elves Christmas email. Who didn’t get one of these sent to them last year?
Another more current marketing example is a personalized viral flash video email marketing campaign put together by the Barack Obama campaigning team. The cleverness of the viral email even entices the most devoted Republicans to spread the message.

Businesses looking to stand out from the competition are beginning to recognize the benefits of a personalized viral flash video email marketing campaign.

Vantage Internet provides unique solutions designed to overcome your online challenges, attain your business goals and outshine your competition. If you want to know more about personalized viral flash video email marketing and other innovative ways of advertising your site, visit www.vantageinternet.com.