Introducing Digg Dialogg!
Check out the first Digg Dialogg with Nancy Pelosi. More guests to be announced soon!
Linkbaiting At The Expense Of Integrity
jonathancrossfield.com — Does online marketing need an international code of conduct to protect the integrity of online information?
SpostareDuro- 61 diggs
- digg it
- learnseolive, on 05/16/2008, -0/+5I think people just need to have integrity, it is always the few dummies that ruin it for the rest of us.
- SpostareDuro, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1yup, agreed.
- HannahBoBanna, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1Dugg as I think the post is of merit, however I must confess I'm not sure quite where I stand on link bait debate. Does link bait need to be 'true'?
Link bait for me is the modern equivalent of PR. With old school PR you release something (e.g. press release / photo etc) and hope that larger entities (be they newspapers, TV etc) pick them up and carry them for you, all the while getting your brand some exposure. As I'm sure you're all aware a fair proportion of the releases which are picked up are nothing more than publicity stunts and as such are not 'true'.
Similarly with link bait, you create some content which (hopefully) people like enough to pass on / blog about / digg etc.
I used to work alongside a PR team (who like most PR teams) spent time organising stunts which they then released to the press to gain coverage. That is perfectly acceptable practice in PR, and I would argue therefore that given the similariities it could also be seen to be acceptable when creating link bait.
Now that said, a PR team (be they in-house or an external agency) should protect the brand they represent and endeavour not to damage it in any way. Has this activity damaged money.co.uk? If so I would argue that it may have been a little ill-advised. However, if on balance the activity has done more good than harm, then the activity has been successful.- SpostareDuro, on 05/16/2008, -0/+3i think the point that's most relevant to me is the reflection of dishonesty in the marketing arena. it ruins the reputations of everyone that carries a marketers title. we are already under the microscope of others who are distrustful of marketers. period.
in lyndons case, the site used for the 'indiscretion' (putting it lightly) was not known for deceitful content. persuasion is one thing..using dishonesty to accomplish that is another. marketing does not and should not be dishonest or misleading. it reflects poorly on those who are keeping their nose clean.
- SpostareDuro, on 05/16/2008, -0/+3i think the point that's most relevant to me is the reflection of dishonesty in the marketing arena. it ruins the reputations of everyone that carries a marketers title. we are already under the microscope of others who are distrustful of marketers. period.
- SpostareDuro, on 05/16/2008, -0/+3ps, lyndon's post was removed because he knew it was creating drama for him..so here's the post in full, if anyone is interested. http://www.widerfunnel.com/traffic-building/when-l ...
- dayjp44, on 05/24/2008, -0/+1being an internet retailer, i live or die by the traffic that comes or does not come to my site. in some ways, i can understand being desperate enough to concoct and outlandish story purely for the sake of guarding the bottom line, after all, acquiring traffic is a tough game. overall, i think the tactic was unethical. for those of us trying to do things the right way, this kind of behavior i believe makes our jobs tougher in the long run.
Digg is coming to a city (and computer) near you! Check out all the details on our 
© Digg Inc. 2008 —
Content posted by