Link building, or 'link baiting' is really about one thing – creating quality content. Quality content in turn attracts non-directed traffic and is more likely to encourage external links. Acquiring genuine inbound links to your website has a direct impact on Search Engine Optimisation (SEO).

However, with the introduction of social media being added to the mix, the landscape has inevitably shifted once more. Whilst some may prefer to stick to more 'traditional' methods, as any good digital marketer will tell you, one must adapt to succeed.

In part two of this two-part article, we'll take a look at some simple techniques for building inbound links using social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook.

6. White It Down
White papers are quickly becoming the 'go-to' currency for marketers hungry for credible source/reference material. A well-written, authoritative white paper is worth its weight in gold, and will quickly gain popularity within your network and beyond as others link to the material. It's pretty much the perfect marketing tool in that authors gain credibility and publicity in one hit – and an essential tool for any serious internet marketer.

7. Help Your Fellow Man (or Woman)
In much the same way as a white paper will lend the author credibility and gain publicity – informative blog posts are a great way of building links within the online community. Internet marketing is founded on the concept of an 'Econsultancy' – and marketers must be prepared to give in order to receive. If executed efficiently, allowing others to benefit from your own experience is the gift that just keeps giving.

8. Be The Life Of The Party
It's not all work, work, work. Punctuating more serious content with witty, irreverent material is a great way of maintaining interest in your brand. Even better – try and combine the two (www.private-eye.co.uk would be a great example here) in a knockout combination. Folk love nothing more than to show friends how 'in-touch' they are by sharing a clever joke.

9. It's All in The Title
As with the press release, formulating an attention-grabbing headline represents half the battle. We're not just talking about people here, but search engines. A keyword-rich, bold headline is far more likely to be picked up by those friendly little search engine bots.

10. And Now For Something a Little Different...
Don't be afraid to try something new. No one ever began a new trend without swimming against the tide. Okay, so maybe starting an internet marketing revolution may sound like a lofty ambition, but as they say – you never know unless you try. At worst it will set you aside from the crowd. When you sit down to write that next blog post – consider doing something a little different.

If you would like to discover how online marketing can benefit your business, please contact us