Comments on: Since When Is Link Baiting Unethical?

By: Spud Oregon

Spud Oregon — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 19:25:58 +0000

It’s up to Google, Technorati and co, to determine the relevance of a site based on its content in relation to what a user is searching for. If their rankings are based on the number of links, or the text used in those links, then they are only encouraging MORE links, not better quality content.

By: Danielle

Danielle — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 19:10:53 +0000

You already know where I stand on the subject, but I really enjoyed the dialogue here. You both made valid points and sought to understand the other’s point of view.

By: Matt Huggins

Matt Huggins — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 18:48:01 +0000

I can understand the difference you point out in asking for specific link text, where the shirt giveaway you took part in did not ask for that. I guess there are so many sites that use the tactic I used here (eg: other bloggers running contests, directories with specific badges and alt/title tags within a link, etc.) that I didn’t have a second thought about doing it myself.

I still can’t say that I agree with it being such an awful thing to offer such a promotion, as there are so many sites that will receive natural links despite my running a contest. But at least I understand your point now. No need to apologize, you’re entitled to your opinion, and it’s always good to know how others view things on the Web.

By: Mark Levison

Mark Levison — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 13:00:31 +0000

Perhaps I took my original point a bit far in your case. Lumping you in with Gary and John was a bit much. The only point on which we differ is whether its reasonable to ask your reviewers to use specific text for the links. I think that amounts to an attempt to game the search engines for your own gain.

As to my participation in Eric Sink’s TShirt contest - the difference is that Eric didn’t ask for specific text in the link or posting. So I think I’ve played by my own rules.

In any case I’m sorry for lumping you in with the real spammers here.

By: Matt Huggins

Matt Huggins — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 05:24:03 +0000

Thanks for the additional input, Sapheyerblu and BetShopBoy. I’m basically on the same page as the two of you in addition to what Danielle wrote above. I don’t think there’s too much more to be said from my perspective though after all that I’ve written.

By: betshopboy

betshopboy — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 05:16:45 +0000

Hey Matt

I’m have no problem with link bait strategy, or whatever name anyone wish to call that. No one is being force at gunpoint to join the baits or link trains. It is similar to a business deal, each parties will want some benefits out of the deal.

The most important thing is, we need to loosen up and have fun blogging and enaging our readers!

By: sapheyerblu

sapheyerblu — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 04:08:48 +0000

As a writer, Matt was doing what any contest editor would do, he set up a set of guidelines to follow. Every writing contest I’ve ever entered had a set of guidelines that each contestant had to follow.

I really don’t care whether he links to my site or not, I did it for the contest. If he gets a little something out of it, so be it. There are a lot of contests out there that charge a small fee of some kind or another, Matt’s just getting a few extra linkbacks.

I see no problem with it whatsoever.

By: Matt Huggins

Matt Huggins — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 23:38:50 +0000

I understand that it’s about what the end users think. And I want my end users to think that I’m here to offer my failures and successes as insight into their own decisions. With my promotion, I’m offering a chance to win business books that the end users might find useful in their own learning.

Like you, I use Digg, Delicious, StumbleUpon, and other methods of allowing users to find my site. Like you, the links are relevant to the context. And even taking it a step further, the anchor text that I included in my promotion are relevant too. What part of “Entrepreneurial Blog of Matt Huggins” or “win free business books” is out of context? It’s exactly what I’m offering, and I’m not going to tell people they’re not entered into my contest because they only put the anchor text for “win books” or “blogging books” or something like that.

Hell, I’ve had reviewers write my name as “Matt Huggings” or “Matt Higgins”, and I don’t bother to correct them because I really don’t care. It’s more about having fun blogging and learning things with each other.

I’m not claiming to be a blog buff or anything, and I’m not here to say what’s right and wrong. However, I simply can’t see anything unethical about offering people a chance at winning something for free. And considering you even took part in some free t-shirt link bait on the same blog that you slam me, I can’t help but to disregard everything you’ve written since you’re being completely hypocritical.

By: Mark Levison

Mark Levison — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 22:40:39 +0000

One more thought - I think the line is crossed when you tell people what text to use to link to your site. Up until that point your asking for feedback and offering a prize - without gaming the search engines. You cross the line when you ask for a specific text.

Off to do diaper laundry.

By: Mark Levison

Mark Levison — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 20:56:51 +0000

When I have a few spare minutes (sick kids and wife) I will write a reply (even link to your blog).

My key point Technorati (and Google) isn’t about you or me - its not about what your readers think. Its about what the end users think. My knock is that John Chow, Gary Lee and you are gaming the search engines so that users will see your blogs and not others that might be relevant to their needs.

I make lots of effort to promote my blog through Digg, Dzone, signatures at the bottom of my email etc. The key difference here - the links have to relevant to the context. So I only use dzone to promote programming related stuff. Whereas the link train crowd is gaming the system in a way that doesn’t appear to benefit the end user.